Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-12

DleQ at all
Sir Madeline said with dignity,
"why do you insult me?"
Parton laughed pleasantly. There
was satirical smile on his face which
Madeline didn't remember to have seen
there before.
L called you a silly little fool" the
victim replied coolly. You are. Why
try to humbug me about your senile
peer, whose name is Chatterleigh, as [
could have told you. Ny dear child.
you haunted that poor man, fattering
his vanity until he proposed to you,
and then you kept him dangling on
until he got impatient and wouldn't
wait any longer. Of course, [ am con-
ceited enough that you prefer me 10
him; but then | am not an eligible, and
you have inherited your fathers bust
ness eye to the future. had to be dis
missed, or perhaps you would have
found me a nuisance later on Now
can you deny that every word | say is
true?"
Madeline gasped again. The light
lronical touch was more merciless than
any passionate reproach could be- The
latter would have gratified her vanity;
the easy surrender wounded her terri
bly,.
You make an accusation" she said,
with sorry attempt at pathos and
born misery. Insult me as you like,
but prove your words
with pleasure. I am Chatterleigh's
nephew. Some day or other-unless
you are blessed with a family-I shall
have the title. 1t would be worth all
my disappointment, should that very
desirable event come off, to see you
in the role of the devoted mother"
Il know who you are" Madeline
cried. 81 ought to have guessed it be-
fore. You must be Victor Vidal the
author. And yet you allowed me to
think that you were an intelligent
rustic"
Parton Laughed gently. He was en-
jeying the scene immensely. As for
Madeline, her face turned deadly pale;
then the shamed crimson overspread it.
She knew the most brilliant author of
the day was Chatterleighs nephew, but
she had no idea what his name really
was. And 10! when she fondly dreamed
that she was playing a pleasant little
comedy with the simple hearted coun-
try gentleman, all the time she had
been laying bare the weak frivolity Of
her mind to the keenest, most merci-
less critic of human foolishness in the
world of letters.
you have fooled me-" she said bit
terly. Il have been deceived"
And what about me?' Parton asked
quietly. Il suited you down to the
ground. l was not bad looking, and
could play platonics in the moonlight
to perfection. You thought I was an
apt pupil, and that my progress was
inspired by the love I felt for you.
Bah! [ have had more practice in this
kind of lunacy than you ever heard of.
But you did not know that You
thought [ had fallen under the glamour
of your beauty, and that you could
throw on one side at the end Of your
holiday, careless whether my heart
was broken Or not. But not even my
vanity is hurt. 1t has scarcely been
touched. Great heavens! could you
think that [ could be fool enough to be
deceived by a pair of shallow blue
eyes and pretty, exquisite little face
with no more soul in it than that of
doll? But [ bear no malice. You have
afforded me six weeks wonderful
amusement"
The ready tears rose to Machines
eyes; the disenchantment was cruel.
He had never cared for her. He had
fooled her to the top of her bent, and,
as Madeline recalled some of her own
most foolish speeches she felt inclined
to cry with vexation and wounded
pride.
Then you never loved me at ALP
she said in choked voice.
Not l, my dear child. You were
simply an amusing analytical study of
a not very high type Had you not
been SO dreadfully vain you would have
seen how [ was humbugging you. But
my revenge will not be so very terri
Bile. l shall let you marry my noble
kinsman."
Yes, I know" Madeline said tear
fully; land put me into a horrid
book"
Parton smiled amiably. Really, he
was not in the least offended.
you have more discrimination than
[ gave you credit for" he said. "As a
matter of fact, | came to my little place
here to turn out a new volume, and I
was looking for type of girl like you
when fate drifted you in my way. You
can have no conception what help
our platonics have been to me. Let
me see-we have done the friendly, the
soco-friendly, the warm regard, the
distant sentimental, the close-and-
kindred, the philosophic-spoony, the
passionate and"
Don't" cried Madeline as she rose
to her feet and placed her hands over
her ears. BE merciful, please. What
have l done to you that you should tor
ture me like this?"
Parton paused in his cruel TRADE.
His victory was absolute.
"Good-by," he said as he held out his
hand pleasantly. 4 have rubbed it in
pretty thick, and hope you'll remem-
Der it. I'll send you a copy of my next
book-it will be an appropriate we'd
ding present"
The Countess of Chaterleigh sits be-
fore the fire in her boudoir, a volume
hn hos inc fniC al ~ J,o,