The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-06
0.l1e GlttelliQetIter.
oaIeol No.. % ana " Eourle0atl stEesl
HER COMPANION.


~ shall 20 to the country well srme
for conquest, that's certain" laughed Lo
Harding, a rich young widow, tossing
pile Of dainty laces into the lap Of he
maid companion with the information
"hurry up and get those aOupCes made 9
soon as possible
"I'ye learned that Hugh Mansfield is
spend part Of the summer there" sh
went on, turning again to tho friend VIII
had run in to discuss with her their plan
for the season, land you know, Fannie
whata magnificent catch he Is, So war
you in time that we shall be deadly rival
for OF course you will try as hard as an
OF us TO land the big fish,"
"Oh, l yield to the inevitable at thl
very OUTSET returned Fanny Reming
ton, banteringly; "ior what earthl,
chance will my poor beauty have agains
your goldP But what will Miss Weir b.
doing in the meantime while all the res
of US are Quarreling over the great prize p
she added, turning. with one OF hel
charming smiles, to Mis-, Harding's com
panion,
"Oh, shall be- happy enough, neye
fear" said the latter returning the smile
with one equally as bright over her lapiu
OF laCes. ~ shall not be burdened will
society cares and conquests, you know, &c
when Mrs. Harding doesn't need me-
shall be out gathering wild flowers and
exploring natures beauties
"BravoW cried Miss Remington gayly
while Mrs. Harding merel y arched hel
black brows and shrugged her elegant
shoulders, as.it the likes or dislikes OF heI
paid companion were several degrees be
meath her notice.
When "the season" was fairly insugu
rated II found the young widow and hel
party delightfully."- established In one oil
the quietest OF the fashionable watering
places.
1t Is doubtful u Mrs, Harding would
have chosen itas tho favored spot wherein
to display her raYishing new toilettes had
1t not been for Hugh Manatield's presence
there. For beneath her light jeats upon
the subject was q firm, determined pur'
pose to win the han,dtsome,young millions
airs In the iAcee oil all possible rivalry.
And It soon began to look as II she had
not made q vain boast, Lou Harding, il
not beauty, was qllie pretty enough ia
turn 9 young mans head, and her black
eyes, fine figure and .coquettish airs were
really bewilderlng In the AIRY OF charm
ing gowns and exquisite ball dresses that
displayed them to the best advantage.
And 80 Hugh Mansfield evidently
thought. at least he, paid her many fat
tering attentions, aud the pretty widow't
heart beat high with hope
"Dldnt | tell you ! meant TO win the
great prize" she rotorted, with q trlum'
plant snap in her black eyes, as Fannie
in meek indignation, bsntered her upon
getting the lions share OF the young mil
lionsire'a attentions,
I'D advise you not to 'CoHnt your chick
ems etc, Lou. You know the old prov
erb, " retorted Fannie, wicked sparkle
in her pleasant brown eyes. "Now, Miss
Leslie here has never q word to say on the
subjeCE, yet 1t wouldn't snrprise me at all
II the big lish were to land himself In hel
modest net, despite. all the rich widows
and manageable girls who are Just dyint
10 capture him"
"Aliss Remington"
There was thrill OF indignant surnrlsf
in the clear, sweet tones, as Leslie Weir
with an abrupt, startled movement, lifted
her head from the book she had been read
ing, paying little attention to the conf
dental chat that had been going on, Of
usual, regardless Of her presence.
For 1t seemed to be a cardinal point In
the rich young widow . creed to treat her
hired dependents as II they were mere
sticks or stones.
Fanny laughed merrily In answer, while
Mrs. Harding shot look at the lovely
companion from her bright black eyes
an insolent look Of mingled amusement
and disdain.
"What MI idea You do take up with
such ridiculous notions, Fanny" she TO
marked with her eyer.ready shrug and
short, derlsIvo laugh that was meant t
crush in the bid any similar motions
that might possibly exist In Leslies mind
The girl, however, did not deign to no.
tiCe the intended slur. She simply said
with an appealing glance that went straight
to Fannie's kind heart:
~ trust you will leave my name out o.
such discussions hereafter, Miss Rsming,
ton"
And thon, in her proud quiet way, sht
rose and left the room with an air O
graceful dignity that queen might have
enyied.
Ten minutes later, with her large Whit
swisa.covered lat shading the flushed
checks, and her book In her hand, ahe wal
pacing slowly up and down the beach.
Calmly as she had borne II, that subtle
barbed thrust OF Mrs. Harding's had gone
straight 10 It's mark, 1t had slung her t
the very soul. 1t came home now to hei
for the first time. with o thrill Of bittel
shame. how completely, Hugh Mansfield
realized her perfect ideal Of manhood ant
how often his image had OF late, been {
part Of his sweetest day dreams.
Several times In the first two or three
weeks following their arrival, they hat
met by Chance-onCe during one OF Les
lies early morning strolls, when the dew
was yet glistening in the hearts Of The