The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-09-09
HER COMPANION.

II shall 60 to the country we'll
armed for conquest, that's certain"
laughed Lou Harding, a rich young
widow, tossing a pile of dainty laces
into the lap of her maid companion
with the information to hurry up and
get those fluences made as soon as
possible
1--WE learned that Hugh Mansfield is
to spend part of the summer here - she
went on, turning again TO the friend
who had run in to discuss with her
their plans for the season, land you
know. Fannie, what a magnificent
catch heis. So I 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,
20, yield to the inevitable at the
very outset" returned Fanny Reming-
ton, banteringly; '.'for what earthly
chance will my poor beauty have
against your gold? But what will
Miss Weir be doing in the meantime
while all the rest of us are quarreling
over the great price?' she added,
turning, with one of her charming
smiles, to Mrs. Harding's companio n
20, shall be happy enough, never
fcar," said the latter returning the
smile with one equally as bright over
her lapful of laces. II shall not be
burdened with society cares Hnd con-
quests, you know, SO when Mrs. Hard
log doesn't need me I shall be out
gathering wild flowers and explorin 2
natures beauties
''Bravo!' cried Miss Remington gay
ly, while Mrs. Harding merely arched
her black brows and shrugged her ele-
giant shoulders, as if the likes or dis
likes of her paid companion were
several degrees beneath her notice.
When the ''season" was fairly in
augurated it found the young widow
ana her party delightfully."- established
in one of the quietest of the fashion,
able watering places.
It is doubtful if Mrs. Harding would
have chosen it as the favored spot
wherein to display her ravishing new
toilets had it not been for Hugh Mans
fields presence there. For beneath iler
light jests upon the subject was a firm,
determined purpose to win the hand
some young millionaire in the face of
all possible rivalry.
Aud soon it began to look as if she
had not made vain boast. Lou
Harding, if not beauty, was quite
pretty enough to turn a young man
head, and her black eyes, fine figure,
and coquettish airs were really bewil-
dering in the array of charming gowns
and exquisite ball dresses that displayed
them to the best advantage.
And so Hugh Mansfield evidently
thought. At least he paid her many
t1attering attentions. and the pretty
widows heart beat high with hope.
''Didn't tell you meant to win the
great prizc?' she retorted with
triumphant snap in her black eyes. as
Fannie in mock indignation, bantered
her upon getting the lions share of
the young millionaire's attentions.
I'D advise you not to count your
Chickens ETC., Lou. You know the
old proverb,'' retorted Fannie,
wicked sparkle in her pleasant brown
eyes. Nov. Miss Leslie here has
never word to say on the subject,
yet it wouldn': surprise me at all if the
big fish were to find himself in her
net, despite all the rich widows and
manageable girls who are just dying
to capture him.
ssMiss Reminrtonr,
There was thrill of indignant sur
prise in the clear, sweet tones, as Les
lie Weir, with an abrupt, startled move
ment, lifted her head from the book
she had been reading, paying little at
tention to the confidential chat that had
been going on, as usual, regardless of
her presence.
For it seemed to be a cardinal point
in the rich young widows creed to
treat her hired dependents as if they
were mere sticks or stones.
Fannie laughed merrily in answer,
while Mrs. Harding shot look at the
lovely companion from her bright
black eyes-an insolent look of min
gled amusement and disdain.
what an idea! You do take up
with such ridiculous notions, Fannie"
she remarked with her ever ready
shrug and short, derisive laugh that
was meant to crush in the bud any
similar notions that might possibly
exist in Leslie's mind.
The girl, however, did not deign to
notice the intended slur. She simply
said, with an appealing glance that
went straight to Fannie's heart:
II trust you will leave my name out
of such discussions hereafter, Miss
Remington.
And then, in her proud, quiet way,
she rose and left the room with an air
of graceful dignity that queen might
have envied.
Ten minutes later. with her large
white Swiss-covered hat shading the
flushed cheeks. and her book in her
hand. she was pacing slowly up and
down the beach.
Calmly as she had borne it that SUBJ
tie, barbed thrust of Mrs. Harding's
had gone straight to its mark. 1t had
stung her to the very soul. 1t came
home now to her for the first time with
thrill of bitter shame how completely
Hugh Mansfield realized her perfect
idea of manhood and how often his
image had of late been part of her
sweetest day dreams.
Several times in the first two or
three weeks following their arrival
they had met by chance-once during
one of Leslie's early morning strolls,
when the dew was yet glistening in
the hearts of the wild flowers she was
gathering and the wood was ringing
with the thrill of thousand fluttering,
silver-throated birds.
The young mans quick, firm step.
as he came striding down the woodland
path, switching the dew off the grass
with his light cane as he walked. start
led her so that she let fall the hatful of
June roses she had gathered, and they
lay scattered on the dewy grass direct
~ in his path.