The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-08-11
TIE MADE BELLE.


ocean breeze failed to dispel the fever of
the air that waited impatiently for the
fulfllment of the promise, that lay broad
ly legible along the eastern horizon, OF a
coming thunderstorm.
The sultriness and impatience that per-
vaded the atmosphere, thirsting for the
excitement of electrical volleys and
dash of impetuous rain, also pervaded
the mental atmosphere of group of idle
young men who lounged upon the shady
corner of hotel piazza killing time I'M
Til the dinner hour.
cecilia Carr was the belle last year, I"
said Ned Grosvenor, "and we shall not
'look upon her like again.
"The array of beauty at present is not
alarming" observed Sam Dent. "The
Brewsters are nice girls Miss Tanning
may be called quite stylish, Miss Hay
ward decidedly so Jennie Hammond
wiU be capital creature, but she is
rather Observation-Disclosures yet her
sister is O scheoled coquette. Adele Fer
ms is the belle so far. !"
ct never pay court to Beauties" said
Armand Du Bois. "When q girl ex-
poets every man who beholds her to be
at her feet, as matter of course, pre-
fer to pique her, for some time, at least,
with indifference"
"There have been several arrivals to-
day." said Grosvenor, "Miss Monroe
among the number. Look out for Miss
Monroe, Du Bois. She isn't beauty
exactly, but"
"Let us make belle," suggested Ar
thur Lindsey. "Let us take some mod
crate girl and idolize her, one and all of
lis. Not ridiculously, but just enough
to turn her head and have all the other
dear creatures dying of jealousy"
"What will you make her of 2" asked
SAM "Where's your material Pro-
duce your belle-metal, Lindsley."
"She must be novice" said Grosve-
nor.
"And susceptible" said Sam.
But not too susceptible, or there1l
be no fun in it," said Dick Wilhurst.
"She must not be beauty" said Du
Bois.
"Nor stupid" said Lindsley.
Wanted-a belle. So stood their
agreement, when all minor tintinnabula-
tions received an obligatory knell from
"That tocsin of the SOUL the dinner-bel."
Two days later party arrived at the
hotel, who were registered as "Mr.
Wolf, Mrs. Wolf, and Miss Wolf, of
c." "and on the same afternoon
Lindsley announced, triumphantly,
"I've found the girl. No, don't ask
me what she's like. Nothing startling,
1 promise you. Just passable sort of
rather lady-ike nobody. The raw ma
terial, that's all /; and that's what we
want. A mighty pretty little foot she
had, though, peeping from under her
water proof cloak. But plain, unmis-
takably plain and unpretending, as
sure you. Just the nondescript sort of
thing we require for oHr made belle"
A more inviting drawing-room no sum-
mer hotel could boast. Given the lights
and the music and what volatile crea-
lures could desire better field for the
dances Easily disencumbered, too, and
convertible for private theatricals, tab
leaux, and games, its entertainments
were famed. An occasional dull day
could be endured in anticipation of the
unfailing Dewitching qualities of its
"falling grace.
In this inviting drawing-rooln Miss
Irene Wolf made her debut, clinging
rather closely to the side of her mother
until the music struck up. The dance
began. The young and shy stranger
found herself introduced to Il number of
agreeable young men. Every one
seemed pleased with her. Everything
she said, everything she did, proved to
be just the happy word of the moment
or the happy act. "It has been such q
delightful evening"" she said to her
mother, when, after midnight, she
fingered to talk over the novel event.
81 was silly girl to dread the begin
ming so much How kind every one is !"
Happily she was not mediumistic, to
know the comments made upon her by
her gentle sisterhood of the house. She
came in mention quite disparagingly in
contrast to Miss Monroe, likewise a
debutante of the evening" young lady
just returned from tour in Europe,
who had brought the "lovelieat cos
tunes from Pingat's and Wortll's; in
one of which, purple and pale blue,
with rococo jewels and wonderful
fringe, she had appeared that night.
"Wasnt it amiable," said Miss Ian
ming, "in Ned Grosvenor and other fell
lows of our set to take mp that bewil-
dered little. Backwoods3 Poor thing !