The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-07-01

Stella has been with me week. l
have not been as happy in her visit as l
expected, although | am conscious that
it is very silly and unreasonable in me
to take umbrage at her claiming so
much of Reginald's attention, for she
has always been accustomed to homage
and praise from every one.
She has such bright kittenish ways,
and one must expect TO find claws hid
den beneath the velvety paws of even
the gentlest puss. For instance, this
morning she drew me to the mirror,
and, placing her pink and white face
against my thin brown cheek, she said
gaily:
(which of US is the prettier, Julia?"
l could have answered her question
without pang had she asked it the
day she first came. But now my heart
swelled within me as | looked at our
pictured reflections and realized how
dark and plain | must seem TO Regi-
nald when contrasted with Stella But
| answered as quietly as though beauty
was a matter of utter Indifference to
me:
That is question which need not
be asked. Stella but remember beauty
is but skin deep"
Stella laughed roguishly. bringing two
deep dimples into her velvety cheeks.
Would it be any more telling were
it grounded any deeper down, you dear
prosaic Julia?'
Not a bit" answered a voice behind
us, and, turning, saw Reginald, who
had come in unperceiyed by us. But
his animated look and smile were not
for me. He was looking at Stella as
though entranced
(Which is it best to be, Mr.. Wylie,
rich in money or in beauty?' asked
Stella archly, and still with that air of
childish innocence which made every
Out-of-the-wav speech or act appear 50
thoughtlessly free from any Interior mo-
tive, as though she had been ten years
| old instead of a woman grown.
Can you ask that seriously, Miss
Dacre? All the gold in the world is
worthless compared to beautiful wom-
| ans charms. Is it not, Julia?n turning
! TO me.
Il shall have TO give such weighty
matter some thought before | answer, y
| said somewhat coldly
Dear Julia is too we'll endowed with
this worlds gear to hold herself supe-
/ rior to its advantages" said Stella soft
! lt, slipping her arm about nv waist
and putting her lips TO my cheek in q
| caress which, at the time, seemed to me
much in the light of Judas kiss, y
Notwithstanding her pretence at play
/ fulnsss.
''And you might truly add, Stella.
| that her mea orenesS of personal charms
would carry out the parallel on the
other side,o was my swift answer.
Then | disengaged myself from her
half embrace and left the room. her
sweet mocking laugh following me like
81 taunting spectre,
The next day | had taken my garden
| trowel in hand as an excuse to escape
from Stella and be alone with my
| thoughts. As | had left her reclining
luxuriously upon the lounge, with a
fresh-cut novel in her hand, l was sure
of at least an interval of uninterrupted
seclusion.
| l have always been q dear lover OF
flowers, and have given as much
thought to my posy-beds as the crusty
old gardener, Peter, does. A fine bed
of pelargoniums occupied sunny spot
behind summer-house which is a fav-
orite resort for the inmates of the house
during the warm weather.
was soon upon my knees beside it,
clipping off unsightly faded leaves, and
loosening the soil about the roots Of the
gay-colored beauties. 1t seemed re
| lief to me to keep my hands busy, fol
1could think more clearly, and maks