Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-04-20
CHAPTER I.
THE SECOND BELLE OF A SEASON.

belle of Washington season. She
would have ranked as the first belle
instead, if only she'd been just little
bit human. Her face was beautiful
as beautiful as a statues, when one
saw it in repose; cold, clear-cut, per-
feet, with regular features and, a
creamy complexion: q sculptors
model in evening dress; full round
Maisie smiled or talked, her charm
was lessened, not increased. as it
ought to be with animation. She was
beautiful still, to be sure-still per-
feet, still faultless; but that WAS all;
nothing in any way better than mere
perfection. She lacked the saving
grace OF feminine touch, winning soft
ness. The other belle beat her there;
the other belle had a heart. Maisie
Bowman had only a neck and shoul-
ders.
Yet strange to say, though she
reigned acknowledged as vice-queen OF
a season, Maisie Bowman could hard
ly count q single lover. Admirers by
the score tlocked around her OF course;
as she entered the ballroom. young
men crowded in, eager to fill up her
card. Western congressman Wed with
European attaches in their ardent
desire to fetch her an ice, or take her
down to supper. But there the thing
ended. 1t was dance the men want.
ed, not a wife, Maise noted; it was
partner for a waltz they sought, not
u partner for lifetime. And This
was annoying, no woman can live on
admiration alone; especially not
Maisie. What she longed for most
were diamonds. a house, position in
the world a carriage OF her own, and
incidentally husband.
All these-save perhaps the last
she might have in time, no doubt,
from her own resources. Her mother
was r!ch-the widow ola wealthy iron
founder in the Pittsburg district; and
people said Maisie would inherit her
wealth. But then, Mrs. Bowman had
thirty good years OF life still left in
her. A comfortable bark OF ample
tonnage, she sailed easily down the full
stream OF life before prosperous
breezes. 1t might be long indeed be-
fore she came to anchor. That made
the attaches hang back somewhat. II
the money mad been Maisie's now,
they might have found the profundity
OF their feelings some day too much
for them; but as it was Mrs. Bow
mans, they managed to keep their
sentiments down to the level OF mere
objective artistic admiration for her
face and figure. Besides, Mrs Bow
man might marry again any day. A
widow OF fortyhve, with ten thousand
a year OF her own, may easily excite
tender passion in the susceptible
breast ola New England congressman.
And when say ten thousand a year,
mind you, | mean pounds sterling,
not dollars Of United States currency.
Ope day new sensation broke up
on Washington. Jose Mansfield, the
poet OF the far western world came
to visit the capital.
All society went wild latter its
WON'T, over this latest sensation. In
the dialect OF the time and place,
there was a Mansfield boom that
year in Washington. The world
talked Of nothing but the prairie
poet-his picturesque mien, his flow
ing brown locks, his fiery southern
eyes, his volcanic energy. For not
Mexican blood, it was rumored, ran
in Jose Mansfield s veins; his mother
had been famous Spanish beauty at
Santa F'e; his father, apioneer rancher
on the edge OF the Slerras. He was
Buffalo Bill with just flavor OF
Byronese poetry thrown in; the Wild
West subdued and purified for draw
ing-room use.
Maisie Bowman, like all the rest
was eager to meet and conquer
the hero OF the hour. A COO
uette at heart, what she wanted
most of all in the world was conquest.
Admiration, not love, was the stake
she played for. And it was with
thrill Unconscious pleasure tina she
received one day an invitation from
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Brown to an
evening reception ''to meet Mr.. Jose
Mansfield i"
AS the new lion entered the spacious
saloon, Maisie's eyes rested long and
eagerly on him. A thrill ran through
her; she had met her Fate. The
prairie poet was tall and handsome,
a large-built breezy man, not wholly
out OF place in an evening suit, yet
looking as though sombrerO and q
cowboys jacket would have done full
Ter justice to his big limbs and hand
some devil-may features. Every
fnce in the room was turned toward
the new conner. But as for him, he
sauntered up to his hostess, with the
long slow swing OF man accust omed
to the endless showroom OF the
praries; and even as he shook hands
with her, his'eyes had lighted full with a
strange flash on Ma:sie. "Introduce
me to that GIRL" he said briefly, with
the imperious curtness he affected as
part of the poetical manner. "She's
US handsome as she can hold. And
looks intelligent, too. Every gift OF
nature-except perhaps a soul. But
after all. if it comes to that, body's
great deal. can put up without
souls. must know her and sound
her."
"she's the second belle OF our sea-
CON-" Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Brown in
t, rjected, smiling.
And Jose Mansfield made answer,
with a wide wave OF his big, brown
land. "Washinpton must be rich, in