Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-16
NJ ISs LIRRI z Tp'S Il VERS.


Miss Lirripip had.a pretty face and
Eve thousand d year, not to speak of ex,
pectations. Pretty faces are common
enough, even in these days of tagricul
tural depression and staguant trade
but a girl with FIVE thousand a year is {
variety, and q girl with i've thousand {
year and a pretty face into the bargain
is IA positive phenomenon, and. as suct
cannot fail to be greatly admired by I
number of more orless eligible young
men with taste for beauty Of the more
substantial kind. Even mi Idle-age
bachelors awoke from their habltual in
difference when, on being introduced to
a lovely damsel Of two-and-twenty they
are conscious that the possessor Of {
considerable fortune stands before them
for, although money is the root of al
evil, it is root which most people very
willingly undertake the risk Of cultiva
ton. "
Since Lydia Llrripip was TO US beauti
full and thus rich, it is not surprising thai
she had not only admirers-mel who
dared to wish uncertain things-but low
ers, too; men who had the presumption
to hope. 1t is true that Lydia encour-
aged none of them, for she WAS quite
satisfied to live at home with her father
General Lirripip, in Bruton street,
GrosvenOr square, and to ride in Rotton
Row in the morning and to drive in the
park in the afternoon. But, fortunately
young men do not require encourage
ment; nay, In certain affairs the less en-
couragement they receive the greater
their persistency becomes. And, CON
sidering that eal:hily-constituted Young
women seldom, If ever, give any encour.
ragement to young men, the persistency
Of these latter in the face of alarming
difficulties is matter on which all Of us
may heartily Congratulate ourselves. In
deed, but for the persistency who knows
whether the world would 20 round?
1t was in the height of the London
season, and LYDIA Lirripip went witt,
her father che evening to great ball
at the Countess of Carnaby's. Every
body was there-every body, that is OF
rank and !ashlon--and ere she had been
in the brightIy-lignted rooms for five
minutes Lydia was engaged for all the
dances On the programme. Now, to the
most OF her partners she was only en-
gagged for single valse or a polka, but,
for old acquaintance sake, or for some
other reason, she allowed three gentle
men 10 take two dances each. 1t was no
doubt very indiscreet of her to do 50.
But, in ono case, at least, it was also
very good-natured Of her, for she per-
mitted old Sir PertinaX Poplnjay who
IS everyone knew, was far to stiff and
equity to move about properly--to put
down his name for the only two sets OF
lancers: Sir Pert,nax was effusively
grateful and smiled his sweetest upon
her when he returned her programme.
anu Lydia: instead OF regretting her
kindness felt thoroughly rewarded by
the gray-haired b,ronet, who, thirty
years before, had been noted dandy
but who now struck her as being simply a
prosy old elbow, whom very few girls
would be likely to dance with. Lycia's
other favored partners we're Mr.. Horace
Freake-a young artist who had tina.
year for the first time exhibited at the
Royal Academv-and Mr.. Merton Muir.
ley, a man who lrad no profession and
no occupation, and who, if he had pri.
vate income, derived it from source
not generally known even to bis friends
In Ibis world many strange coinciden
ces happen. Two chemists have been
known to make exactly the same dis
covery on the same day; and two as
tronomers have claimed to catch sigh
of e. new comet at almost the same mo
ment. 1t is not, therefore, incredible
that, while dancing these six dances
with her three favored partners, Lytii,
casually mentioned to each Of them that
upon the following evening, her fathe
was going to take the chair at the annu
al meeting Of tho Society for the En-
enlargement of Coldwater Bathing OF
the Continent; that she was not going
but would be alone at home; that sh,
wished the girls were able, like men, t
amuse themselves; and that she envie'
her partners their clubs, their theaters
and their sociable smoking concerts
Nor is ii incredible that, having hear
thus, Sir Pertinax Popinjay MI
Horace Freake, and Mr.. Merton Murle
all made up their minds to call on Mis-:
Lirripip upon the following evening
and to make to her certain avowas
which, although they had long medita
ted them, they now felt impelled t
make as soon as possible, and withou
any unnecessary delay. What thes
avowals We're may be & essed; but VIII
the three gentlemen al determined .
the same time to make them is cues
ton that cannot be explained, although
the fact that Lydia that evening looked
even prettier than usual may posslbl,
have been one Of the causes of the ex
traordinary coincidence.
Lydia little dreamed, when in tho
morning she dropped off to sleep, 0
what was hang ing over her. Sir Pertin'
ak had made no sign; Mr.. Murley nat
not been more attentive than had fo
some time been his wont; and MIR. Freak
had been actually more dull and unin
teresting than Miss Lilripip had eve
seen b m. She therefore slept soundly
and was undisturbed by fears OF tlt
coming evening and it's visitors.
The following day WAS wet. I'll,
General, who had for many years hvet
in India, and had liver which caused
him to be soulen hat lrascible, shut him
self up in the library, and savagel,
studied the STATISTICS Of cold-water bath.
ing; and Lydia, who coulu not 90 out
painted in her heudoir. The Lirripips
dlned at hait-paht 5, to enable the Gen
eral to get to the meeting at half-past 7
and as he bad taken no exer ise during
the day, and had been quite unaole t.
master all the information. he required
relative to the average of cleanliness up
on the Continent, ,Ly dia's father was no
in the best Of TEN pers. ''Sit up for me- u
he said; II shall be in by half-past II.
These were his last ~7ords, as, the car
riage having been announced, he hur
rie.l away from the table, stopping fol
All instant 81 Lvdia's side to kiss hel
hastily on the top of the head. Ant
Miss Lirrpip was left alone in solitar,
grandeur, sitting ut one end of tn
dining room. She did not stay ther.
long, but went to the drawing-roem
whittier she, hads q servant bring tw,
eandlts, which bat .dimly lighted tn,
large Apartment, Then, taking her sea
at rhe piano, Lydia began to play ant
sing alternately. - b. 7@s ~. s>%r +,
The draw,ng,room at Bruton stree
Was like many other London drawing
u ~ I'LL 8 /,