Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-09-27
BELLE OF THE SEASON.

| ran, ArCaQlaQ, OF GOWN COWQ!
All, Missie, as l sit rocking and sing
ing lullabies to my little one here, waiting
for Fred through the midnight hours, that
monotonous cry of the ''buss men" comes
to me in my reveries like cold wave,
causing my very blood to chill with re-
morsel But come, take this easy chair.
and III tell you all about it. for you are an
old friend and / can trust you. Give me
your hand You know it was way of
mine when we were deskmates atsschool
to hold hands; somehow could study
better. But my story.
After you left us Neil McCoull, bril-
liant, rich young lawyer, came to board
with us, and read law with father. Just
at that time there seemed to be a lull in
the affairs of the young people of the
town. A new man in town spread like
wild fire, and he at once became the OBJ
served of all observers, and gave material
for talk for days after All sought his
acquaintance. Even those of our sex
who had been put on the list of ''passe,
and had retired from the field, rallied
| from their places of retreat, armed them
| selves afresh with men smiles and re-
entered the struggle. The anxious moth
ers, too. brought up the rear. urging
| them on with-"it may be your last
chance-make well Of it-you will be for
| ever laid on the shelf soon"-and like ex-
pressions equally as encouraging.
But Neil was equal to the emergency.
| He at once ensconced himself in a strong
fort of Indifference, ard kept the new ac-
| quaintances under subsection by mild and
unrelenting reserve He wasn't slow to
take in the situation.
was young and motherless girl, un-
der the control of an old maid aunt, you
know.
1t would have been great shock to her
poor nerves had l received attention from
the uppish Young Americas of the town,
as she termed them, as other girls of my
age did. But ignorance was bliss with
me. | had never known anything about
such things and cared less. l loved my
books. was retiring and shy in my dispo-
sition. Neil, living in the house with me.
soon became constant companion. He
was like an older brother to me. He
helped me with my studies and taught me
to ride and drive This over attention of
Neils to such an unpretentious creature
as l was quite disgusted the interested
daughters and anxious mothers of the
town.
Time few. was a graduate with the
highest honors. Neil delivered the COM
mencement address and diplomas l was
proud of him, but he was more so of me.
He had always called. me little sweet
heart, and had treated it as little joke,
but on this occasion he kissed me sur
rounded by my laurels. Was ever kiss
like that? He read in my tell tale eyes
that which made his heart throb with
JOY. l afterward posed for an artist who
mo hot MI oh hn IL NJ &c,
labeled THE Sweet Girl Graduate" and
received special mention at the Paris salon
last year.
A year afterward father and l were at
Waukesha for the summer. Several of
our society bellies were also there. Neil
had joined us for a short time. One
glorious evening, just as the fire flies
were trimming their lamps for the falling
shadows, he sat with me at the base of
Crescent spring and read to me "The
Buried Life" by Mathew Arnold. It was
his confession to me, and to my heart
they were the most beautiful lines ever
penned by poet. As he finished read
ing. voice in the pavilion above me said,
and so distinctly that l could hear it:
Who is this Miss Dortch of your town.
She is beautiful and sings like a night
ingale, but ssems Indifferent to societyY
recognized the speaker to be Blanche
Doyle, New York woman who had spent
much Of her time abroad, and who had
realized a round sum from playing
roulette at Monte Carlo. She was a typi-
cal woman of fashion-magnifcen figure,
blOndined hair, cosmetics in profusion,
but rather coarse featured. Dancing came
as natural to her feet as the latest scandal
to her lips. To be stared at was the
height of her ambition, and to be mobbed
by the men her acme of bliss; yet she
possessed tact, most potent of social
qualities.
"Oh, she is one of the goody-goody
girls" replied one of the bellies from our
town. 1.-The men call her sweet, but con-
tent themselves with admiring her from a
distance, there's nothing exciting in know
ing her better. She gets in with all the
old people, her slow ways suit them, she
wastes her smiles on the pauper, and is
styled superior woman. Dear mel These |
superior women-how stupid they arei |
For my part prefer to ignore these stiff,
conventional laws of propriety and have |
a good time"
When they had gone Neil began ito
make comparisons in my favor. He said
| was truthful, innocent and pure, and
oh, his confidence in me only death could
break. He said good-by to me that night,
but was happy, for had promised to
marry him on my return home in the
autumn.
He had gone, and two months more of
the summer. How should I spend itP
When that question entered my mind, the.
tempter entered my heart, slowly but
surely. The conversation l had heard
still fingered with me. Il believe I'll
show these people what a stupid, indif-
ferent girl can do when she takes no.
ton. There's nothing to be done but
make myself excessively agreeable to
people. have nothing better to do; no
harm can come from that, surely" l
thought.
A little later was sitting at the piano
singing. Blanche Doyle came up with
her gushing compliments. Much to her
l received them gracefully
md kept up quick repartee From that
lime she sought my company on every oc-
;asion, much to my discomfort; but, IF
vas to be success, l must receive every
one cordially. 1t would be unwise to in
,ur such woman's displeasure; and then
she would be leaving soon; not enough
horse racing and betting, consequently
United number of sports" argued.
"Miss Dortch," she said to me the day
# Vice President Hendricks reception,
i am compelled to leave this place to-
lay. A gentleman friend of mine will be
here for the ball to-night-may I leave
aim in your carer
l hesitated, a dozen thoughts rushing
n confusion through my brain.
"Who was he?" Birds of a feather"
~ l~ok NIL 81 D. | ,
;mothered my conscience into the conclu-
ZION ssporhops T'11 povop hin, oro;,, |