Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-13

sic-young friends, who, as she ayerred. ain
sisted upon practising with her, although She
did not profess to give lessons not She.
Still her toilet was as elgaut as ever. The
first appearance Of a new style Of cloak. a
new pattern Of silk or embroidery. b. " rib
bons, laces, jeweiry, might be OILS 4,.i. as
she took her morning promenade. The
dealers in rich goods, elegant triaes
costly nothings, all knew her we'll
Whatever satisfied her artistic taste
she purchased. To see was 10
desire, and, in some way, all She
coveted tended by a magical attraction to her
rooms. Society frowned upon her: she
vent to no receptions in the higher circles.
but she mad no lack of associates for all that
AT concerts and other public assemblagcs.
her brilliant figure and irreproachable cos
tune were always to be seen-the admira-
ton of men, the envy of women. Nor was
she without ~gallants. Gentlemen focked
about her, and seemed only too happy in her
smiles; but it never happened that their wives
or sisters joined in their attentions. On
fine days, as she came out for a walk. She
was sure TO be accompanied by some person
whose dress and manner marked him as be-
longing to the wealthy classes; and at such
times it generally lisppened-according to the
sclndal-loving shop-keepers-that the last
new book, the little "love' of a ring, or the
engraved scent-bottle was purchased.
So the beauty was still queen in her circle
and found admirers ia plenty. Perhaps She
even enjoyed the freedom; for, to a woman
Of spirit the constraints OF taboo must lie
irisome at times. Not the Brahmin. WHO
fears TO tread upon sole-leather from the
sacred COW, and dares not even think of the
favor Of her forbidden beef, who keeps him
self haughtily aloof from the soldier and the
trader, and walks sunward from the pariah,
lest the polluting shadow fall on his
holy person, has a more difficult and
expressing occupation than the woman Of
fashion, IN a country where the distinctions
Of rank are so purely Fictitious as in ours.
Miss Norcross' time was now her own; she
was accountable to no supervisor. Her
brother was a cipher. He did not venture to
lntrude upon her, except at seasons when she
was at leisure, and in a humor TO be bored by
him Perhaps she looked back regretfully,
but, as far as could be told by her manner,
she carried herself proudly, with the air of
one who says
'Bettcr reign in hell than serve in heaven.r
The observant reader has doubtless won
dered before this, that Mr.. Norcross did not,
in his emergency, apply 10 his old clerk,
Trainor, for the money in exchange for the
peculiar obligation of which mention has been
made. 1t is presuming too much upon Mr..
Norcross' studidity to suppose that the idea
had not frequently occurred to him. But he
was satisfied that Trainor was one Of
the few who were making money in this time
Of general di~ itress, and that with every days
acquisition the paper became more valuable;
therefore, it was his last trump, he preferred
to play it when it would sweep the board;
and he was willing to live in any way until
the proper time came. Not so easy was
Trainor. Several times he attempted to pay
the claim, so that he could once more hold
his head erect as a free man. But Norcross
smiled blandly; she was in no hurry, " he
said; "Mr. Trainor evidently had money,
and was good for the amount" Poor
Trainor walking about with a rope around
his neck,-a long rope, now, and slack,-but
held by a man who knows not what pity
meansl \