The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-07-31
THURsDA ~ JULY 81 1890

hard that Mesdames Somers, DeD.
mond & Co. should have all the pleas
ure and all the trouble and worry.
Why shouldn't Ihave my amusements
too3 OF course, ] can always have
the fun oflaughlng at my dear cousins
weakness behind her back, but Ihaves
to do it so often that it pals. I real
ly must strike out something new.
Let me think. : Z.
For some minutes the young lady
sank into a brown study, puckering her
white forehead into a thoughtful frown3
and drawing quite a net york OF de-
signs on the carpet with Che point of
her shoe At last a brilliant idea
darted into her brain, and she started
to her feet with q cry. Is Il. siss
Eureka! That will do. Nothing
could be better. All, what fun I'll
havel My dear Clementina, I shall
be able to cry quite with y on at last
You have made me pass many a
quarter Of an hour, in return for
for which / shall play you as pretty q,
trick as ever a woman's wit hatch
3ed!" And she burst into peal Of
such merry, silyer-toned laughter
that the lap,dog reused himself from
his afternoon siesta and barke,l a
Joy GUS response.
During the next few days Miss
Crews manner was as demure as ever
while in the presence Of her patron
ess. but when evening came and Mrs.
Somers ,betook herself to ball, re-
ceptlon or theater as the case might,
be, the young lady gave vent to her
native high spirits by mimicking her
cousin before the long mirror in Glenn
entina's dressing room, Waiting with.
the lap-dog, who loudly resented the
liberty, or singing sprightly chanso-
nettes in her fresh, clear tones. Mary
had been educated in a frst-rateP ar
islam school, end had contrived to.
imbibe a good deal Of French esprit.
along with more solid accomplish
ments. But oftener she fell to needle
work with pralseworthy ardor, and
when thus employed her spirits rose
higher than ever. She would often
laugh aloud from sheer inability to
keep her mirth to herself, as she pic
tured and re.pictured in her busy
brain what Clementina, would say
and how Clementina would loo X. when
her humble companions brilliant idea
was fully matured and carried out.
The rivalry ofthe two widows did
not abate as the days went on. Fltz.
was seldom to be seen without one or
other by his side. Bets were freely
laid on the event at the clubs.
the odds varying as blonde
or brunette was in the as
cendant. Clementina fattered her
self that she would be in first at the
winning post, while Minna was equally
confident that to her would fall the
honor Of carrying of the Brand on
sweepstakes.
. Little Fitz could but feel fattered
by the open ad miration of these two
charming ladies. When chaffed about
it at his club, he only laughed and
stroked his mustache complacently,
for he was extremely good hundred,
and even the scowls of Maitland and
Carnforth did not rufle him. But he
had evidently not made up his mind
which OF the ladies was tos,sbe Mrs.
fitzgerald Brand on. He lunched
one day with Clementina, but
dined with Minna the next; he sat the
whole evening in the opera box Of one,
but he was certain to be seen in the
Row next morning with the other;
and 80 the balance OF power was.
maintained.
Both ladies were at their wits end.
How was this oscillating swain to be
secured? It was SO intolerable to see
him flirting openly with Minna after
he had all but proposed
the day before to Clementlna;
and vice versa. OF course every
one was amused but the two victims,
and they were really miserable. How.
ever, an event to which both had
long looked forward would, they hoped
bring matters toa crisis. Lady Mabel
Smith was going to give a ball masque
at her charming suburban villa on
the Thames, and the widows had
devised ravishing toilets for the occa-
sion. Little Fitz would surely be sub.
#jugated at last; and there would be SO
many opportunities for him to pro-
pose in those delightful gardens. slop-
ing to the river, and lit with colored
lamps q la South Kensington.
The eventful evening came at last.
Mrs. Desmond, arrayed as Nine. de
Pompad our, in rose colored velvet
and diamonds, and Mrs. Somers as
Marie Antoinette, in pale blue satin
and pearls arrived almost simultan-
eGosly at Lady Mabel's. Little Fitz,
whom both ladies had, ofcourse,
confided the secret of her incognito,
had got himself up very magnif Gently
as Lord Louis the XIV, and this Mrs.
Desmond considered as almost tanta-
mount to a declaration. 81 #
The saE was a most brilliant affair;
the weather was everything it should
be. warm, still, and moonless; the illu-
limitations were gorgeous, the music
good, the dresses admirable, and the
wine superlative. Lad Mabel Is guests
took their pleasure with less insular
sadness and more OF continental live.
illness than usual Whether it was the
novelty and daring OF the thing, Or
the tact Of the hostess. or the unlim-
tied opportunities for filtration, or
the spice Of intrigue and mystification
introduced into the affair by the wear.
ing Of masks, it is certain that the ball
was g complete success from beginning
to end. Mlnna Desmand, however,
was far from happy, for throughout
IL - 49,