Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-26
LOVES VICTORY.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
CHAPTER III.

holden an awkward, untiedged schoolrirI
one who, never having seen much of rood
society, had none of the little graces and
charms that distinguish young ladies. She
had expected to see a tall, gaunt girl, with
red hands, and a general air of not KNOWN,
what to do with herself-that was the idea
she had formed. She gazed in wonder al the
Feality-a magnificent 1igure-a girl whose
grand, pale, Statuesque beauty was some
thing that could never be forgotten There
was nothing of the boarding-schOol young
lady about her; no acquired graces She was
simply magnificent-nO other word could de-
scribe her Miss Hastings, as she looked Al
her, thought involuntarily of the graceful
lines, the beautiful curves, the grand. free
grace of the wOrld-renowned Diana of the
Louvre; there was the same arched. graceful
neck, the same royal symmetry, the same
harmony OF outline.
In one OF the most celebrated art galleries
of Rome Miss Hastings remembered to have
seen superb bust of Juno; as she looked al
ner new pupil, she could almost fancy thai
Its head had been modelled from hers. Pau
lines head was royal in its queenly contour;
the brow low, white, and rounded at the
temples; the hair, waving in lines of mex
presSible beauty, was loosely gathered to-
gether and fastened behind with cleaning
silver arrow. The eyes were perhaps the
most wonderful feature in that wonderful
face; they were dark as night itself, some
what in hue like purple heart5ease rich,
soft, dreamy, yet at times all fire, all bright
ness, filled with passion more intense than
any words, and shining then with strange
half-golden light. The brows were straight
dark, and beautiful; the lips crimson, full,
and exqusitely shaped; the mouth looked
like one that could persuade or contemn-
that could express tenderness or scorn, love
or pride, with the slightest play of the lips.
Every attitude the girl assumed was full OF
unconscious grace She did not appear to
be in the least conscious OF her wonderful
beauty. She had walked to the window, and
stood leaning carelessly against the frame,
one beautiful arm thrown above her head, as
though she were weary, and would fam rest
An attitude that could not have been sur
passed had she studied it for years.
''You are not at all what ! expected to
see," said Miss Hastings, at last. You are,
indeed, SO different that l am taken by sur
prise"
''Am better or worse than you had i'm
agined me?' she asked, with careless scorn.
''YOu are ditferent-better, perhaps, III
tall that it will be difficult to remember you
are a pupil"
''The Darrells are tall race" she said,
quietly. "Miss Hastings what have you
come here to teach me?"
The elder lady rose from her seat and look
ed lovingly into the face of the girl; she
placed her hand caressingly on the slender
shoulders.
II know what / should like to teach you,
Miss Darrell, if you will let me. | should
like to teach you your duty to Heaven, your
felowcreatureS and yourself"
''That would be dry learning, fear" she
returned, What does my uncle wish me to
learn?'
ITO be in all respects a perfectly refined,
graceful lady"
Her face flushed with a great crimson wave
that rose to the white brow and the delicate
shell-Ille ears.
~ shall never be that" she cried, passion
ately Il may just as well give up all hopes
of Darrell Court | have seen some ladies
since | have been here. | could not be like
them. They seem to speak by rule; they all
say the same kind of things, with the same
smiles, in the same tone of voice; they fol-
low each other like sheep; they seem fright
ened to advance an opinion of their own,
or even give utterance to an original thought.
They look upon me as something horrible,
because | dare to say what l think, and have
read every book l could find"
at is not always best to put our thoughts
In speech; and the chances are Miss Darrell.
that, ii you have read every book you could
find, you have read many that had been bet
ter left alone. You are giving very one
sided, prejudiced view after all.''
She raised her beautiful head with rest-
ure OF superb dISdain.
''There is the same difference betw cen
them and myself as between mechanical
singing bird made to sing three tunes and a
wild sweet bird of the woods. l like my
own self best"
There is not the least doubt of that" OBJ
served Miss Hastings, with smile; but the
question is not so much who we like our
selves as what others like in u.s. However,
we will discuss that at another time, Miss
Darrell"
'Has my uncle told you that if l please
him-if can be nodded into the right form
I am to be heireSs of Darrell Court? she
asked, quickly.
Eyes; and now that have seen you am
persuaded that you can be anything you
wish"
''Do you think, that l am clever?' she ask
ed, eagerly.
81 should imagine So" replied Miss Hast
ings. "Pauline--I need not call you Miss
DARRELL hope we shall be friends; trust
we shall be happy together"
at is not very likely" she said, slowly,
''that | can like you, Miss Hastings"
'Why notY' asked the governess, astonish.
ed at her frankneSs.
because YOU are to correct me; continual
correction will be great annoyance, and
will prevent my really liking YOU"
Miss Hastings looked astounded.
THAT may be, Pauline" she said: "but do
you know that it is not polite of you to say
so? In good society one does not tell such
unpleasant truths"
That is just it," was the eager retort;
'that is why do not like good society, and
shall never be tit for il. l am truthful by ma
ture. In my fathers house and among his
friends there was never any need to conceal
the truth; we always spoke it frankly. If
we did not like each other, we said so. But
here, it seems to me, the Tirst lesson learned
to fit one for society is to speak falsely"
mot SO, Pauline; but, when the truth is
likely to hurt another'S feelings, to wound
susceptibility VI plIue, why opC'h IL, uiiOS'
1t Is called for?''
Pauline moved her white arms with SUI
perb gesture of Scorn.
II would rather any day hear the truth
and have my mind ..urt," she said, energetic
ally, than feel that people were smiling at
me and deceive ne. Lady Hampton visits
Sir Oswald. do not like her, and she does
not like me; but she always asks Sir Oswald
how his dear niece is, and she calls ME a