Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-26

hllet of pink ribbon, and diamonds spark.
led Ike so many big, hmped dewdrops on
her pretty fingers. She was a brilliant lit
tie brunette, with peachyred cheeks, long,
carS eyelashes. and brows as black and
perfectly arched as if they had been out
hned with q pencil dipped in jet.
Opposite to her, al the mirror, between
the two windows, q tall, slender girl of
eishteen wa trying on a plain, little, black
silk bonnet.
Are you going already, EstelleY" yawned
the Orientaleyed beauty.
u must, cousin Laura. | have a les
son to give at one o'clock ct Mrs. Deme.
ty's."
Busy little beer' laughed Miss St. Os.
borne. Really, Stella, you make me al
most ashamed ofmy own dolce far niente
life"
"But you are rich, Laura. and 1 am
poori"
Nevertheless, you will not accept pscu.
mary aid from me, you haughtyspirted
damselH'
Estelle st. Osborne shook her head.
so / must RENAME alone to receive the
visit OF my handsome little adorer, Paul
Persimmon laughed Laura. 'Estelle
looked keenly at her.
Laura, do YOU like Mr.. Persimmou?'
"a little" was the gaily defiant answer.
You do Lott"
IL have only seen him at q distance, you
know-6ut to me he seems frivolous and
shallow
Hess very handsome" Laura dreamily
observed.
"Ies, but beauty is not everything"
And, so speaking, Estelle st. Osborne lett
the room.
Three hours af;erward she re.entered to
find Laura still alone.
well, did you enjoy Mr.. Persimmon's
Laura pouted her pretty cherry lips.
Mr.. Persim non D. 8 not been here at all,
Estelle," she answered.
"But | thought he asked permission to
call en- you this morning.
$50 he debut it seems that he has not
decided to avail himself of the granted per-
mission, Estelle!" with q bright, sudden toss
of the lefty cascade of curls, "lets go for a
walk down Fifth Avenue-it is to lovely a
day to shut ones self up in the housed"
And the two cousins set of for a walk on
the fashionable th~oroughfare.
As luck, or rather Cupid, would have it,
almost the first person they met was Mr..
Paul Persimmon himself, sauntering grace
fully along, in his ~pearlcolored suit and his
ebony cane. one arm passed throu % that OF
a gentleman-not, however, Major Miltoil,
this time.
Laura's face brightened-she half paused
but Mr.. Persimmon, averting his counte
nance. hurried away, and she could hear
him say in a quiet and audible voice:
"a mere music.teacheri was never SO
astonished in all my life! Why, | sup
posed-'
And distance swallowed up the remainder
of the speech.
Laura St. 0sborne's cheeks flashed scar,
let with indignation-her heart throbbed
high.
"Estelle!" she said, you are right. H
is a fool, and q shallow one, at that"
Miss 81. Osborne met him at a party that
selt'same evening, but neither sought the
companionship of the other. The subtle
chains had been snapped asunder-the cleo.
tric charm dissolved!
A moment afterward Mr.. Perslmmon met
q friend on the street, or rather an acquaint,
ance, one Mr.. Howard Boynton.
MY dear fellow he cried, Selling him
BY q button OF the coat, lis it true that |
hear about your
us what true?' Mr.. Boynton demanded,
composedly.
That you are engaged to Miss St. Os-
borne"
Quite true!"
Miss Laura St. Osboruef'
Yes
'Bu;-she is q music teacher
That would make not q hairs difference
in nv estimate of her, ev n were il true.
Mr.. Boyntou haughtily observed. "But it
happens that you are completely mistaken.
Miss Estelle st. Osborne gives lessons in
music, thereby elevatlng herself in my esti
nation through her high souled indepand
ence; but her cousin, Miss Laura, is heiress
to q fortune, in her own right, of over one
hundred thousand dollarsY' And Mr..
Boynton, extricating himself from the grasp
of the perfumed little dandy, walked quietly
on, leaving the latter gentleman transtixed
with establishment and dismay.
lie had let the heiress slip through his
fingers after ALL And a hundred dollars
Paul Persimmon grew pale as ne thought Of
It'll
Its all Milfoirs fault he cried queru-
louslv to himself. but | never will believe
what people say again
What a pity it was that our dapper lit
tie hero's good resolutions had come too
late.