Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-02-11
AFTER FIVE YEARS.

III Is 100 Dad! pouted pretty Mrs.
Benton. "Amy made such sweet
Columbine! The pantomime win be
nothing without her."
well, Miss Amy couldn't help get
ting sick, l SUPPOSED" said her elder
brother dolefully, for Columbine had al
ways been very sweet to him, and the
farce seemed farce indeed without her.
But Wen have to get along somehow.
Teddy says he is going to hire someone
from the theatre"
II don't like the idea of a professional
actress" objected Mrs Benton. "But |
suppose we can't do any better. There
comes Teddy now
A tall sinewy undergraduate, with
honest blue eyes and fair hair, that
curled perversely, came in with a radiant
look of triumph.
I've got somebody, Blanche" he as
serted. she's down stairs. Shall |
bring her up?'
why, Teddy" Mrs. Benton began,
"what made you"
I'VE must see whether she will do
interposed Dick Bring her up, Teddy.
| hope you chose pretty girl
''She's good deal prettier than Amy
Love- Teddy declared
But Dick regarded him with derision.
You never had good taste, Teddy"
he observed in a superior tone 1T
wasn't born in you
Teddy made no reply, but started off
to bring his Columbine and prove his
point by evidence.
She was pretty girl of very striking
type. She had fair delicate face,
whose flowing lines were thrown into
clear relief by a framework of soft
wavy brown hair; her hazel ewes had in
them the sweet coyness of fawn, and
her slender figure had a childish sup
pleness that quite belied her sixteen
years.
This is Miss Violet Glenn, Blanche
Teddy said, by way Of presentation.
Have you ever played Columbine
before?H Mrs. Benton began somewhat
awkwardly, with the odd feeling that
she was asking the girl to do something
beneath her.
''Oh yes l used always to be cast
for that role when j was little girl.
/ know the part very well"
Teddy is to be Harlequin, Mrs.
Benton went on; Il mean my brother,
Mr.. Terry
Violet raised her eyes to Teddy's face,
and met look that made her cast them
down again.
DO you think you could play with
me?n he queried.
''Oh yesn'
You may try at the rehearsal to-
night, said Mrs Benton. Teddy,
suppose you have fixed the terms? We
can't afford to pay much, Miss Glenn.
The entertainment is for the benefit of
the Romulan Orphanage, and
A changed expression came over
Violet's face
Il shall not charge you anything"
she said softly. Il was once in the
orphanage myself"
''You are very kind said Mrs. Ben
ton; but don't you think you had
better"
NO she answered with smile;
81 don't. | viii play for you if you
think | can; but | don't want any
money"
So it came about. The pantomime
was grand success, and by courtesy
ton which Mrs. Benton gave after
wards to the participants.
Under the Queen Anne stairs that
angled up to the roof of the house, was
u crazy corner, where Teddy seated
Violet and brought her refreshments.
81 suppose | shall never see You
again after to-night," he said gloomily.
"You can see me any night that l
play" said the young coquette.
Not YOU" Teddy answered with
sigh; "Columbine-'
Il am not Columbine, but violet"
she said saucily.
MAY l call you that?' was his eager
query. 'Oh, Violet, don't know what
am going to do without you
'What did you do before?'
II don't know 1t nearly kills me
when | think OF your going away with
that travelling-troupe. | say, Violet, do
you think l could play Harlequin well
enough to go on the stage?"
81 don't know" she answered dubi-
ously. "You don't play it very well.
But l wouldn't 90 on the stage if l were
you, Mr.. Teddy. II isn't very nice"
Then why do you stayP" he cried.
Il have to; Tn poor But if had
father and mother like you"
The sweet voice choked.
aren't they good to you?" asked
Teddy, clenching his fists fercely.
Sometimes, Violet answered. 'But
it isn't like having somebody of your
own to take care of you.
Teddy put out his hands and took
hers with boys awkward tenderness.
'I'll take care of you, Violet" he
said soberly. IF you will wait for me,
/ viii marry you when | come of age
and get my fortune"
Il couldn't promise that" Violet an
swered, brushing away her tears mo,
don't ask me, Mr.. Teddy. | am never
going to marry till find my father l
have got one somewhere, and"
''Oh. is this where you are, TeddyPn
cried Mrs. Benton as she descended on
the tableau. They are getting up a
dance in the parlor, and they want you
to join them"
''Will you favor mep" Teddy whis-
pered, and Mrs. Benton gasped as she
saw him walk off with the little actress
on his arm.
Dick burst out laughing
The young scampr' she cried. IF
he isn't flirting with her
II was five years afterwards that
Teddy graduated from Oxford, and the
following spring he went on his travels.
There seemed to be nothing more for
him to do. He was rich enough, had
seen enough of society, had had enough
OF everything.
The happiest man is he who has
something to do" he reflected, as he lay
under the shadow of great rock, look
ing up ut the cloud-patched heavens.
Above his head, in messy cleft,
grew bunch of wild columbine, nod
ding gaily in the mountain breeze, like
a little witch-fower.
He was watching it idly, when a
white hand fiuttered over the cliff, and
delicate fingers, ringed with diamonds,
began to pluck the nodding flowers.
Presently, there came figure half
way over the cliff. and then face,
shaded by a little peaked straw hat.
''tip-tilted like a flower" and twisted
round with scarf of red Grape.
"A very pretty girl unused Teddy.
''She looks ike columbine herself in
that red dress, with all those cream
colored frills about her. Oh, it is Miss
De Lancey, the new BELLE
He was watching her, and caught a