The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-03
MY COUSIN ELSA'S LESSON.

grown into q provocante woman, with 4
dirty complexion. and n tendency to hint.
or insufficient evidence. that men whom she
mot we're in love with her. She give these
hinta to a oonfidante, and the oon1dante
always told the men, and the mon as a rule
we're very angry. Sometimes they com-
planned to me. She was just pretty enough
to make her story probable, and this was
exasperating. / lointed out to them that
Elsa was the kind OF a girl that had to do
something to make her mother suffer, thar
there was no authentic instance of any one
who knew her vol having taken her soii-
ously, md that it was best to bear quietly
with the ways of women. ! did what l
could. l told her that it was vulgar to rosa
as the car of J~uggernaut; but. although she
is quite vulgar enough to consciously avoid
vulgarity, she would not see IL.
] came upon her late one night at one OF
her mothor's parties when nearly every one
had gone. She was wearing the most af-
footed clothes. liquid eyes and a small
pout.
Poor little me-" che said in her ~favorite
girl-of-four mnnner what have done?
feel Positively certain that Mr.. Wysloup
will kill mo-"
"YesY" Z
Indeed, yes. and yes and yes! He would
takc me into supper, and ever since. II
said a void to any other man. he has
scowled at me In q positively murderoui
way"
"Elsn.'' ! said, II will give you six les
sons in the art of implication for one shil'
ling. It ia cheap. but l hate to see you do,
ing things inartistioally. 1t is all right
with mo. of course, but l fancy that you
had better not tell other people that Wys'
loup is in love with you"
II never said he was. And why mustn'l
Itell?"t
"Because Wysloup is dangerous"
"Oh! Why dangerous? Then I think
WILL"
She did. and wysloup heard of it. He Is
connected with the proprietor of the Wv.
sloup multiplex sock. The m%ultiplex sock
lie. if one may trnst the advertise ment. All
added luxury to life, and cannot wear out.
1t has certainly confer ed more fortune
than honor upon the nephew OF tho pro-
ask Wysloup If he 10 connected with the
multiplex sock he will tell you frankly that
he 10 its nephew. But when he once knows
that you are aware OF his connection he
does not permit any further reference to it.
For instance, Denner happened once
w No VulAAAk az VAV ShAo -
possibility that he might have TO leave
his house. A certain railway had q Rrea,
envy to 90 through his front garden. Some
one asked him If he felt anxious about it.
YES" said Denner. Pm in a state Of the
most awful suspense. like my multiple1
socks" Wysloup was present and heare
this. but said nothing. Later. at whist
Major Birdmount--who was all liver ane
sospioions-was coupled with WyslouT
against Dristield and Denner. Tho major
d nil -rohla ~ ha1tavo In ovAro,rAir~ =
luck ut whist unless it happens 10 come tt
himself. He would distrust his own mothe1
ii she had seven trumps, consequently il
was unfortunate that Denne com.
menoed by dealing himself the whole Of
the thirteen. With great difficulty the
major held his tongue and spoke nothing:
but his face darkened. Denner was R'eatly
surprised. Wysloup smiled a faint ehost
of a smile. Presently Denner notioed thai
the major was watching him iatently. Al
Denner is a perfectly ordinary and honest
spite of his honesty. whom it came
to Denner's turn to deal again
he dealt himself eleven trumps,
with the ace and king of another
suit. He could hardly believe his eyes. HI
flung Town his cards and won the rubber
As tho major rose to 20 he said: nay
children had been meaning to take me e
the Egyptian hall tonight. but whats
good enough for me-" No man. probably
likes to have it implied that he is cheating
foY the sake of shilling points at whist
Denner WAS furious, and lost no time il
making the major very much less vague
and very much more humble. But he was
very much annoyed about it. or course j,
may not have been Wysloup that was re-
sponsibls, but l have noticed that those
who vex him generally get punished, ant
sides. Wysloup was very busy losing
money to the major mt ecarte on tho follow.
ing day. Now. the major cannot play
ecarte and Wysloup can. This was tn.
only oconsion on which it had occurred tt
mo TINT Wysloup had the battered roles o
q conscience.
was curious to see how he would tnks
my cousin Elsa audacity. She had hintet
at Wys!oup's devotion in q conversation
with young Cecil Banks. Banks 10 u re-,
peater. lie told Wssloup all about il
Further, he told me that he had tolt
Wys!our. Now, l thought. Wysloup vii
cut her dead and make no secret why b.
does it. or he will set aome scandal aaoa
about her. He did nothing of the kind
He treated her with the most delicntc nm,
Of meeting her. He seemed at first to de
sire nothing moro than to be forever he
humble and silent worshiper. Once o
twice as she stepped from the carr nge n
the strip OF carpet to some party to whicl
Wyslonp had not been invited she saw hin
VuItAh ~ bNo CAoWdp hdlk III buVuOW
cloaked, watching her with raptured eve
and a romantic air as impressive ms tn,
advertisement OF the multiplex sock. o.
the occasions when be did meet her he b
no means monopolizsd her. He took will
humble gratitude as much of her societ
ne she vouchsafed to him. He remem
bered. and showed her that he remembers,
every word she snid md every preference
that abe expressed. He Wal reve ent AM
chivalrous with her. His manner was per
feet. He was splendid. He was Eliza
bethan.
l do not think Elsa had been treated will
abnormal reverence before. She luxuriate,
In il. She censsi to cay anything thn
could imply that Wysloup was fond OF her
yet she ia Ike II Rood deal of him. Sh
told mo one night that he WAS the only maj
she knew who had a really noble nature.
said: AN right. but let it stop at that
Don't marry him." She said etstnticall,
that one would not marry Sir Gnlnhad.
snid that / had never tried. Then She toll,
me that l was vulgar. which Was fairly true
OF course. a week or two afterwnrd ah,
came to me with u letter in her hand. "Yo,
know" she began, "that poor. dear MANN,
does not like Mr.. Wysloup. She asks hin
to things sometimes because ] make her
but she hates him."
"Yes?"
well. I'm in Rrent trouble. Hos writ
Ten to me-n proposal. and l have accepted
him. Oh! Oh! l hadn't expected 1t and Pm
not worthy, and l never called any one Al
uernon before in my life. ! want you 4
break it to mamma and tell hor it's al
riuhtS