River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-07-23

TIT FOR AT.
A Cure for Flirting.

y
waltz were floating over the perfumcd
crowd in Mrs. Powys-Jelf's brilliant
ball room; there were the stir and muir
murs Of separating couples, and the
iI-supprcsscd vawns Of weary wall
flowers that follow in the wake Of every
fashionable waltz; Mrs. Elmore, Young
American lady. bIcst with great beauty
and great wealth, and who with her
husband is staying at the Alexandra
Hotel, has succeeded III escaping from
her partner, and stands in the window
PLAYING careessly with the tuberoscs
aud ssaminc Of her bouquet; while
her lovely blue cyes-so LIQUID and in
nocent wander from place to place in
search Of some one whom she cannot
find
There were few more beautiful faces
than hers. even in that fashionable
throng, where halt the bellies of Bel
oravia had brought their diamonds and
bright ewes to dazzle the peers and pol
iticiauS and lawmakers OF the land
little below medium height, with
the fragile delicacy of fairy, her com
plexiou had the transparent waxen
bloom to be seen only in children. while
Ter heavy golden hIr lay over her low
her ewes were very dark blue-Iaroc
and yoiycty and translucent as a sap
phire, while q little crimson mouth.
curved like Cupid bow, gave piquancy
10 ner face.
She was as perfect a specimen Of
radiant blonde as one sees out Of a
picture gallery or novel.
Suddenly hcr checks flushed a deli
-, D. . M
gant-Iookiug man languidly s9uutcrcd
towards her
stephen, thought you were never
coming
I've only been in the supper-room
few moments, my dear sorry YOU 30
missed me. Anything can do for YOU
now"
'.Yes-do get my wraps and ian, ana
wen go home. It's after one. and I'm
completely tired out =
Couldn't, my dear" said Mr.. FL
more. breaking moss-rosc bud from
his wite's bouquet, aud fastening il
jauntily in the button-hoIe Of MS coat
I'm engaged for three waitzcs and
quadrlIe with Miss Dunbar, aud She
would never forgive YOU for OBTAINING
me
Bertha's lip curlcd haughtily. and a
deeper flush stole over her sweet face.
jealous -eh2' laughed her nus
band, patting her bright head lightly.
Now, Bertha, that's too silly OF you.
Don't you know that, at place like
this, q man is Ctpected to make him.
self agreeable to the ladies? Pray. my
dear, don become so absurd us to
''And 80, = interrupted Mrs. EImore,
bitterly, '.vouf wife, wishes and coa-
venicnce are secondary to Miss Dun
bar Will.
The green-eyed monster has in
yadod Jour peace, my love. said Mr..
Emore. Upon my word, | have
given you credit for little more com
mon sense
stephen" said Bertha.~ quietly,
and without needing the careless sar-
Casm OF his tone, Il am weary OF this
senseIess gaiety. l am sick of the
whirl and vanities Of the London sea
son. Will you take me home to the
dear old Rookery?"
Nv hy, Bertha, after all your anN-
iety to spend Il season in London! You
have been teasing me ever since we
were married to indulge you in this.
Il know it, Stephen" she meckly
answered, trying TO keep back her
tears; .'but | have learned the folly OF
seeking real pleasure anywhere but in
our own home. Ny taste tor gaiety is
satisfied, and You can't imagine how
homesick feeI-how anxious TO see
the dear little ones again. When can
you take me home, stephens?
Next week, perhaps, my love, II
you insist upon it. :"
.Oh, Stephen! why not tomorrow
impossible Bertha! am positive
Ii engaged for every day this week,
for drives and excursions in the sub
urbs OF the Metropolis. y
Engaged" repeated Bertha. open
ing her blue eyes. Il know nothing
Of these engagements.
mo, my dear! | suppose not, )" said
Elmore, lazily. Did you imagine |
was going to ask your permission if |
wanted to drive out with a lady, on
smoke a cigar with two orthrea gentle
men?'
Bertl.a's Tip quivered, and she turned
quietly away.
stephen Elmorc looked at her with
On amused expression in his eye, and n
LaIt-smile on his lips.
shes Jealous, as ] liver he NUT
tered jealous of Georgina Dunbar
and the pretty little widow Wen. let
her pout il out at her leisure; it will
never do to encourage this sort Of
thing.
Ii lie could have seen her a few mo-
ments later Gust when he was whirl-
ing through the waltz with Miss Dun
bar. her beautiful brunette face touch
ING his shoulder) sobbing in quiet
room upstairs. to which she had re
tired under preteuce of being unweli
sut really to indulge in that one blessed
source OF relief that is always open to
women-a good cry;-if Stephen FL
more could have seen his wife just
then. the sight might do him good,
though it is not always best TO let
man know the full extent of his power
over that poor captive. his wife, rs the
sex takes 4 delight in torturing its vic
tim. So when Bertha wept showers
81 tears. making her eyes and face red
and damp, and sobbed until she burst
some Of the fastenings Of her bail
dress. she felt better.
.'What shall | doa. she cried, rs she
bathed her burning eyes and rearrang-
"a Der rlittering hJir. Il wish / had
never come away from homo Ill is X
Judgment on me. was so happy be-
fore | launched into this hollow, de-
Ceitful whirlpool Of fashion.
She again burst into tears as She re-
memhered her husbands last words.
Il shall not go back to the ballroom
anv more tonight. 1t would please
Georgiua Dunbar to see MY eyes red.
Ii was cruel OF stephen to speak in
that sneering way to me. she sobbed.
Have LOST all the spells lac used TO
toll me l possessed?
She Shrank back as If some rude
hand had struck her, as Miss Dunbar's
clear. metallic laugh suddenly hoated
up, audible through the closed door OF
her room. And then she set her red
lips together. and q new loo6 came
into the liquid depths OF her wet blue
eyes.
The gilded hands of the Partisan
clock on the mantel had travelled near
IL twice round the cirejel Of enamelled
figures before Bertha Eimore lifted her
gaze from tho punches OF velvet roses
ia the carpet. What was she thinking
Of?
..Sitting ~ en-, Bertha? Why. l
thought tuu g,ere g.ge,t - death, said
Mr. Elmore as he entered the room,
and lis wife laid down her book aud