Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-09

| Violet We're. How stout she Is getting!
Why don't you men advise her to diet
herself? know you also went behind
| the scenes-of course, you are an ami
intime boy you are, to be
sure! Come and lunch with me to-
morrow, IL you're not too lazy.
| Yours ever,
| Clara"
She gave this missive to her maid,
Louise Renaud, to post-that faithful
attendant took 1t first to her own
apartment where she ungummed the
envelope neatly by the aid of hot
water and read every word Of it. This
was not an exceptional action OF hers,
all the letters received and sent by
her mistress were subjected to the
same process, Seven those that were
sealed with wax she had means OF
opening in such a manner that 1t was
impossible to detect that they had been
tempered with.
She was very clever French maid
was Louise, lone of the cleverest of
her class. Fond of mischief, ever sus-
picious, always on the alert for evil,
/ uLLtTIy uubCIupulouo ohu @Ai1AANioupt
she was an altogether admirable at
tendant for lady of rank and fashion,
her skill as coiffeur and needlewoman
always obtaining for her the wages
she 80 justly deserved When Will
wealthy women reared in 1dleness ana
luxury learn the folly of keeping a
trained spy attached to their persons?
"a spy whose pretended calling Is
merely to arrange dresses and ripper
les (half which she invariably
steals), but whose real delight Is to
take note of all her mistress's incom-
ings and outgolngs, tempers and tears
to watch her looks, her smiles and
frowns,- and to start scandalous gos-
sip concerning her in the servants
hall, from whence it gradually spreads
to the society newspapers--for do you
think these estimable and popular
Journals are never indebted for their
"reliable" information to the honest
statements of discharged tootman or
valet? Briggs, for instance, had tried
his hand at paragraph or two con-
rerning the Upper Ten" and with the
aid of a dictionary, had succeeded in
expressing himself quite smartly,
, though in ordinary conversation -..s
his were often lacking or superfluous,
and his grammar doubtful. Whether
he persuaded any editor to accept MS
| literary efforts Is quite another mat
ter-a question to which the answer
must remain for ever enveloped in
mystery but IL he did appear in print
| ct Is only an if!) he must have been
immensely gratifed to consider that
| his statements were received with
gusto by at last half aristocratic Lon
don, and implicitly believed as having
emanated from the "best authorities"
And Louise Renaud having posted her
mistress's letter at last, went down to
visit Briggs in his private pantry, and
to ask him question.
"Tell me-" she said rapidly, with her
tight, prim smile. "You read the pa
pers--you will know. What lady is
that of the theaters-Violet Vere?'
Briggs laid down the paper he was
perusing and surveyed her with SUI
perior air.
What, VIZ" he exclaimed with a
lazy wink. "Vi, of the dopperer-Buff?
You've 'erd OF 'er surely, Mamzelle?
No? There's not man Gas is worth
calling NAM about town, as don't
know 'er! Dukes, Lords, an Royal
Ighnesses-she' the style for EN-!
Magnificent creetur! all legs and
arms! | won't deny but wot | ave
an admiration for er myself bought
'arf-crown portrait of 'er quite re-
GENTLY" And Briggs rose slowly and
searched In mysterious drawer which
he invariably kept locked.
Ere she Is, as large as life. Mann
zelle," he continued, exhibiting q
promenade" photograph of the actress
In question. "There's neck for you!
There's form VI my dear, saloot
you!" and he pressed sounding kiss
on the picture-"you're one in a mill
lion! Smokes and drinks like troop
err, Mamzelle!" he added admiringly,
rs Louise Renaud studied the portrait
attentively. But with all 'er advan-
tages, you would not call 'er a lady.
No-that term would be out of the
question. She Is wot we men could
call an enchantin' female!" And
Briggs kissed the tips of his fingers
and waved them in the air as he had
seen certain foreign gentlemen do
when enthusiastic.
II comprehend" said the French
maid, nodding emphatically. Then,
II she is so, what makes that proud
Seigneur Bruce Errington visit her?'
Here she shook her finger at Briggs.
And leave his beautiful lady wife, to
20 and see her?" Another shake.
And that miserable Sieur Lennox to
go also? Tell me that" She folded
her arms, like Napoleon at st. Helena,
and smiled again that smile which was
nothing but sneer. Briggs rubbed
his nose contemplatiyely.
Little Francis can go ennywheres,
he said at last. He's laid out a good
deal of tin on vi and Others of 'er
purfession. You cannot make emmy
think OF that young Teller but c"
would not accept i'm for my pussonal
attendant No! But Sir Philip Bruce
Errington-" He paused, then con-
tinued, Air you sure of your facts,
Mamzelle?"
Mamzelle was so sure, that the bow
on her cap threatened to come off
with the determined wagging of her
head.
"Well . resumed Briggs, Sir Philip