The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-02-12

Miss Bertha Deane looked very adj
miringly at her full length reflection in
the dressing mirror; then, with sigh
of satisfaction, turned round to her
cousin Ethel, who sat regarding her
somewhat as an ugly little boy might be
supposed to contemplate gorgeous
winged butterfly.
Il can just tell you, Ethel, I am
more determined than ever to go in for
q rich husband, when l look at myself
and see how nice l am. Amt I, now?"
She asked the question with a bewil-
dering little smile, and charming can
dor and honesty that completely robbed
it of mean vanity.
"You are lovely, BERTHE, and I feel
sorry for the ineligible young men who
are to come under the spell Of your
Vaccinations for the three months you
are visiting u.s."
Nonsense, you dear old grill As if
the ineligible young men cannot stand
it as well Us 1. Although, to comfort
you, 1 will promise to have nothing to
do with any one who can't count his
money by the hundreds Of thousands. !"
Ethel gave little gasp Of horror at
DeEtIlh nigh ASplratlOIS.
"That's just as true as gospel, Ethie.
positively have made up my mind to
marry rich-that is what came up to
London for. You know I am pretty,
and love handsome dresses, and enjoy
all sorts of luxuries. Why shouldn't I
have my carriages and horses, my box
at the opera, my mansion in Belgravia,
my cottage at Brighton, my diamonds
and laces, as we'll as any one else ?"
She gave her skirts little extra set
Ting with a very determined touch, rs if
she expected Ethel to oppose her ambi-
ton.
81 really hope you'll attain to the
hight you desire, BERTHE, although l
cannot imagine who there is that can
give you such an overplus of good
things. It would take the fortune of
Rothschild to crafty you, you little ra-
pacious fortune hunter"
Bertha, smiled, and nodded mysteri-
ously.
"Well, you'll see. You shall be my
bridesmaid when / marry the gentle
man I have my eye on. Just wait-I
shall get him."
She spoke with all the confidence of q
beauty of eighteen, who felt that the
world lay at her feet, to be had for the
stopping and taking, and plain practical
Ethel was imbued with the contagion
of the girls positiveness.
eff the royal dover of beauty and
grace is infallible, you surely will win
your game, Bertha"
She looked with pardonable pride at
the girl, as she stood there, perfect
Venus in her rounded grace and SYM
metry of form, and the lovely sweetness
of the pure, pale face, with its full, ripe
lips of glowing scarlet its shadowy,
dark eyes, now alight with eagerness,
that were at times yelled SO splendidly
by the heavily dashed lids; its frame
work of jetty, shining hair with purple
lights athwart it.
Verify, if youth, beauty, fresh, win
ming grace, native refinement, and in
telligence were the passports to success,
Bertha Deane's battle was already more
than half fought.
"Thank you for your praises, Ethel
and really, I think myself I am too
choice jewel to remain outside of the
finest setting. I'm awfully vain, amt
I?-and suppose you think that I'm as
wicked as can be, don't you?"
Ethels indulgent smile treasured her
on that point.
81 think you are awfully wicked to
refuse poor Will Elmott."
Bertha's eyes opened in honest sur
prise.
"Will Elmott! why, Ethel, you are
crazy? Fancy me trying to manage on
fifteen hundred year."
Her look of mock distress was ire