Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-10
THE REIGNING BELLE.

THE REIGNING BELLE.
1t was the great private ball of the
season, given by an acknowledged
leader of fashion, the widow of a mil
lionaire. There was all the usual
brilliancy of light, flash of jewels,
richness of costume.
Two gentlemen. with the slightly
bored expression of habitual frequent
ers of such scenes, stood together,
criticising rather freely the beauty be-
fore them.
II see some new faces Sidney
Carll said, his eyes sweeping over the
figures whirling to the sound of
Strass waltz.
..Some" echoed his companion. II
should imagine so after-how many
years?''
Eight. / have been away most of
the time; but even the Continent can
scarcely surpass this in private life,
Gordon" aud he turned quickly to
face his companion, his whole tone full
of excited interest t'Who is that tall
goddess in wine-colorcd velvet talking
to Mrs. Ersknep"
..You, toor' laughed his companion.
mo one sees Miss Bentley but asks
the question with the same eager
ness.
"Miss Bentley! But who is sheP"
''She is Mrs. Erskine's niece, for one
thing. She is the reigning belle of
three seasons, for another. She is un-
disputed possessor of several hundred
thousands, for another"
.'And still Miss Bentleyp"
"And still Miss Bentley; Us cold, as
unapproachable as one of the marble
goddesses in the wall-niches opposite
us. There is romantic story about
her. Her mother, so gossip asserts,
ran away with low sort of fellow,
who was an Adonis in humble life. She
died early. and this child was brought
up in poverty, in II country home, by
drunken father and an unkind aunt.
1t is no shame to repeat this, since, in
spite of Rer surroundings, she grew up
to noble womanhood. About six
years ago her father died, and, rclent-
ing. left her his entire fortune. Mrs.
Erskine, her mothers sister, already
wealthy, MS You know, instead OF re-
senting her fathers will, ut once sent
for her niece. put her ia the hands of
the best masters. ;t.rt i.uroluce,i iler to
society. She becl:i,r !. ,a'le ~: oncc
counts her admrcr, ny d, H. :. but
will give encolsru4, nlcni to nulI'
"A societ, lltl.'
4sYou were never more mistaken.
Miss Bentley does not exercise the first
principles of Irritation. She is a per-
feet Diana in coldness.
A'Yet wins other hearts, as--she has
won yours. 81
"Why should 1 deny itp No man
need blush to own he loves woman
he believes to be a perfect ideal Of
womanly perfection"
..Ah!"
Something in the tone of the excla-
nation made Frank Gordon look
searchingly into his companions face.
1t was u handsome face. 1t was an
evil face. The eyes were crafty and
cruel, the lips sneered too readily, and
never had eyes and lips more truly be-
trayed their possessor than at the mo-
ment when that .'Ah!' escaped him.
A deadly cold seemed to clutch for
one moment Frank Gordon's heart
What did this man know Of Hester
Bentley What diabolical meaning
was there in that cold, cruel smilep
While he looked, his companions
face altered. a look, that was almost
fear. crept into his eyes, and he grew
pale.
Following his glance, Frank Gordon
saw that it rested upon Hester Bent
ley's face, and saw in that face cor
responding look of terror, but far more
emphasized.
She was always pale, her rare beauty
of the statuesque order, but as he look
ed, he thought the sudden CHASTITY pal
lor was more suited to shrcud and cof-
fin than to velvet, jewels, and ballroom
glare.
AS bird approaches a serpent, fas-
cinated, so she came slowly towards
them, seeming to move more by mech
Anism than by volition of will. Slow
ly, slowly, unheeding some wondering
gazers. crossing the wide room alone.
threading her way past the dancers,
until she stood face to face with Sidney
CARL.
Her voice even was changed as she
said:
Sidney Carll!''
Eat your service," he said mocking-
~.
His voice seemed to break the
strange lev spell that bound her. and
she recognized Frank Gordon bya gem
lie inclination Of her stately head.
Where haEe you beenp she asked
Sidney, for eight yearsp'
.sAbroad!' he said briefly.
Leaving me to suffer thousand
deaths BY your silencep"
'.You Halter me- he answered, still
with his cruel mocking sinilc.
~ must speak with yOu. Mr.. Cor
don, = she said. ''and Mr.. Garll will not,
i think, refuse to hear me- Win YOU