Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-09-17
A Group OF Sinners.
"Your letter, miss"
Thanks, Payn."

in bed, even when the third and f0urlh
deliveries came. With the letters the
maid brought a cup OF tea. She drew
the rose pink curtains to give her mis-
tress an opportunity to enjoy her let
GUS about the effect OF that envelope
with the postmAk marked Portland"
She was not supposed TO know; but she
knew She had had great experience
as lady's maid, and relished mys-
teries.
And sure enough, she had her reward
this time also. The moment Beatrice
caught sight Of the "Portland' letter
she flushed 80 that her complexion had
no need Of rose pink curtains TO en-
nance It, and with petulant move
ment of the hand she overturned the
dainty little silver stand with the tea.
Payn uttered sympathetic cry.
"1ake 1t away" exclaimed Beatrice
Payn was quite loath to 90. There
was another letter and Payn was cur
ious about that also, But she was not
allowed further indulgence in drama at
the mistress expense.
Leave me, | say | wish TO be alone
Beatrice calculated. with, for her, an
unusual show of temper.
"Certanly, mIGs," murmured the
maid I'm the most humble and dcfcren-
tlal of tones.
Then Beatrice fell back in bed, with
the portland" letter crushing tighter
Ia, b,,. riabi hand
Shame flooded her. ae the tea the car
pet and many memories incident to
the sense of shame,
And consequent upon This feeling
Beatrice'B heart grew angry with fate,
and she asked herself why she, Of all
women. should have been subjected to
such fearful humiliation
For an hour she lay thus Then,
though still with preOCcupicd thoughts,
she rang the bell and babe pnyn to
help her to dress.
III you please. miss" said the we'll
conducted maid ~ she entered. II was
just coming 10 say that the visrounl
was here"
"Oh yes" murmured Beatrice, you
con so and tell him to auiuse himself
with breakfast or cigarettes or any
thing. And then come back. We
must hurry"
They did hurry, though not unrea-
sonably.
The viscount was not Il young man
who liked to be kept waiting, espc-
cially by the lady of his brief, but
warm affections. Yet all the while, for
the life of her, Beatrice could not help
thinking Of other things.
she had burnt the Portland letter
without opening 1t, and, ns If in retri
button the writer now came but more
forcibly before her.
While payn did her work with that
smooth celebrity that made her so great
n treasure, Beatrice lived In NE past
And these were some of the pictures
that passed like dlssolving views be
fore her lively mind: The home
vicaraIe, with her white haired worried
parent, and his iinbocilc money trou~
hles, Why had he, n clergyman, mixed
SO unwiacly with the worlds affairs?
wv hiN 'uli''u, my Nt'l, Hc WuiltN,
with his old head bowed In his hands
on The breakfast table. "rhcre Is only
one way out of II"
And what way Ia that papa" asks
n girl of &c, springtimc edition Of the
beautiful woman upon whose lnce
Beatrice looked mpassioaatcly In her
mirror, while Payn brushed hor hni,,
"lf," moancd the OLD man, you
would but marry Paul Williams"
wedding. She (Beatree) and lit
Tie middlc-aged man, upon whose clean
shaven face there rests an expression
of Irritating pride and reverence! The
3, usual nonsense aftcrward. Then they
are together In II carriage, though her
dress leaves little room for him lo II
whispering In her eur. This Is what
NE says
My darling, there IL nothing on
earth | Will not do to make YOU happy
Nothing"
A great house In town, liveriod SER
wants. gliding and lights. lowers, the
.idmiring homages of the world and of
the many smart young men IN particu-
lar A little harassed bRld-noaied man
somewhere In the background
who's that little ape" she hears Il
young diplomatist whisper TO a youth
like himself with nod at the little
man.
Don't YOU know? Whv it's Mon
'sieur le Mari, to be sure"
Then n laugh such laugh Anon,
the first of the young gentlemen. hay
ing an opportunity, kisses her hand and
becomes impassiorod
A curious conversations My dear
Beatrice says the little bald gentle
man-how bothered he looks, yet how
kind ",f YOU are sure it will make you
happy, II shall be done. hut must
not disguise from you that am playing
dangerous game. For myself, | care
not. 1t may lend me into trouble or
the worst kind, but YOU, please God,
will even then be spared the misencs
of want That have contriyed =