New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-04-21
BAD BETTE BENNETT.

BY HARRIET PRESCOTT sPOFFORD.
There is no moral at all to what I
am going to tell you about Bette Ben
trl<tt At least the real fact OF the
case is that it is all very immoral.
But that's neither here nor there.
had been watching the play some
Hime-I, generally looked upon by the
fortunate others as an old maiden
ssady probably without experience, and
certainly without hope. The play
went on at the seaside; serious play,
for the stakes were high, high as when
some old eastern potentate risks his
'1ovely Circassian girl, body and soul
Ito his antagonist. The players were
mot eastern potentates, but all the
:the same, lovely girls, body and soul,
were the stakes. used to think Of it
when saw Laura Stockwood, that
stately beauty, and Jeanette Dean,
Ghe dashing one, and Caro- and Elsa
and the rest. And among the rest
could one forget Betty Bennett? She
was not a person who allowed herself
TO he forgotten.
And yet you did not understand
what it all meant, this Juror about
her. She was not a beauty; she had
no accomplishments to speak OF; she
was not an heiress. But she had ev-
~erything her own way the summer
through. Ii you had to describe her
you would say she was dark and
slender little person, with arch ways
land the gayest laugh in the world; and
that would be all there was about it.
AL there was about it? Oh, not in
'ttte least! In the first place, there was
She readiest wit, the greatest good
mature, the most perfect grace. In the
next place, there were the most won
derful toilettes. This morning robe
OF filmy blue India silk, garnished with
Aace OF the same slight hue, and finished
with q collarette and chatelaine of
sold carnelian beads, not to be bought
now for love or money; this bathing
dress OF burlap dripping with rock
crystals, and worn under cloak Of
white plush, thrown off at the right
moment for the wave; this distracting
dinner dress OF white silk bound about
with autumn leaves, nothing but a
strip OF the bright vine making the
shoulder strap; and to-morrow's BRAY
cry as fine as this, with soft, creamy
woods made softer with their edgings
of ostrich tips, cambrics sheer as boar
frosts, and covered with thread lace,
austrous satins of pale rose fitting per-
fectly the perfect shape, and dark vel
vets and tulles and gauzes; and now
a brocade stiff with gold thread, such
as they might have worn in the days
Of Madici; and now a black Spanish
Lace, with high comb and mantilla
ttglas&J, taken with her little foot, made
AN Andalusian OF her
Well" said to her, after week
Or SO, as she rested by me moment,
SIT must cost all Of fortune to dress
you. Idon't see where you get it..
$50 it does,' she said, with encour-
aging frankness. "Take my tollettes
and gloves and boots and folderols
and aN, and the interest OF it would
cake care of one poor person for life.
asn't it wicked?" and She looked at
me with an irresistible drollery.
eyes, I think it is" said I. For I
had known Miss Bette OF old, and I
knew that if she got through this sum-
aner alive, she wouldn't have one pen
zny left.
s.And the worst OF it is" continued
:she, 'sthat when you think you have
enough for a queen. you find you've
only made a beginning, and have to
Keep ordering more from Pelisser and
from Bobinet and the others. It won't
do to be suspected OF any tarnish.
You must be fresh, or nothing. Why,
I'm in debt up to my eyes"
Bette, l don't know what you can
think of YOURSELF said, in conster-
nation, 'You have nothing to pay
with. It's dishonest; it's-it's swim
ding"
"No, it isn't. It's my business. If
4 carry out my plans, my pin-money
5next year will pay my debts"
"And if you don't?"
"Well, then, they can have the things
Eback"
"Bettie!"
''To look out for that is more troub-
de than ! can take, with all the rest
shat have. Pm in for it. I've got
20 do it. And I've got to be a sue
cess"
"Bettie, if people knew about you,
you'd be anything but a success"
II don't intend they shall. And it's
q pity if I can't trust you"
'You can-you can. | don't APP
7prove OF you, but shan't hurt you.
II you were content to sit STILL as lido
I'm one or two gowns, and see the show
go by"
1'And let somebody else marry