The Washington critic., 1886-03-23
ONE WOMAN'S METHOD.

ibtllt tlGuNOu MuS hOl Ntil NttsJ
or not very wise. She had no particu-
lar force of character, no special ac-
complishment, no remarkable home ex-
cellences; but she was possessed of one
source Of innuence-beauty-and that,
after all, is no mean power.
Belle was blonde, plump, tall, 1.-the
and slender, with peculiar floating
grace in every movement that was one
of her chief charms--bluc eyes, some
what small, but soft, and shaded by
light lashes, dark eyebrows 0hey were
penciled, but every one didn't know
thaD, and hair long, thick and fine, OF
the true golden tinge, which she wore
rolled back in the fashion 50 becoming
to fresh, young faces.
What need Belle care If Miss lie
Growle did whisper that her features
were not beautiful, her expression de-
iicient and that when she had lost the
freshness and coquetry of youth that
she would be positively an ugly old
woman? Ralph Austin and Carlos de
Arrondo, her Spanish lover, didn't
tlOuDlC thChiSClNCo w Diy iibO VIZ iu7
ture. They both loved and were quite
ready to quarrel for her. No one was
more alive to this fact than Belle;
nobody could have looked more uncon-
scious than she did, flirting her little
fan with lazy grace in her fathers par
lor, manifesting her temporary dis.
pleasure toward Carlos (who stood
gloomily silent near herr in no other
way than by her determined uncon-
seriousness of his presence and a
marked and quite overwhelming in
crease of politeness toward Ralph
Austin.
Ralph was both brave and modest.
AS consequence he appeared to ad-
vantage. Bellies feigned admiration
began to grow dangerously real. Her
soft, blue eyes sparkled with excite
ment, the pale flush of her cheek
deepened into rose, and Carlos, who
saw and read Alright the changes of her
face, turned and walked sullenly away.
Belle, half intent on revenging her
self, half sincere in her admiration of
Ralph, passed the next two days very
much to her own satisfaction. Then
somebody, perhaps Carlos himself,
wrote Camos to come and spend few
weeks, nobody knew precisely where,
and Carlos went. The effect on Belle
was disastrous When she found that
he was really gone, she rushed at once
to Viva Farringdon, her cousin.
"Oh, Viva! he's gone! He's really
gone!"
"Who's gonev" said Viva, looking
up coolly from the sofa on which she
was lying.
"WhyMcarlOs'" Ivy h;y25,,
Belle threw herself on the floor near
Viva and leaned her head on the sofa S
edge.
II am perfectly miserable"
"Why?" asked the provoking Vivia.
'Why?' you ask. Didn't l tell you
Carlos was goney'
Don't you mean Lieutenant Aus
tin?"
No, DON'T Tiresome thingv" But
whether this last referred to Viva
OF the lieutenant this deponent know
eth not.
"Who is iresome-Carlos?" asked
Viva. "Well, I'm glad you have youi
eyes open at last. l always did think
him prosy?"
"Prosy He's no such thing he
entertaining and agreeable, and witty
and lively, and fascinating, and the
dearest fellow in the world, and
haven't treated him WE'LL know
haven't"
Viva smiled scornfully.
"You should have thought of tina
sooner"
Il know I should. you hard hearted
cruel thing but he did ilirt with Ros'
Kenyon, and l was so angry on
dear my heart is breaking! l wish
was dead!'
Just then came tap at the door. l
was Ellen, Bellies maid.
Lieutenant Austin wants to know /
he can see you, Miss Belle. He sait
something about being ordered off sud
denly"
"fell him l will be down in mo
ment, Ellen"
Viva said nothing, but she loole'
volumes; but that didn't disturb Belle
She gave Il touch to her hair, anothe
to her eyebrows, shook out the dress
smoothed her morning skirt, settle'
her cuffs, and went down to the draw
ing-room where Ralph was nervousl.
waiting for her.
II am ordered off, Miss Belle" wa
his first salutation. Il must go within
the hour"
ooh, dear, Lieutenant Austin wha
can we do without you?'
"Will you carc!" he asked, softl
and eagerly.
Ib"Care? Why of course l shall. w
| shall all miss yOu -
Ralph seized her hand and carried i
to his lips.
Belle, will you write to me?"
eyes, yesl Goodbye" And BellC
who really had the conscience to b
ashamed of herself, burst away fror
his OBTAINING grasp and ran to hc
usual resource in time of trouble
Viva Farringdon-and, ooh, wha
shall l do? lie will write mel al
sure he will!' she concluded, in some
what hysterical style. "Niyia, don
sit there as If you were block, bu
tell me what l shall do"
Belle, you are too provoking. Yo
are not worthy of either the Lieuter
ant or Carlos, and | have no patience
see you playing battledore with tw
warm, noble hearts, If you have pin
= checks and yellow hair"
yellow hairl" Belle had borne a
the rest patiently; but this was to
much. Yellow hair she was not guilt
: of, 1t was golden. Every one tol
her so.
| "Vivia, you are outragcous-my ha
isn't yellow, and you are enyious b
cause you wanted Ralph Austin fC
Yourself" And Belle sailed majest
, cally out of the room, and unbosome