Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-27
WINNING THE PRIZE.

81 shal! 70 10 the country well armed
Tor conquest. hats certain, laughed
Lou Harding, rich young widow,
tossing Il lie of dainty laces into the
lap of her Il companion with the in
junction TO hurry up and get those
nounces made as Soon As possible"
I've lc&. ned that Hugh Mansfield is
to spend part Of the summer there,
she went on, turning again to the
friend who had run in TO discuss with
her their plans for the season, "and Won
know, Fannie, what a magnificent
catch he is So | warn YOU in time
that we shall be deadly rivals, for of
course YOU viii try as hard as any Of
us to land the BIG fish -
"Oh, yield TO the inevitable at the
very outset, returned Fannie Reming-
ton, bantcr.ngly; for what earthly
chance viii my poor beauty have
against yous gold9' And there was
just 4 sufficient shade of truth in the
testing inquiry 10 make Mrs. Harding
vince little, for there was no deny
ing that her friend Fannie had, by far,
the advantage in the way of good looks,
But what viii Miss Wen bc doing in
the meantime while all the rest of us
are quarrelng over the great price,"
she added. turning, with one of her
charming smiles. TO Mrs. IIarding's
companion.
ooh, shall DC happy enough. never
fear, said the latter, returning the
smile with one equally as bright over
her lapful of laces Il shall not be
burdened with society cares and con-
guests. you know, so when Mrs.
Harding doesn't need me | shall be out
gathering wild flowers and exploring
natures beauties. dearly love the
country for itself.
Bravo cried Miss Remington.
Sayly, while Mrs. Harding merely
4rchcd her black brows and shrugged
her elegant shoulders, as if the likes or
dsikes of her paid companion were
several degrees beneath her notice.
When the season" was fairly in
augurated it found the young widow
and her party delightfully."- established
in one OF the quietest Of the fashion
able watering places ii there is such Il
ching as a place being quiet after
Fashion has once found il out.
1t is doubtful, however. if Mrs.
Harding would have chosen il rs the
favored spot wherein to display her
ravishing new toilettcs had it not been
FOR Hugh ManSlield's presence there.
For beneath her light jcsts upon the
subject was firm determined purpose
to win the handsome young million
airc in the face OF all possible rivalry
And it soon began to look as if she
had not made vain boast. Lou Hard
ing, if not a beauty, was quite pretty
enough TO turn = young mans head,
and her black eyes, fine figure and
coquettish airs were really bewildering
in the array of charming tennis suits,
dainty ber.bboned morning gowns and
eXqu site ball dresses. that displayed
them to the best advantage
And so Hugh Mansfield evidently
.hought. At least lie paid her many
catering attentions, and the pretty
widows heart ben, high with hope.
"Didn't tell YOU l meant TO win the
great prize" she retortcd. with = tr!-
amrhant snap in her black eyes, as
Fannie in mock Indignation. bantered
her upon getting the Ions share of the
young millonaire's attentions
"Whcn a young widow enters the
field Of conquest, YOU poor girls might
n well give up the struggle first as
last" she added, with a complacent
augh.
ESPECIALLY when she has tho ducats
with which to back up her other fas-
citations. laughed Fannie with a
saucy little grimacc.
We'll, as | never entered the lists
against you. | can afford to let you
boast little. Anyway, Hugh Mans
field .sn't the only conqucst---'
But here the young lady checked her
self abruptly. biting her saucy red lip,
while n sudden vivid color flushed her
pretty checks
"Oh, YOU may as well spare your
bushes, Fan; don't you suppose We can
all see which way the wind is blow
ing?" teased Mrs. Harding, with her
self-satisfcd little laugh. We'll, l adj
mre your taste as well as your discre-
ton. For since YOU can't have first
choice-catch OF the season, you know
why. Captain Carroll is certainly n
splendid substitute. y
I'D advise you not to count your
chickens &c, Lou. You know the
old proverb." retorted Fannie, a
wicked sparkle in her pleasant brown
eyes. Now. Miss Leslie here has
never word to say on the subject; yet
it wouldn't surprise me at all if the
If,,un1f - h.r