Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-10-18
A PERVERSIoN OF JUSTICE.
by Rose Rodney in Argonaut.]

w women among the dozen people
~ gathered in Mrs. Rodney IS
IN drawing ROOM There were al
ways more men than women
among any assemblage in that
somewhat too gorgeous apartment,
though the proportions were better bal
anced than during the previous winter,
which had been the season of her debut
in Washington.
However scanty may be the informa-
ton obtainable concerning a woman IS
earlier history, society is so constituted
that mere rumor will not maintain it in
an attitude of reserve toward the occu-
pant of an influential position, who is
also the hostess at many recherche
little dinner-and rumor only drifted
clOudlike across the sunshine Of Mrs.
Rodney's brilliant hospitality.
She was the Wife-that was positive
of genial, keen witted and fearless ell
derby senator, from no matter which
newly created far western state, who
had made 1T clearly understood that
wherever he was hidden to meet the
feminine element of society, she must
be received also. That she had d Past
with capital "Pn-she so far admitted
as to acknowledge a first marriage, Of
which all she desired to remember was
It's definite termination. That the
events of this previous matrimonial
venture had been as eXcitingsas I'M
pleasant was written in the hard bril-
lance of two handsome eyes, and the
certain setting of two red lips which
their naturally soft beauty could only
have acquired under circumstances that
leaves their signs forever on a woman's
face. But she was even more clever
than handsome, and her path, like Ex-
celsior's, would probably lead ever high
er, unless one of those facts which so
ciety does not ignore should be sudden
ly upheaved across that path from the
abyss of her prOblematical past!
Already she had learned to put her.
self in touch with the half mystical,
half skeptical fads now in fashion, and
to battle an Objectionable quality in the
interest which her beauty and the mis-
tiness of her antecedents aroused by the
righteousness of her pose as femme
6esprit. If she could not just vet
reach the best women, she had man
aged to draw to herself land her din
ners) the best men, and, although only
in her second winter, she had secured
her place in small select coterie which
believed that it inclosed the higher in
tellectual life of Washington-a belief
at which her jovial, elderly husband
laughed with the tolerant good humor
of asuccessful man, in a way that hurt
nobody's feelings. And no one took
during the metaphysical discussions
which followed those petit dinners in
times, whose menus he understood or
dering as well paying for.
On this particular evening Lent had
freed society from later engagements,
and Mrs. Rodney's guests were in no
haste to depart. Among them was a
Young naval officer. AS rule naval
officers (good fellows) are not found in
the ranks of advanced thinkers, but
many fine things have been said, and
even finer things were prophesied of
Lieutenant Browns talents by the lead
ing scientists of the day.
He had recently returned from a
three years. cruise, during which he
had accomplished such marvels of as
Economical observation as the writer,
who does not in the least understand
the subject, must refrain from even at
tempting to describe. Marvels which,
in addition to more enduring benefits,
had won him invitations to two OF
three Of Mr.. Rodney's latest festivities
He seemed less given to talking than
ulOSt Vi Iuc GULL pduy Dul LIZ HA1ioWly
observed his handsome hostess (Obser
vations of various kinds were, apparent
ly, his forte), from under his sleepy
looking lids, with perseverance which
that lady felt to be either flattering OF
alarming. Her "pasto might some
times send forth vagrant ghost tC
chatter of "the secrets of that prison
house." Brown? A Brown had, in
deed, very unwillingly assisted her al
q critical moment, but that had been {
feminine Brown And it was absurd
" morbid to connect so common s
name with any one event, however dis
agreeable.
Mrs. Rodney smiled and brough
back her attention to the conversation
which she discovered had wandered
from hypnotism, by some will-o'-the
wisp path to kleptomania.
at is an improbable enough story,
the silent lieutenant was saying at tina
moment. "But it was told to me as
matter of fact, and if you like, L viii
tell it to yOu?"
He addressed his hostess, as in dut.
bound, and she, slowly waving blacl
feather fan with movement that Sc
her splendid rings abIaze, laughingl.
pleaded guilty to straying thoughts.
"What the Germans call my Itch
has travelled thousand miles in tn
last few moments, and naturally ha
missed hearing your talk. Kleptoma
mia? Is your story apropos to tina
puzzling subject?" she asked.
at is the fashion to so name acts G
that kind when they happen in on
class" he said, settling himself still
more comfortably in his chair. ''T
me is very like highway robbery, with
out even the warning, Stand and dc
liver ~ which the gentlemen of tn
road in the old times thought neces
sary. But you shall judge for YOU
selves, if you will"
There was chorus of assent, and b
began: