Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-10-02
WISCONSIN,. THURSDAY. OCTOBER ,, 1879.

- e-1f fta tIs
fortune without any iucumbrance in
my person
And a good radiance to bad rub,
bish, says r. cried Betsy. There
are better fish in the sea than va
or women would be poorly off. You
re going, eh We'll the sooner The
better Miss Smith, ring the bell
Elsie arose and touched the bell.
But now that the deed was done and
her object attained, she ',.t s-haineu
of herself Certainly more an ap.
py and singular object than this be
tore her could not well be imagined.
Indeed, compassionate as was her
heart, she ielt that his appearance
was not only painful, but aImost la.
dicrous, but all the more ehoull he
have been tenderly and kindly used.
Why had she played this childish
prank, and allowed vulgar woman
to insult him in her presence And
this gentleman--for hideous as be
was, he evidently was a gentleman
by breeding as well as by birth-how
would he henceforth think of her
He would always believe that she
had uttered those rude words. she,
and none other.
As he left the room she followed
him, and the servant who had an.
swered the bell, retired at nod, and
left the two together In the long hall,
where they could hear the long and
violent explosions of laughter with
which Betsy was now filing the
drawing-room.
'Mr. Harrington said Elsie, her
face crimsoning as she spoke, Il can.
not let you go without word of ex-
PLANTATION. II have been so grieved
that you should be SO grossly insult
ed | never meant
My dear young lady; you have
nothing to do with it, and my feelings
are not in the least hurt replied the
young man.
Who could care for anything what
a person like the woman we have
just left could say? But | am
amazed that that should be Miss Sea
bright. | know she is lady by
birth | understood that she was
beautiful and gentle, -
'Oh, Mr.. Harrington, cried Elsie,
Il have been such foolish girl
She is not Miss Seabright. lit
was a ridiculous stratagem of mine.
| hated the idea of betrotnal to a
stranger, and / desired that you
should take the initiative in the
breaking of our match. But, be-
lieve me, l had no knowledge oil
your infrmities, which could only be a
subject of sympathy to me /; and | beg
you to forgive me for placing that
coarse woman in a position in which
she could insult you. Prove it by
remaining with me until can offer
you some refreshment after your long
journey
The young man bowed, looked a.
her moment, and then replied
frankly, MADAM, l quite appreciate
your motives, and entirely forgive
you. | am pleased to accept your
invitation
1t was the custom in well arranged
houses at that day to send guests tn
their rooms for a while before din
ner. Accordingly Miss Seabrighl
ordered a servant to show Mr.. Har.
rington to an apartment on the upper
floor, and retired to her own room to
dress for dinner.
Ten minutes after her entrance in
to this apartment, the servant brough,
her large bundle and small note
"a bundle several feet long, and a
note a few inches square. She
opened the note first, aud read these
words -
MY DEAR MSS STARLIGHT
also have confession to make | also
before | met you, had resolved that you
should he the one to decline the conditions
of our fathers wills, intending afterwards to
give you back your share Of the property
Consequently, | set about devsing a scheme
and reading my school-day letters, it ocs
cured to me that no one ever went through
so MANY small accidents quite unscathed and
unmarried before. | knew that few women
would choose to marry very hideous man
consequently concocted disguise which |
fancied would make me repugnant to the fail
sex. Allow me to lay at your feet my
crntches, which never needed my hump
which was a feather pillow, the skul-cap
which did not hide bald pate, and all my
bandages and patches The vermilion which
adorned my nose | have removed with little
water; and though obtained my invitation
to dinner under false pretences, | beg to bt
allowed to pay my respects to you in proper
person, and to apologize for my trick, which
after all, dear madam, was only tit for tat.
HAROLD HARRINGTON
AT first Elsie was unreasonable
angry, but her anger din not last
long. They met at dinner, and be.
fore they parted it was quite con
Guided that they should carry out the
wishes of their parents, by agreeing
to dine together always.