Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-07

A class of women has been developed
from these conditions, whose exravagant
luxuriousneSs of taste rivals that of the
famous empress who drank dissolved
pearls
Felicia Dewey was one Of these. Born
and reared in poverty, with this new
prospect OF riches before her no fabric
was rich enough, no jewels costly enough
to satisfy her taste.
As the prospects of the Euchre began
TO realize" she indulged in many secret
schemes that filled her thoughts by day
and night; schemes that wOud have
startled even the two reckless spectators
who controlled its products.
She fairly overwhelmed Mrs. Byrnes,
one day, by description of some Of the
splendors OF wedding trousseau u that
she was planning.
Good landr' Mrs. Byrnes' generous
amplitude Of person seemed actually to
swell with astonishment, as she listened,
Il don't see, for my part, how you ever
knew there were such things"
Felicia laughed, showing her little
white teeth, whose irregularity gave
piquancy to her smile.
ITS genius for spending money,
Mrs Byrnes; it's like gift for music or
mathematics. | am not gifted in other
directions, but | love beautiful things
just wait little and you shall see.."
One night Jack came to take her out
for a walk, that they might enjoy to-
gether a little of that privacy so dear to
lovers, denied them by the narrow limi
tations of the Byrnes establishment.
The night was dark, with but few stars
visible; the wind swept through the
branches of the trees, rustling the dry
leaves that Clung there, and now and
then the loud bark Of a dog broke the
stiffness.
Dull lights, scattered up and down the
gulch, showed the location of the differ
ent mining camps: everything about the
village, from its muddy, struggling
streets to its rough pincboard shanties,
looked barren and desOlate.
The lovers strolled slowly along,
Felicia clinging to Jack s arm; their talk,
as usual, about the mine.
II feel as if had never lived my true
life, Jack" Felicia was saying. Ever
since my childhood have SO lOnged for
luxury, and we have been so poor. You
have heard of the mirage, Jack, well, it
is like that T.. sec always before ones
eyes the loyeliest lace, filmy and soft as
8 cloud; lustrous, shimmering silks, with
II sheen like reflected moonlight; jewels
that glow and burn like stars, silken fur
niture and perfumed light, and then be
chained to this
She waved her hand in scornful gest-
ure, but Jack caught it, and pressd it to
his lips.
1T shall be no mirage, dear; you shall
have them all, and as much more as you
like We will 60 to Paris and astOnish
those poverty stricken counts and shabby
milOrds with American ideas of living.
In month more the Euchre will be at
high water mark
ITO Paris Felicia gave a soft sigh
of rapture. "Oh, Jack! think of the bon
nets, the gowns, the laces-"
She stopped short. In the dim light
of the dusk Jack saw her eyes, fixed in a
dilated, wandering stare, a mOmentary
Inconsistencies that held her spellbound
"Feliciar'
He caught her by the arm and shook
her, almost roughly, in his excitement
She smiled, as the look of returning con-
sciousness came into her face.
'I'ye been there, Jack" She spoke
like one awaking from a sleep. II know
now what It's like.
Been where," asked Jack, in his be-
wilderment.
ITO Paris"
Jack put his arm around her TO as
sure himself Of her earthly embodiment,
and held her close.
You talk like that greasy Mexican
clairvoyant who located our mine, Fe-
licia What is the matter'''
II dent know any more than you do.
But when your lips touched my hand, all
this-the village you, eyerything-faded
away, and | was in Paris. And oh, such
splendor, such magnificence, Jackr'
He was determined to treat the affair
as a joke. though he had a healthy,
manlike horror of the supernatural. He
stopped down and kissed her.
"YOu cant frighten me out of kissing
You in this fashion, Felicia. And its
very good of you to come back when
there are so many fine things to be seen
there. By the way, did you see me there,
too?" and he laughed at his own ques-
ton.
She shuddered, tremor of horror that
shook her from head to foot, and clung to
Jack desperately.
Don't ask me, Jack! Don't-the hor-
ror of it will kill me! Take me home,
Jackw
Mystified, but obedient to her slightest
wish, Jack turned about, and they re-
traced their steps, separating at the door
Of the Byrnes residence; Jack to return
to his lodgings, Felicia to seek her cham
Der, had forget its shabby stinginess in
dreams of the Euchre mine.
Jack had predicted that one month
more would see the Eucbre at highwater
mark
But when the month rolled round, a
revolution had Overtaken the Euchre.
Just what clever Wall street maneu-
vers had wrought the change no one
Gould explain, but Euchre stock, which
mad been in demand at fabulous prices,
'uddeny declined
The financial menagerie had unloosed
Is bulls and bears on the track of those |
.wo innocent lambs, Col. Dewey and Jack |
Nohr, and these .unsophisticated opera
ors found themselves in position where |
hey were glad 10 sell out for paltry |
thousand or two, to the Last Chance, |
when the stock had deprecated to its |
owest point. The secret workings of |
his deal were never exactly understood by /
he uninitiated, but as soon as it passed 1
'ver to the manipulations of Jack Deer |
ng the stock went up again, shares were 1
old at fabulous prices, and in a few |
months Deering found himself modern |
'rRsus and a suitor for the smiles Of the |
'retty Felicia.
The VILLAGE was scandalized at the sue
ess Of his wooing, for though she had /
lot entirely broken of with Mohr, she en-
outraged Deering with her sweetest
miles, and most captivating audscity of
manner Jack was bewildered, almost
istracted, by the new turn of affairs;
er father demonstrated. but all in vain.
Mrs. Byrnes bridled with indignation;
he had added a heavy gold chain and