Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-02-17
From the Chicago News.
WORTH VERSUS POLISH
BY NJ. t. L.

The little wigwam stood on q clearing
surrounded by all grandeur OF the
Rocky Mountain scenery.
Within, a great brown bear skin
was thrown over couch of odorous
boughs in one corner; a quaint little
glass in a rustic frame hung side by
side with silver mounted rifle and
powder-horn, wildcat stuffed to
look like life crouched in the shadows,
and the branching antlers of deer
Revolved from the center of the tent
shaped roof, andformed convenient
rack for many light articles, such as
the proprietors wolfskin cap, q hand
some meerschaum and apewter drink
ing cup.
The proprietor himself was q mag
nifcent specimen of manhood. Tall,
1.-the and muscular, with crisp, brown
locks curling about noble brow, the
brown beard growing thickly on
cheek and lip, and catching golden
CLEANS in the sunlight, and the dark
gray eyes full of fire and expression.
Victorine Chester looked at him
with unmistakable approval in her
smiling blue eyes.
Victorine was one of q party of la
dies and gentlemen who were on a
pleasure trip through that part of the
country.
This was something out of the COM
mon way. All the ladies were in plain,
serviceable suits, such as suited the
gypsy-like rowing.
Their trunks were at the hotel at
the foot of the mountain where they
would spend a week or more, and to-
day they we're out on q tramp, sight
seeing. and this man, Scott Ransom,
was their guide.
Now, Victorine was an arrant f1irt,
consequently as the guide seemed at
tracted by her rant face and bewitch-
ing manner, she turned the full bat
teries of her fascination upon him, to
the disgust of the other gentlemen of
the party, or rather the younger gentle
men. There was a gray-haired broker
and q bald-headed wine merchant
among them, but they, with her uncle,
were SO deeply engrossed in arguments
upon various subjects in the intervals
of sightseeing that they had no eyes
for even pretty Victorine.
That day was but the beginning of
many others spent in the company of
Scott Ransom.
know that Victorine did not real
ize what manner OF man she was CO.
quoting WITH she was so accustomed
TO the mock love-making which is so
freely circulated In fashionable socie-
ty, that she could not guess the i'm
preston that she made on the heart
OF one of natures noblemen.
And so the time came for their de-
parture. Then, indeed, the girls eyes
were opened; for as she babe him a
light and laughing farewell, he stopped
and took her dainty face between his
brawny palms and kissed her quietly
and tenderly and fully upon the lips,
as one who had the right, and then as
approaching footsteps warned them
OF the proximity Of the Others he
moved away saying as he smiled upon
her:
81 shall see you again"
A strange thrill swept through Vic
torine's guilty little heart, as all in a
moment she realized that what she
had looked upon as innocent Irritation
the handsome guide had taken In dead
earnest.
She was glad enough to gain the
privacy of her hotel chamber, where
she recalled uneasily Ransom's look
and words.
But month later, back among the
gay, fashionable friends, she looked
back upon that episode with indiffer-
ence.
The long parlors of the Chester man
sion were blazing with light. The
rustic of rich robes, the murmur of
soft voices In the intervals OF music,
flashing jewels and lovely, high-bred
faces-all these confused and dazzled
Scott Ransom as he crossed the thresh-
odd
His evening dress of broadcloth was
irreproachable, yet he felt instantly
the difference between himself and
languid, smiling dandies about him.
One or two lifted their eyeglasses to
look him over as he made his way
quietly, yet with. certain dignity,
toward the spot where Victorine
stood the center OF a gay looking
group.
When he passed before her with out
stretched hand flush of pleasure in
his manly face, Victorine actually
turned pale in her establishment and
embarrassment as she stammered:
"Mr. Ransom-you here ~
Yes" he replied, unheeding the sig
ni6cant smile of the lookers-on; 81 ar
rived in New York to-day and took the
hber' Y Of inviting myself when heard
OF the grand party"
He was so glad and triumphant, so
erfectly sure of welcome, that a
sense of shame came over the girl as
she put her hand upon his arm and
drew him up theroom toward thecon-
Servatory.
When they stood alone in the midst
Of all the bloom and fragrance, the
man took her hand in his, and said,
softly:
"I have come for you, little girl-it
as hardly necessary to tell you that, or
to add how the memory of your sweet