The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-23
HER COMPANION.

HER COMPANION.
81 shall 90 to the country well arm
ed for conquest. that's certain" laugh
ed Lou Harding. a rich young widow.
tossing q pile of dainty laces into the
lap of her maid companion with the in
formation 10 hurry up and get those
hounees made rs soon as possible"
live heard that Hugh Mansfield is to
spend part OF the summer there" 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 he
is. So warn you in time that we shall
be deadly rivals. for of course you will
try ss hard as any Of us to land the big
fish,"
20. Iyield 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
prize?" she added. turning. with one
of her charming smiles. to Mrs Hard
ing's companion.
20! 1 shall be happy enough. never
fear" said the latter. returning the
smile with one equally as bright over
her Iapful of laces. Il shall not be bur-
dened with society cares and conquests,
you know. SO when Mrs. Harding
doesn't need me shall be out gathering
wild flowers and exploring natures
beauties"
.'Bravor' cried Miss Remington gay
ly, while Mrs Harding merely arched
her black brows and shrugged her ele-
giant shoulders, as if the likes or dislikes
of her paid companion were several
degrees beneath her notice.
When the season" was fairly inau-
gurated it found the young widow and
her party delightfully."- established IN one
of the quietest of the fashionable water
ing places.
1t 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 her
light jests upon the subject there was
firm. determined purpose to win the
handsome young millionaire in the face
of all possible rivalry.
And soon it began to look as if she
had not made a vain boast. Lou Hard
ing. if not a beauty. was quite pretty
enough to turn young mans head,
and her black eyes. fine figure, and
coquettish airs were really bewildering
in the array of charming gowns aud eX-
quisite ball dresses that displayed them
to the best advantage.
And so Hugh Mansfield evidently
thought. At least he paid her many
fiattering attentions, and the pretty wild
ow's heart was high with hope
Didn't / tell you l meant to win the
great prizeP" she retorted with a tri-
umphant snap in her back 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
proyerb," retorted Fannie, a wicked
sparkle in her pleasant brown eyes.
''Now, Miss Leslie here has never a
word to say on the subject, yet it
wouldn't surprise me at all if the big
fish were to find himself in her modest
net, despite all the rich widows and
manageable girls who are just dying
to capture him"
Miss Remington!'
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 atten-
| ton to the confidential chat that had
been going on, as usual, regardless of
her presence.
For it seemed to be 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 a look at the
lovely companion from her bright black
| eyes-an insolent look of mingled
! amusement and disdain-
| ..What an ideai You do take up with
snch ridiculous notions. Fannie. she re-
| marked with her ever ready shrug and
short, derisive laugh that was meant to
crush in the bud any similar motions, !"
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 kind heart:
81 trust you will leave my name out
| of such discussions hereafter, Miss REM
ington."
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 sub.
tie, barbed thrust of Mrs. Harding
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 Hugh
Mansfield realized her perfect ideal Of
manhood and how often his image had
of late been a part of her sweetest day
dreams.
Several times in the first two or three
weeks following their arrival they haC
met by chance-once during one of Les
lies early morning strolls, when the
dew was yet glistening in the hearts o
the wild flowers she was gathering ant
the wood was ringing with the thrill! o.
a thousand flutterlng. silver-throateG
birds.
The young mans quick. firm step. as
he came striding down the WOODLAND
path, switching the dew off the gras
with his light cane as he walked. start
led her so that she let fall the hatful o
sweet June roses she had gathered, anC
they lay scattered on the dewy gras
directly in his path.
With graceful apology he stoope'
and assisted her in gathering up he
fallen treasures; then when he had seel
the last velvety pink blossom safely re
placed in the wide-brimmed straw hat
he had gone on bis way with her fey