Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-01

standing upon pedestal pale, motiOnless,
with rapt Pygmalion at her feet, and some
PompeiaI vases and jugs (confiscated from
the drawing-room) in the background.
And then follow the other tableauy, and
then the stage is deserted, and, music sound.
ing in the distant ballroom, every one rises
and makes a step in its direction, the hearts
of some of the younger guests beating In
time to it.
Where are you going?" says Uiic Ro
nayne, seeing Olga about to mount the stairs
once more.
ITO help the others to get into civilized
garb,-Herma and Monica, mean. Lady
Teazle consider capable of looking after
herself
HIN! you say that? l thought Miss Fitz-
gerald was friend of yours?
"Then you thought like the baby you are.
No! Women, like princes, find few real
friends. But one in a hundred can fill that
character gracefully, and Bella is not that
one''
She turns to run up the stairs. well,
don't be long" says Mr.. Ronayne.
'1'll be ready in a minute" she says; and
in twenty-five she really is.
Monica, who has had Kit to help her.
such an admiring, enthusiastic, flattering
kits soon redresseG, and has run down
stairs, and nearly into Desmond's arms,
who, of course, is waiting on the lowest step
to receive her. She Is now waltzing with
him, with heart as light as her feet.
Hermia's progress has been slow, but Miss
FitZgerald'S SlOweSt of all, her elaborate
toilet and its accessories taking some time
to arrange themselves; she has been an
noyed, too, by Olga Bohun, during the earlier
part of the evening, and consequently feels
it her duty to stay i'll her room for a while
and take it out of her maid. So long is she
indeed that Madame 0 Conner (moSt atten-
tive of hOstesses) feels it her duty to come
upstairs TO find her.
She does find her giving way to diatrbes
of the most virulent, that have Olga Bohun
for their theme. Mrs. Fitzgerald, standing
by, is listening to, and assisting in, the de-
famatory speeches.
''Hey-day what's the matter now" says
Madame, with a bO1,honmie completely
thrown away Miss Fitzgerald has given
the reins to her modification, and is pre-
pared to hunt Olga TO the death.
II think it is disgraceful the license Mrs.
Bohun allows her tongue" she says, angrlly,
still smarting under the little spe, CHI she
had gOaded Olga into making her an hour
ago. "We have just been talking about it.
She says the most wounding things, and ac-
cuses people openly of thoughts and actions
of which they would scorn to be guilty. And
this, too, when her own acto ns are so hope
lessly faulty, so sure to be animadverted up
Oh by all decent people"
Yes, yes, indeed" chimes in her mother,
as in duty bound. Her voice is feeble, but
her manner vicious.
THE shameful way in which she employs
nasty unguents of all kinds, and tries by
every artificial means to heighten any beau
ty she may possess, is too abSurdly transpar-
ent not to be known by all the world" goes
on the irate Bella. 'sWho runs may read
the rouge and veloutine that covers her face.
And as for her lids, they are so blackened
that they are positively dirty! Yet she pre-
tends she has handsome eyes and lasheS!'
''But, my dear, she may well lay claim to
her lashes. All the Egyptian charcoal in
the world could not make them long and
curly. Nature is to be thanked for them"
you can defend her if you like" says
Bella, Historically, 'but to my mind her
conduct isis positively immoral. 1t is
cheating the public into the belief that she
has skin when she hasn't"
But I'm sure she has; we can all see it"
says Madame OCOnnOr, somewhat bewil-
dered by this sweeping remark.
mo, you can't. l defy you to see it, it is
so covered with pastes and washes, and
everything; she uses every art you can con-
ceive."
"Well, suppose she does, what then?'
says Madame, stoutly. She is dressed in
black velvet and diamonds, and is looking
twice as important and rather more good
humOred than usual. II see nothing in it.
My grandmother always rOuged,-put on
patches as regularly as her gown. Every
one did it in those days, suppose. And
quite right, too. Why shouldn't woman
make herself look as attractive as she can?'
But the barefaced fashion in which she
hunts down that wretched young Ronayne,"
says Miss Fitzgerald, sis dreadful! You
can't defend that, Gertrude. l quite pity the
poor lad,-drawn thus, dgGinSthiS aUjU into
the tolls of an enchantress." Mrs. FitZ-
gerald pauses after this ornate and strictly
original speech as if overcome by her own
elOquence. II think he should be warned, :"
she goes on, presently. "a woman like that
should not be permitted to entrap a mere
boy into marriage he will regret all his
life afterward, by means of abOminable
cOQuetries and painted cheeks and eyes. 1t
is horrible!'
81 never thought you were such fool
Edith" says Madame OConnOr, with the
greatest sweetness.
''You may think as you will, Gertrude"
responds Mrs. Fitzgerald, with her faded air
of juvenility sadly lost in her agitation, and
shaking her head nervOuSly, as though af-
ficted with sudden touch Of palsy that ac-
cords dismally with her youthful attire.
''But shall cling to my own opinions. And
utterly disapprove of Mrs. Bohun.'
For me-" says Bella, vindictively, 81 be-
lieve her capable of anything. l can't bear
those women who laugh at nothing, and
powder themselves every half-huur."
You shouldn't throw stones, Is ella" says
honest Madame O'Connor, now nearly at
the end of her patience. ''YOur glass house
will be shivered if you do. Before took to
censuring other people I'd look in mirror,
if were vou.'
u ton't understand you," says Miss Fitz-
gerald, turning rather pale.
That's because you won't look in the
mirror. Why, there's enough powder on
your right ear, my dear, to whiten Moorv'
Il never" begins B LA, in stricken
tone; but Madame O'Connor stops her.
Nonsense! sure I'm looking at it," she
says.
This hanging evidence is not to be con-
futed. For a moment the fair Bella feels
crushed; then she rallies nobly, and, after
whitening her terrified mother with glance,
sweeps from the room, followed at re-
spectful distance by Mrs. Fitzgerald, and
quite closely by Madame, who declines to
see she has given offense in any way.
AS they go, Mrs Fitzgerald keeps up
twitter, in the hope of propitiating the
wrathful goddess on before.
Yes, yes, l still think young Ronayne
should be warned; she is very designing.
very, and he is very soft-hearted." She had
believed in young Ronayne at one time, and
had brought herself to look upon him as a
possible SON n-law, until this terrible Mrs
BOhun had cast glamour over him. yes
yes. one feels it quite ones duty to let him