Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-08-19
WINNING THE PRIZE.

Il Shall 60 to the country well arme'
for conquest that's certain" laughed
Lou Harding, rich young widow
tossing pile of dainty laces into tn
lap of her paid companion with the in
junction TO "hurry up and get thos,
flounces made as soon as possible. "
"I've learned that Hugh Mansfield il
to spend part of the summer there
she went on, turning again to Tho
friend who had run in to discuss will
her their plans for the season, land YOU
know, Fannie, what magnificent
-catch he is. So ! warn you in time
that we shall be deadly rivals, for OF
course you will 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. banteringly; -''for what earthly
chance will my poor beauty have
against your goldP" And there was
just sufficient shade of truth in the
testing inquiry to make Mrs. Harding
vince little, for there was no7leny-
ing that her friend Fannie had, by far,
the advantage in the way of good looks,
"But what will Miss Weir be doing in
the meantime while all the rest of us
are quarreling over the great prize?'
she added, turning, with .one of her
charming smiles, to Mrs. Harding $
companion.
"Oh, shall be 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-
quests, you know, so when Mrs.
Harding doesn't need me l shall be out
gathering wild flowers and exploring
natures beauties. l dearly love the
country for itself"
"Bravo!' cried Miss Remington,
gayly, while Mrs, Harding merely
arched her black brows and shrugged
her elegant shoulders, as if the likes or
dislikcs of her paid companion were
several degrees beneath her notice.
When the season was fairly in
nugurated it found the young widow
and her party delightfully."- established
in one of the quietcst of the fashion
able watering places, if there is such Il
thing as place being quiet after
Fashion has once found it out.
1t is doubtful, however, if Mrs.
Harding would have chosen it as the
favored spot wherein to display her
ravishing new toiletteS had it not been
for Hugh Mansfeld's presence there.
For beneath her light jcsts upon the
subject was firm determined purpose
to win the handsome young Million
aire in the face of all possible rivalry.
And it soon began to look rs if she
had not made vain boast. Lou Hard
ing, if not q beauty, was quite pretty
enough to turn Young mans head,
and her black eyes, fine figure and
cOquettish airs were really bcwiIdcring
in the array of charming tennis suits,
dainty bcrbboned morning gowns and
exquisite ball dresses, that displayed
them to the best advantage.
And so Hugh Mansfield evidently
thought At least he paid her many
flattering attentions, and the pretty
widows heart beat high with hope.
Didn't l tell you l meant to win the
great price," she retortcd, with a tri-
umphant snap in her black eyes, as
Fannie, in mock Indignation, bantered
her upon getting the lions share OF the
young millionaires attentions.
when young widow enters the
field of conquest, you poor girls might
as well give up the struggle first as
last" she added, with complaccnt
laugh.
Especially when she has the ducats
with which to back up her other fas-
cinations laughed Fannie, with a
saucy little grmace.
"Well, as | never entered the lists
against you. can afford to let you
boast little. Anyway, Hugh Mans
field ISN'T the only conquest
But here the young lady checked her
self abruptly, biting her saucy red lip,
while a 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?' leased Mrs. Harding, with her
selfsatisfied little laugh. ''Wcll, l adj
mire 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 a
splendid substitute"
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
big fish were to land himself in her
modest net, despite all the rich widows
and manageable girls who are just
dying to capture him."
Miss Remingtonr'
There was q thrill of indignant sur
prise in the clear, sweet tones rs Leslie
Weir, with an abrupt, startled move
ment lifted her head from the book she
had been reading, paying little atten-
ton to the confidential chat which had
been going on, as usual, regardless OF
her presence.
For it seemed to be q cardinal point
in the rich young widows creed to
treat her hired dependents as If they
were mere sticks or stones.
Leslie could not feel angry with the
charming girl who always championed
her cause so sweetly-"spoiled her, y
was Mrs. Harding's version of it; but
there was proudly reproachful look
in the large, deep gray eyes that shot
such swift glance toward the speak
or, and q hot wave of crimson dvaC