The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-14
VANESSA'S VAGARY,
BEING THE SAD SUBMISSION OF A NEW
WOMAN
BY ELLA IMAGINATION.
Author OF "a New Note"
Copyrighted. ls96. by "a MaeMahon

a.
woman. Up to that, although Bob had
had undoubtedly a good deal to bear.
still, things were bearable. But when this,
Vanessa's latest vagary, sprang suddenly
INTO existence, Bob really was to be pit
Jed. All the same. Bob was Just the man
for Vanessa. He was such a placid sort
Of fellow. Let what would happen Bob
kept calm. You might as we'll, indeed, ex-
pect a nine-feet high stone wall to dance
a Highland fling as expect Bob to fuss
or fume.
And so, even now, he did not fuss or
fume. Not even now, when Vanessa re-
fused to kiss him, or to let him kiss her
any more; refused peremptorily, on the
ground that never more would she be a
mans plaything! He even bore in calm
ness the outpourlngs Of the spirit of Va
nessa's respectable parents the tears Of
her mother, and the grOanings Of her IA
Their. He let Vanessa herself lecture him
by the hour on the Era of Woman and
the Imperfectability (whatever that was)
Of Man." he gave her his best cigarettes
when she took to smoking, and consulted
her taste to the full in silver match-boxes.
In connection with this it may be said
Bob noticed one curious circumstance,
namely, that Vanessa used about three
times as many wax vestas in a week as
himself. Bob noticed this Bob was OBJ
servant, although he never said three
words where one would do. Nevertheless,
Bob could put two and two together. So
when Bob noticed the trihing circum-
stance just alluded to, Bob set himself
20 elucldate its meaning. And when he
had elucidated it he grinned all to him
self, and a most unholy grin it was. But,
at the same time his love for Vanessa in
creased-if that were possible-in inten-
sity.
Dear little darling" he said to him
self, "she amt built that way, for all
this fine vagary.
Now, the fact is that Bob discovered
that no sooner did Vanessa light a cigar
cite and put it between her lips, than the
cigarette went out-black. OF course,
Nanessa lit it again, and with the same
result. This went on, when Nanessa
smoked, until the cigarette was complete
by George" said Bob to himself
that's a capital idea. Wish I'd hit upon
II when l tried by first pipe at years
old in the stables. Shouldn't have wanted
70 lie down and wished myself dead If
I'd done it that way"
Undoubtedly Vanessa's plan has incom-
parable advantages.
But other plans Of Vanessa's were not
everything without a murmur, because
he wanted Vanessa for his wife, and
meant to have her too. If their engage
ment had been somewhat rOugh-on Bob
\ he was determined that i'm the end Va
Il nessa should be his. Scar 'eiV anything
that she could do, assn, 10 Vagary,
would turn Bob from tina. MESA, va
carries and all, was the one woman in the
world for Bob. Yet there were moments
when Bob would have sincerely dissuaded
any man he knew from seriously setting
IN lgara
10 be the only surviving child Of her par
ents, for Bob was persuaded that that was
really all that allied Vanessa. She was
the only surviving child, pet, adorable
& darling of her fond parents. Her parents
had indeed lost many children before Va
nessas precious face first dawned upon
heir enchanted vision to console them.
When Vanessa was born the gates OF
heaven itself seemed to have opened be-
fore her fond parents in her blue eyes
Vanessa-sweet Vanessa. Her father
would have this name, and no other. Va
nessa's father was man of considerable
culture, retiring habits, and strong lit
erary bias. He had left the diplomatic
service at an early age to pursue the last
Huamed which a considerable private for
tune enabled him to do with satisfactory
results. At the time of the birth Of his
only surviving child he was writing
monograph on Swift and Nanessa, the
Enewly-arriVer daughter, must be. His
wife, it is true, protested mildly, if tear
iully-protested perpleXedly.
Il Her little love, her baby, her sweet
est, heavenliest baby to be called after
lady who"
But Vanessa's father had got the bit be-
tween his teeth, and carried his point
Enem. con. 1t was pretty nearly the last
EpOint Vanessa's father ever did carry, Tor
later on Vanessa got the bit between her
/ In due time Bob came on the scene. Bob
ICane, something indeed to the relief or
INanessa's father, who felt ne wanted an
Eolly. But Bob was wary. BOP was, appar-
Etntly, the ally of no one but Nanessa
Eonly. Otherwise the game would be up IN
h week as Bob said to himself And Bob
Iby no means wanted the game to be up
Fob wanted Vanessa 10 marry him. So
| Vanessa was standing in front of him
Pow. Bob had for the thousandth, or mil
II 1nth time, expressed his modest aspir-
ktions, very medoselty, as becometh man
p these latter days. Vanessa, on
81 an ear to him, But Van
y sa had her terms to lay down, clearly,
arbitrarily, as becometh the conquering
When Bob heard vanessa's terms, Bob
Ehstled, long and low, and softly sibilant
z one note But Vanessa cared nougnt
Herself.
Vanessa stuck to her terms. Presently,
4 Bob looked at her standing there, Bob
PECAN to calculate chances. After all, 1t
as a chance, one much too good TO lose.
n anessa was very pretty. AWfuly pretty,
Banding there squarely, with her toes
II
tle side pockets of her-skirt, oh yes it
as a skirt still. Vanessa was very, very
Pretty. That simplif1ed everything in Bob's
Fyes even when he felt most like rebellion.
Bob kicked the toe Of his boot against
fle hearthrug.
Il thought he said, kicking away with
Horrible indifference to possible damage,
lthat-that you'd like-a-real blow out.
White satin, and diamond what dye call
lens, aud-and-'
j Nanessa tossed her head.
"Absurdi' she cried, angrily. you
FONT know me- You judge me by the dolly
Eimpletons you have been used to. White
f2tin, she sneered hard-as hard as she
4 new how, thought Bob, kicking the rug
and diamonds; Do you take me for q
wage, to be bought" C'The hour of
oman has come-('By Jove. it has" said
OBJ, to himselO "She is no longer mans
attel no longer to be bought" she pant
Oh. wen" said Bob, with contrasted
toolness, 'as to that I-I-mean." he
fastened to add, "as to white satin and
\ at and a blow out, I don't care. Have
t1ything you Ike, or don't have anything
an. But IN tell you what, darling.
ally do think lists playing things
Nather low down YOU know, treating your