The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-04-04


ing to tell you about Bette Bennett. At
least the real fact of the case Is that it is all
very immoral. But that's neither here nor
there.
had been watching the play some time
I, generally looked upon by the fortunate
others as an old maiden lady probably with |
out experience, and certainly without hope. |
The play went on at the sea side serious
play, for the stakes were high, high as when |
some old Eastern potentate risks his lovely |
Circassian girl, body and soul, to his antago.
mist. The players were not Eastern poten'
tates, but, all the same, lovely girls, body |
and soul, were the stakes. used to think Of
It when saw Laura Stockwood, that stately
buauty, and Jeanette Dean. the dashing
one, and Caro- and Elsa and Edith and the
rest. And among the rest could ons forget
Betty Bennett She was not a person who
allowed herselfto be forgotten.
And yet you did not understand what 1t
all meant, this .firore about her. She was
not a beauty; she had no accomplishments
to speak of she was not an heiress. But
she had everything her own way the summer
through. II you had to describe her you
would say she was dark and slender little
person, with arch ways and the gayest
laugh in the world and that would be all
there was about 1t. All there was about IL
Oh, not in the least In the first place.
there was the readiest wit, the greatest good
nature, the most perfect grace. In the next
place, there were the most wonderful
ioilettes. This morning role OF flmy blue
India silk, garnished with lace Of the same
slight hue, and finished with a col!arette
and chatelaine of old carnelian beads, not to
bs bought now for love or money; this bath
ing dress Of burlap dripping with rock crys-
tails, and worn under cloak of white plush,
thrown of at the right moment for the wave
this distracting dinner dress of white silk
hound about with autumn leaves, nothing
but a strip of the bright vine making the
shoulder strap; and to-morrow's bravery as
fine as this with soft, creamy woods made
softer with their edgings of ostrich tips,
cambrics sheer as hoar frOsts, and covered
with thread lace, lustrous satins of pale rose
fitting perfectly the perfect shape, and dark
velvets and TITLES and gauzes; and now
brocade stiff with gold thread, such as they
might have worn in the days of Medici; and
now black Spanish lace, with high comb
and mantilla that, taken with her little foot,
made an Andalusian of her.
: "Well," said to her, after week or So,
as she rested by me moment, "it must cost
all of fortune TO dress you. don't Fee
where you get it,"
$50 it does" she said. with encouraging
fraukness. 'Take my toilettes and gloves
and boots aud folderols and all, and the in
terest of II would take care of one poor per-
son for life. Isn't it wicked 2" and she
looked at me with an irresistible drollery.
eyes, think it is" said |. For had
known Miss Bette of old, and knew that II
she got through this summer alive she
wouldn't have one penny left.
"And the worst of it is," continued she,
"that when you think you have enough for
queen, You find you've only made begin
ming, and have to keep ordering more from
Pelisser and from Bobinet and the others. II
won't do to be suspected Of any tarnish. You
must bs fresh, or nothing. Why. I'm in
debt up to my eyes !"
9 "Bsttie, don't know what you can think
of yourselfl" Isaid, in CONSERVATION. "You
have nothing to pay with. It's dishonest
its-it's swindling."
"No, it isn't Il'smy business. II carry
out my plans, my pin-money next year viii
pay my debts"
'And II you don't 2"
: "Well, then, they can have the thing
d back"
t "Bettie!"
d '"To look out for that is more trouble than
can take, with all the rest that have. In
in for it. I've got to do it. And I've got IL
n he a success"
"Bettie If people knew about you you't
be anything but success"
81 don't intend they shall. And it's a
pity If can't trust you"
"You canyon can. don't approve O
you, but | shan't hurt you. II you wer
content to sit still as l do, In ono or tw
gowns, aud see the show go by"
"And let somebody else marry Mr.. Dun
robin! No, thank you. I'm not content
But shouldn't have gone into all this ex
travagance--it makes my very soul ache
see those gowns I were not obliged to b
all the time en- erid nee"
II 81 don't really 800 the need of that"
81 do, II you're TO be a success. And
didn't come here to go home again. And
came here not only to rule this summer, bu
to have my rule remembered in all summer
to Gomez
"Nobs ambitionl"
at isn't ambition: ! toll you ita bus
NJ ness"
"But, Bette, you're not beauty"
$50 much the more to my glory"
3, "You ridiculous midget"
"She's little, but she's shrewd." And q
= she sped, as youpg Pennycastls came alonl
> for an hour at tennis and | saw her comm
back In time, surrounded by an awkwar
a, squad OF the young society men.
~ "Yes. they are an awkward squad" sh
~ said, In answer to me by-and by. IAN
stupid-stupid beyond apythinsl'
- "The idea of taking 80 much trouble, 30
tie to please them, them"
SPIN not doing It TO please them, the jacl
r, anapssl Yes, they ara jackanapesl The
don't know anything but society small tai
and attitudes. They can danoe-oh no
Nd they can dancel First one and then Il
other, till there are holes In the soles Of yo
slippers. Sometimes 60 to bad so tired
Cs seems as II baths of hot alcohol wouldn't p
any life into my feet. But I'm up In u
morning as fresh az rose with the dew
TY it. have to be. It's what I'm here ia
And they're a part of my success, these It'll
swells. I've got to 60 about with train
them as certificates Of II. They're just III
it-whsre ono goes, all go. Oh, yes, indse
10 thank you. Mr.. Vonderbust; you're alwa
- SO kind! II is just what was wishing.
Inc. you know ! sometimes think you're the me
,io, =" And caught no more OF the silve
WV sentence, for she had gone of with Mr.. Va
derbust, catching up her draperies as 3
flashed along all light and grace, and pr,
eg. emily tripping down the stairs in close.
1 of ting dark serge, with a cocks feather in i
psia little turban ha'; aud half dozen otL
1 of youths had sprung to hold her parasol,
button her glove, to walk beside her to I
spot where Mr.. Vanderbust waited with
e new Hambletonian, whose pace they W.
Is going to try together.
When Bette came back she came direc
to me where / sat on the piazza with
crocheting. "If you don't mind going in
lunch with me y" she said. | didn't uni
stand till afterward that was part OF
role too. It gave people pleasant things
say OF her kindness TO q forlorn old spinst
for one thing but the main thing-and
: afraid ii | had comprehendei II in the beg
ming should have put an end to II out
hand-was that quite innocent and ignor
Nj of It all, was her ohaperone. at is quo
NJ misfortune" she said to tho right peoI
II shat my own dear ohapsrone, who alw'
~ takes ms about, was Obliged to leave aim
J as soon as We came and should have
to go too, and be buried alive somewhere
suppose, II my dear little Miss Ruggles
not happened to be here, and she has tai
ar charge of me so kindly" Take charg
~ that mink | should as soon have thou
of taking charge of a will'o'-the wisp.
snow, you see what mean when "a,
is necessary here to be always en- epidei
You're forgotten If you're not. Out of sly