The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-03-10

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The butler came In and handed her a
card.
"Well, it's what consider q very
reasonable ambition" said Mrs. Under
wood, pouring out . second cup Of tea
for herself. more than that, it's the
sort Of ambition that every woman
would have to own up to II she were
honest. Men can rise above the rest Of
their species in hundred ways. But /
should like to know what triumphs are
open to us, except cOnquering hearts and
dressing exquisitely and getting the
most exclusive society to acknowledge
Us. With your face you can conquer as
many hearts As you please; with your
money you can employ the best dress
makers in the world; but to persuade
these English Aristocrats to come to your
house isn't 90 easy, and say that Q sue
cess Of that Kind is worth taking some
trouble to win"
Pretty little Mrs. Willatts jerlCed up
her shoulders. II don't know. Seems
to me there's more trouble than success
about 1t, anyway" she remarked. "You
and have taken trouble enough over
this ball, and it's going to b Q failure
after all, because that dowdy old dolly
Of duchess won't come"
"HOw do you know that, my deari
Now, have 1t on the best authority that
she will come. Lord George has been
moving heaven and earth for you, and
he told me this morning that the old
lady had given in"
"YOu don't sayp exclaimed Mrs. Will
latts excitedly. "Well, Maggie, you're q
real friend, and Lord George Is worth
what Fve-he's worth more than ]
thought he was anyway. Why, this is
perfectly splendidr'
These two transatlantic ladies were
seated In the drawing room Of the spa
cious mansion in Pont street, which the
younger of them had hired for the sea-
son, and which, as she Fondly hoped,
was destined to be the scene Of some
magnificent social festivities.
London did not know much about
Mrs. Willatts, except that she appeared
to have plenty Of money; but, on the
other hand, It was fairly well acquainted
with that lively widow, Mrs. Under
wood, and was willing enough to accept
her word for the fact that the new pro-
tegs with whom she had taken her
abode this year was ''Rll right" The
money, at all events, seemed to be all
right, and in these latter days high sOciety
has learned to consider wealth as q sufi-
cieDt passport-especially II the pOssessor
thereof be pretty, amusing and a citizen
ess Of the United States. The Duchess Of
Stratford, however, was exceptional. The
duchess had remained faithful 10 worn
out traditions; she was exclusive. She
wanted to know who people were and
put good many inconvenient questions
before she would consent to shed the
light Of her cOuntenance upon them; and
this was why Mrs. Willatts was 80 eager
TO extend her hospitality to one whom
she had described truthfully as a dowdy
old dolly.
"Well, presume she won't do more
than walk in and walk out again, the
expectaut hostess observed reflectively,
"but II she'll do that 1t will answer the
purpose. Once Eve been recognized by
the Duchess Of Stratford, ! don't see
what theren be to stop me. should
like to see Sans face when he reads
about It in the newspapersl The only
trouble Is that he won't know the differ
ence between the Duchess of StratfOrd
and other duchesses."
"He don't know anything at all" re-
turned Mrs. Underwood contemptuously.
"He don't even know enough TO keep
from quarreling with Q wife who could
have shown him how to get some value
for his dollars rs well as her own. Let
him stay home and slave at piling up
wealth, since that's his notion Of enjoy
menE Luckily, you're independent Of
him."
Mrs. Willatts sighed. "Why, Il stands
to reason that am independent of him"
said she; sit wasn't any fault Of mine
that he was too stupid and obstinate 10
allow what Is a fact in law. I didn't
want to quRrTel-I only insisted upon
my Tights."
II there had not been an actual quar-
rel between Mr.. and Mr.. Willatts, there
had been very good imitation Of one.
The young couple had married under |
circumstances Oh CoulplfAtlNo p0NefIyt |
but, shortly after their wedding, the |
brides father, old Senator Kendrick,
had by happy combination Of luck and |
astuteness acquired an immense fortune, |
which, on his decease, had been divided |
equally between her and her brother. Il |
was on account Of the perhaps unreason-
able claim Of Mr.. Willatts to have q
voice In the investigating and expending i
Of his wife's riches that differences had |
arisen which had resulted in the de-
parture Of Mrs. Willatts for Europe and
her subsequent partnership with the ex.
perienced Mrs. Underwood.
.'rd like him 10 be here, though" she
remarked ingeniously, go he might zee
for himself that don't need any man to
show me my way
Her wish was fulfilled with dramatic
promptitude which may not have been
entirely welcome to her; for hardly were
The words out Of her mouth when the
butler came in and handed her card,