Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-03


afford a girl to be Independent of taking
a husband she doesn't love, and make
her brave enough to face the world as
an old maid"
And the speaker wandered away,
singing, leaving the trio to further dis
cuss Sir Archie and his whim.
Violet was the niece of Mrs Bendel.
pool. Left an orphan with an income
of 9300, Ter aunt had offered her
home-a very happy one, where she
did pretty much as she liked. She
was dark, small featured, and not par
ticularly pretty, save in the pleasant,
mirthful expression of the countenance.
The Misses Bendelpool were handsome
and never regarded vi as a rival, for,
though she liked male society. she alb
horred and speedily stopped fattery or
sentiment.
The evening of the Sumner ball ar
rived. The Bendelpool house was in
commotion; the unfortunate lady's
maid was summoned from dressing
room 10 dressing-room, until she was
tired out of her ife. AS the last touch
es were given Mrs. Bendelpool entered,
smiling, holding two pasteboard boxes
in her hand.
"Nora and Clare" she said, "papa
had meant these for Christmas pres
ents, but he has forestalled them for
this evening"
The boxes opened the girls gave a cry
of delight--each contained a pearl
necklace, with pendant and earrings
to match. They were speedily
placed, and certainly "the Bendelpool
girls" looked, to use an Oxonians
words, mo end of stunning"
"Where is Vi?"
Here, my dear Nora, quite ready
to admire you," answered Violet, enter
ing, tastefully attired in an amber
gauzy, lacy fabric.
"Ciare, Sir Archie will feel like"
Don't say donkey between two
bundles of hay, Vi"
mo; like Macbeth, How happy
could 1 be with either" and descend
ing to the carriage, they drove to Sum-
ner abbey.
The ball was indeed grand one, and
Sir Archie Stockinman, broad should
cred, fair, brown haired frank, hand
some, bronzed young Englishman, was
the lion of the evening.
(Which is but fair" whispered vi,
considering the lions had so much of
their own way in Africa"
vi quizzed him nevertheless, danced
with him, and said he was very enter
tanning, and even possibly would I'M
prove on acquaintance.
The Bendelpoois and all the other
handsome girls danced with him and
declared he was divine.
Sir Archie seemed to have the same
opinion of his partners. He was gra-
ciousness itself.
aren't the Bendelpool girls jolly
handsome, Archie?" whispered George
Summer.
"Yes-very, indeedw
"Well, now, you have seen the beau
ty of Shallowtown, how about your Sc
lection of wife?"
at is made" was the reply.
'Made!"
eyes, if the lady will on,y be kind
enough to have me. | shall ask her
permission TOTO improve our acquain-
lance, with the Interior idea of partner
ship tonight"
Never"
True
FBut-but the peculiarity2"
"Out of all the crowd here" remark
ed Sir Archie, "Only one possesses it.
OF course am not compelled to marry
that one; but. as circumstances turned
out. think [ should like to try"
And with that Sir Archie strolled
away, dance forming. to find the lady
on whose tablet his name was down.
That lady WAS Violet.
They had very pleasant and chatty
spin just twice around the ballroom
vi remarked that dancing, like other
good things, was to be taken in modera-
ton. Then they stood aside, watching
the rest. Nora, leaning on the shout
der of George Sumner, whirled by;
soon after came Clare, with Col. Han
lev.
"a pretty, graceful scene," smiled
Sir Archie, especially TO one fresh
from the wilds of Africa. though even
here | find resemblances. The gems
and gold of the ornaments in the la
dies ears, as they flash by, remind me
OF the tire-fiies as they darted through
the dark tropical night"
'Do they recall to you nothing else,
Sir Archibald ?" inquired vi, roguishly.
Glow do you mean ?"
'That there's further resemblance;
indeed, that there's not much differ
ence between the African lady who
wears a ring through the nose or lip
and European one who wears one
through her ear. Is it not q remnant
of barbarlsm"
The baronet gave great start.
THAT decides me-" he exclaimed,
half aloud. "Miss Fortescue, may l
lead you to take an ice?"
Before that ice was consumed Sir
Archie had asked permission, very
humbly, for it was really a case of love
at first sight, to WOO vi, and after a
while had obtained half consent.
But" said vi, silly, as they returned
slowly to the ballroom, 81 understand
the lady you intend to honor"
Must have a certain peculiarly ?"
he broke in. "True, Miss Fortescue,
and you have it.
ZIP" calculated vi, smiling. "Good
Gracious %
Eyes, he repeated, smiling. "When
travelling in South Africa [ saw the
hideousness of the nose and lip-ring
worn by its races. The idea occurred
to me whether my fair countrv-women,
considering their superior cultivation,
were any better or less barbarous than
they. And there and then | vowed