Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-04-23
BAD BETTE BENNETT,


There is no moral at all to what
am going to tell you about Bette Ben
nett. At least the real fact OF tn,
case is that it is all very immoral
But that's neither here nor there.
had been watching the play some
time-1, generally looked upon by tn.
fortunate others as an old nader
lady probably without experience, an6
certainly without hope. The play
went on at the seaside; serious play
for the stakes were high, high as wher
some old eastern potentate risks his
lovely Crcossian girl, body and soul
to his antagonist. The players were
not eastern potentates, but all the
the same, lovely girls, body and soul
were the stakes. used to think OF i,
when saw Laura Stockwood, that
stately beauty, and Jeanette Dean
the dashing one, and Caro- and Elsa
and the rest. And among the rest
could one forget Betty Bennett? She
was not a person who allowed herself
to be forgotten.
And yet you did not understand
what it all meant, this Juror about
her. She was not a beauty; she had
no accomplishments to speak of; she
was not an heiress. But she had ev
erything 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 it.
All there was about it? 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 won
derful toilettes. This morning robe
OF tilmy blue India silk, garnished with
lace OF the same slight hue, and finished
with collarette and chatelaine OF
old carnelian beads, not to he bought
now for love or money; this bathing
dress Of burlap dripping with rock.
crystals, and worn under & cloak o.
white plush, thrown of at the right
moment for the wave; this distractine
dinner dress of white silk bound about
with autumn leaves, nothing but q
strip OF the bright vine making the
shoulder strap; and to-morrow's brav.
cry as fine as this, with soft, creamy
woods made softer with their edgings
Of ostrich Lips, cambrics sheer as boar
frosts, and covered with thread lace,
iustrous satins of pale rose fitting per-
lect!y the perfect shape, and dark vel,
vets and tulles and gauzes; and now
a brocade stiff with gold thread, such
as they might have worn in the days
of Madici; aud now q black Spanish
lace. with high comb and mantilla
that, taken with,her little foot, made
an Andalusian Of her.
WELL" said to her, after g. week
or so, as she rested by me a moment,
sit must cost ell OF fortune to dress
you. l don't SEQ where you get it,"
$50 it does" she said, with encour-
aging frankness. "Take my tollettes
and gloves and boots and folderols
and all, and the interest of it would
take care Of one poor person for life.
Isu't it wicked?". and she looked at
me with an Irresistible drolery.
Eyes, think it u.s." sold I. For
had known Miss Bette OF old, and
knew that if she got through this sum-
mer alive, she wouldn't have one pen
ny left.
'.And the worst of it u.s." continued
she, "that when you think you have
enough for O. queen, you find you We
only made beginning, and have to
keep ordering more from Pelisser and
from Bobinet and the others. It won't
do to be suspected Of any tarnish.
You must be fresh, or nothing. Why,
I'm in debt up to my eyes!" ; I'D.
Bette, I don't know what you can
think Of yourself" I said, in conster-
nation, "You have nothing to pay
with. It's dishonest; it's-it's swim.
ding" ~. ~. y:
"No, it isn't. IT'S my business. II
carry out my plans, my piu-money
next year will pay my debts" -
"4And if you do II" =,
''Well, then, they can have the things
4 back ~ 5<s< o@sS. r.. -.
$' Bethel" -..rz - -
's "To look out for that is more troub.
10 than I can take, with all the rest
that have. Pm in for it. I've cot
to do it. And I've got to be q sue.
cess" @ -. .#ss
Bette, if people knew about you,
you'd be anything but q success"
81 don't intend they shall. Andit's
n pity if ! can t trust you"
You can--you can. ! don't ap.
U prove of you, but I shan't hurt you
II you were content to sit still, as Idc
m one Or two gowns, and see the show
90 by II a@. RI .#a as II
#,9 And let somebody else marry
/ Mr.. Dunrobin! No, thank you. Tn
not content, But I shouldn't have
gone into all this, extravaganza
makes my very soul ache to
see those goWns--if I were not Obliged
to be all the time en- evidence. ,, e
~ don treally see the need of that
do. H you re to be success. And
didn't come here to 90. home again
And came here not only to rule thu
\ summer, but to have my rule remem
4 bered in all summers to come. g
Noble ambition =
u. .lt isn't ambition. 4 tell you;i It'll
l,usiness. ''s#sss
I But, Bette. you're not = beauty
81 81 ri much 81 the more to my glory 81