Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-21

tentive and studious child, and at the
age of sixteen years had mastered the
French and German languages, was
a fluent cOnversationalist and a bril-
liant performer on the pianoforte.
Her parents fairly idolized her.
THE TEMPTER.
Six months before she was to gradu
ate she met man with whom she fell
desperately in love. To all outward
appearances he reciprocated her af-
fection. Meetings were clandestinely
arranged and frequently had. Finally
he proposed an elopement. To this
she demurred. Thoughts of her kind
parents for time rose uppermost in
her mind She could not desert them
in their old age. Despite her refusal
to go with him her lover continued
his protestations of undying affection
Some weeks went by when he again
importuned her to fly with him. Over
powered by her love she consented.
One dark, rainy night she left the
school, and IN the company of her
lover took the train for Philadelphia.
The pair stopped in the City Of Broth
erly Love for a few weeks, when the
mans professional engagements, for
he was an actor, called him to New
YORK. She accompanied him thither.
They lived together for a month, when
another actress, attracted the fancy Of
her oaramour. and be deserted her
With but few dollars she was left
alone In a great city. She did not re-
main that way long, for soon wealthy
stock-5roker importuned her to be-
come his mistress. She consented.
One day, after she had been living
with this man about month, she was
driving in Central Park. The carriage
she was in whirled past one contain
ing her father and mother, who were
evidently visiting New York wiCh a
lingering hope that they might find
their errIng child. She saw them, bat
they drove past without seeing her.
FLIGHT TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Fearful that if she remained longer
in the city she would be discovered
by them, she packed her trunk, pur-
chased ticket for this city, and with
about $3.50 in cash, and diamonds
worta $4,000, the girl of the broker,
she left the city. Upon her arrival
she proceeded to the place on Ellis
street. The Madame" Of the house,
struck by her beauty and intellectual
appearance, at once installed her in
the house.
| During the two years that passed
since first she became an inmate she
made many acquaintances, both male
and female, and not q few friends.
Her most intimate companion was a
woman named Lottie Edwards, living
On Market street, above Third. The
| two women were constantly together.
Both were handsome and remarkably
| free from these traces of their class.
Both were accomplished; the Fintellec-
tlallty of Mollie Dinsmore gave her a
| peculiar attractiveness not possessed
by her frail companion. This fact
while IN itself it did not appear sufi
| Gent ground for an estrangement of
! the two, was really a source of great
| annoyance to Lottie Edwards, and
the two frequently quarreled.
Now, Lottie had a lover" one of
those miserable wretches who prey off
the fallen women about town. His
name was Geo. Morris. He had the
reputation of having been, in his
early days, a member of an aristo-
cratic family n Pennsylvania, but
had gone to ruin on fast and reck-
less career and had been disowned
by his family This man had become
much enamored of Mollie Dinsmore,
but she repulsed his advances with
contempt. This fact Jared on his
vanity, and down deep in his heart
he treasured a longing for revenge.
Morris endeavor TO attract the smiles
OF her friend were noticed by Lottie
Edwards and turned her friendship
TO enmlty. Cunning and crafty,
however, she determined to simulate
friendship, that she might be better
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