Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-10-18
AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT,

Frts eN y EAtGO EH0 &HN GsIsHf&NE IL
A pretty girl, scarce numbering twenty
summers, III dainty room, surrounded
by all her own dainty belongings, is the
scene on which our curtain rises.
The small jeweled fingers hold a card
on which are penciied these words:
g Introducing my friend, Jack Des-
mond." Below is the writer's own
name-Eilis Mnton-this in the en-
graver's bestform; but the latter's name
Is written elsewhere as well, on no less
a spot than Sydney Collins heart-for
she is Ellis Minton's betrothed wife.
How often has she heard of this friend
who now awaits her coming in her IA
theirs drawing room.
'' A royal fellow among men, but ut
terly impregnable to women; currying
danger always; always escaping him
self
This so often had been the burden of
her lovers strain, and was she ever to
see and Judge for herself?
What wonders that her heart beat a
little quicker, OF that, snatching up a
fragrant bunch Of red roses from her
toilet, she fastened them at the slender
waist, making the only spot of color on
the white cashmere gown, and giving
her the finishing touch needed to make
her look as though she mad stepped out
of some picture frame?
Evidently some such thought as this
crossed the mans mind, who started to
his feet as the radiant vision met his
view.
Eyes, he is dangerous, was Sydney's
n TH 10 CHI OIa init
the handsome, bearded face and recog-
nized the power which might lie in those
laughing brown eyes. should their
laughter turn to earnest tenderness.
Danger! Yes; but not to her.
Wrapped IN Ellis love, surely she was
invincibIe
Suppose--suppose she tried the ex-
pertinent of making him feel? Had the
thought really given itself definite
shape?
She hardly recognized it; yet, with
her hand one moment clasped in a
strong, warm clasp, her ear catching a
few murmuring words of courteous
pleasure at the meeting, she felt as does
the war horse shifting the scent of battle
from affair, and eager for the fray.
"Do you know" her visitor sad,
when he rose to take his leave at the end
of an hour, as marked by the clock-as
scarce half that time Sidney would have
said had she been asked" do you know
/ no longer wonder at Minton's anxiety
to turn Benedict? VIII you pardon me
when I add that a little curiosity
prompted my desire TO see you to-day,
and to learn how strong must be
the temptation to forego bachelorhood.
GIVE must tempt you In turn to fol-
low Ellis example" she answered, with
a blush.
Had he not set it l should have been
more tempted, was the grave reply.
Five minutes later she was alone. Mr..
Desmond was to be a guest in the city
fortnight. During that time she should
see him often. Already she anticipated
it with pleasure.
That night she wrote her betrothed:
CT have seen your friend; he pre-
you paint me to him in the glowing
colors you SO often have painted his por-
trait to me, and If he, as [, laughed at
your enthusiasm, found the reality
brighter than the picture? I fear not.
[ fear in me he must have been disap-
pointed; but In him I am not only not
SIS OuU 4c IoASOI WOHOC1 d1 JOuI
strange love for him. But one thing is
wanting; his heart Is sleeping. All wo-
men are to him alike Do you know [
feel tempted to make him single me
cut Do you know feel tempted to
rouse the sleeping lion from his lair +?
Shall try, Ellis? It would be an in
teresting experiment.
Three days later she wrote again:
F'You were quite aight, dear, in your
delineation of your friends character.
Do you know, fancied 1 had made upon
him slightly favorable impression suf-
fcient for him TO return and have it
.deepened-at least, sufficient for me to
have the opportunity to test the inter-
esting experiment of which 1 last wrote
you-but evidently the latent dis trust
of the sex has awakened. / have not
seen him since his first call, which could
not, am sure, have exceeded twenty
minutes in length. All my hopes of
causing you to suffer from the pangs of
the green-eyed monster have fed. He
refused to be charmed, charm l never so
wisely"