Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-27

.'Well, Upon my word! To hear YOU
talk-it wouldn't cost muchp Really.
Hortensia, your audacity is refreshing !"
But you will let me give party,
won't you? Everybody will come, and it
would be splendid can wear my pink
silk and the Spanish lace, so my dress
wouldn't cost anything, and-auntie-
I'd SO like Gerald Duane to see me in the
role of hostess. | think, perhaps"
She blushed little and looked away,
Aunt Abigail's bright little eyes follow
ing her.
Exactly. see. You think you've
brought Mr.. Duane pretty close to the
popping point, and that to receive him,
with several Others, In your pink silk
end Spanish lace, will finish him upl
Well, he's fine fellow, and one of the
best catches out Hortensia, and I'd be
proud to send you back engaged to a
young millionaire. I'll let you keep open
house, and have all you want, if you'll
do something for me"
Hortensia's eyes sparkled.
I'm do anything-anything in the
world you ask, dear auntie?"
you've been fooling over your paint
ing lessons ever since last September,
when you first came, and you've inn
proved wonderfully, you say If you'll
paint ME screen, on black satin I'll
give you your New Years party"
"A screenl Oh, auntie, you've no
idea how awfully difficult screens are to
paint, and On"
''All right-just as you please, my
dear. get the screen or you don't get
the New Years party
And Miss Freemayn brought her thin
lips together in way Hortensia had
seen before. And her heart sunk like
lead, for she knew she could about as
easily jump over the moon as paint a
screen
81 am afraid it wouldn't suit you, but
but | can try, she said dismally, and
then there rushed sudden little sparkle
to her eyes, and lightsomeness to her
voice
know you are so very particular,
auntie, butt think | might please YOU.
Eve Just thought of lovely design--a
background of bulrushes, and red and
orange sunset, and stork standing
among"
81 don't care what it is, so it is hand.
some screen. I've paid seventy dollars
for seventy five lessons from Madame
Visconti for painting, and think you
ought to show something for it. You'll
do it, them"
Yes; I'll begin it this very day. l
was afraid at first"
Never mind Go buy the satin
thick black, and lustrous-this after
noon, and if it's done by week from to
day-you can work steady at it'll
consider you've earned as handsome
New Years table as can be spread"
And Hortensia, flushed and excited,
went upstairs to don her blue velvet
walkinS-suit. preparatory to making her
purchase of the black satin; and as she
went down the street, her beautiful blue
eyes shining, her graceful figure display.
ed to its best advantage by her imported
costume, it was little wonder that Ger
aid Duane's dark eyes lighted with adj
miration, which Hortensia could not fail
to see, as he drove past her, with smile
and bow
81 will win him--I will win him." she
thought exultantly.
A pleasant enough room, when you
once reached it, at the top of three
story house in quiet street where pow
erty was at its most respectable, and
where Violet Lyon and her invalid sister
lived quite comfortably, all the necessi-
ties, and some of the luxuries of life at
their command earned by Miss Lyons
elegant silk embroideries, and Violets
wages as an expert on the typewriter.
This bright December afternoon the
sunrays peeped in at the front windows
for farewell until the morrow, and
Miss Lyon, bending over dainty gar
ment of snow-white velvet on which her
deft fingers were laying silken vine of
amber, and scarlet, and kingly purple,
and tender green. was disturbed by an
imperious knock at the door, followed
by the entrance of radiant vision in
azure velvet, with eyes of the same are
shade, and lovely hair like imprisoned
sunshine.
You are Miss Lyon, believer" Hor-
tensia began, in the haughtily disagree
able way she considered the thing to-
wards working people. Because, if you
are, I've come to inquire if you are not
ready with your last months rent-a
fortnight overdue. | am Miss Free
mayn's niece-she's your landlady."
Miss Lyon gave a little nervous start.
Il know that, unfortunately, we are
behind with the"
And Miss Freemayn doesn't propose
to let it run over any longer-not anoth
er day. She sent me to collect it"