Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-11-27
A WOEFUL WAGER.

"You can choose for yourself"
"Done
ooh, you will back out "
ar Indignantly. "No, indeed have
been longing for it for days"
"All right, then, take tho bet "
"Hellol' chilnod in third voice from
tho other end of the room. "What are you
two up to nowY'
The giIl laughed.
81 thought you were too deep in politics
so he listening" she said but, if you
want to know, Stanley has Just bet me six
10 Orc
"That she won't walk down the Grand
rue at rcoEday in the fisher girl costume
she admircs So much, " interrupted Stan
icy.
Percy Rivers threw his paper on the
ground, rose and crossed the ROOM
"What nonsense is this?' he asked stern
ly, facing his younger brother and sister.
Ethel shrugged her shoulders.
"You arc always n spoil sport Percy"
she said plaintively "It is as dull as ditch
water with you stepping in to stop every
bit of fun. where's the harm in thisp 1
dare say, for all your long face and prig-
y Ol
in your time
Percy's brOws grew sterDer.
cam l to understand Ethel, " he said,
that you purpose incorporating here in "a
foreign town."
Ethel nodded.
"Call it what you like" she said dog
gedly. ." am going to dress up as fish
wife The costume is most becoming
Stan can withdraw his bet; l shall do il
Just the same
~ forbid you, Ethel "
A defiant look answered him.
''We'll see, she said saucily "Im off
10 consult madame" And with glance
at Stanley she left the room.
"How could you be so scnseess, Stan
ley" said his brother angrily as the door
closed. "Nuw she will carry out this ridic-
ulous farce.
Don t lily into passion Percy re-
turned the young fellow calmly 81 had
30 idea She was really in earnest
Then as his senior paced the floor:
After all, it is nothing very dreadful"
'When docs this mad performance take
place" asked Percy, stopping short.
Stanley shrugged his shoulders
ooh, Ethel will settle that"
"Look here said Percy grmly, Il
wash my hands Of you BOTH but depend
on you, Stanley, to keep her out of any
scrape this tc1foolery leads to-
CAN right, old fellow, but you can be
easy. Ethel won't come to grief. -
Miss Rivers in the meanwhile was closet
cd in madau.C'S sanctum behind the shop
The I.enoir, were jewellers but mother and
daughter would have found their income
precarious enough without the money ac-
cruing fr0m tie first and second floors
now occuli,d by the Riverses. 1t was
policy. therefore, to be liging, so though
Nine Ion0ir was shocked at the proposed
escapado AID inwardly apostrophized the
English aS "a mad lot, )" she expressed
great interest
81 think | can find mademoiselle the
dress she requires" she said, all smiles
and smirks
"Hou dear woman" exclaimed Ethel
delighted How Where? OF course it
must be new.
Madame nodded.
"Leonie," addressing her daughter,
Josephine would lend hers, eh?"
What" cried Lconie shrilly. "Her
wedding drss-- nevcrr'
Madame regarded Ethel
" Madoinoiseilo would he very careful Of
IL, would she Hut:' she said
"Oh, yes, replied the young lady ca
gerly. ~ only want it for an hour But
will it It mo:"
The FrenchwOman surveyed Ethel from
top to toe critically.
Eyes" she said "mudemoselle is the
Fame height" Then with a wink at
Leonic, "How much will mademoiselle
pay for the loan"
1.-The cost is the least part" replied the
girl quickly. Il leave that to you, dear
madame
Madames arched eyebrows and hand
gesture said plainly, The folly of these
people, and she instantly resolved to take
advantage OF the said folly to do a stroke
Of business on her own account independ-
emily OF the commission she intended to
charge Josephine when the bargain was
concluded
Twill send about the costume at once"
she said aloud. "And, Josephine, If she
consents, shall bring 1t to show mademoi-
selle this evening 1t Is all complete ex-
cept''-
Except WHAT" interrupted Ethel ca
gerly az madame paused while Leonie
looked wonderingly at her mother.
1.-The long earrings, replied the French
woman :. Mademoiselle knows
they Il ap c---;;!al part of the dress and
Josephine would not care to lend them
But began Leonie.
A frown from madame cut her short
"MademOiselle must buy pair of real
gold ones, suggested the shrewd trades
woman, with IA triumphant glance at her
daughter, and, leading the unresisting
Ethel into tho shop she showed her several
pairs Of handsome earrings
"YOu ninny" said madame tn Leonie
with roproying shake of the head, when
Ethel, having selected, ran Off with her
treasures, "ycu ninny, will you never
learn to open your mouth for the ripe
fruit to tumble IN III"
The BoulOgnalst fish girl proved ready
70 oblise tho English lady, and Ethel was
summoned down stairs that evening.
"Tbis is Josephine Mees Etel," said
madame by way Of introduction, pointing