Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-01-28
CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII.
Bertha did moi bring Wilm&y out,
definitely and formally, until she was
H. During the year before had cot
into the habit of going rather often to
Bertha's. Bertha loved music for 10
minutes. IT was essential that the
music should be good, and that it
Should not last longer than 10 min
utes. SO she used to send me with
Wiimay to st. James Hall. while she
enjoyed at home what she called "the
rare luxury of not hearing a concert. :"
Sometimes | rode in the park with Will
may. In one way and another saw
a good deal of her
Bertha was widening the scope of
her ambition for Wilmay
You may not know it," she said to
me, but Wilmay is probably at this
moment the most beautiful girl in the
world"
II don't know all the others" | said.
But Wilmay looks all right"
Looks all right! I've been through
ten London seasons without seeing
anything like her.
Ten London seasons, even moro
We're getting old Bertha, very, very
old"
You can be old, If you like replied
Bertha. Age is no crime in man
But I'm not cid, and | won't be. Ah,"
she sighed. 'If | could only be Will
may for one season! | wonder if she
knows what a perfectly heavenly time
she is going to have"
Bertha had some grounds for her ex-
travagant praise. Wilmays beauty
was unusual and remarkable. In the
street as she went unconsciously past
people turned to look at her In the
theater or at concerts, though she
dressed quietly and her own attention
was always wholly given to the play
or the music, she made something like
sensation. That eccentric but charm
ing old lady, Lady Harston, met Will
may by chance at Bertha's house and
was much impressed, When she left.
she shook Wilmay warmly by the
hand, and said, Goodbye, my dear, and
thank you"
"But why do you thank me?" vii.
may asked.
Because l have seen the face of an
angel"
Wilmay asked me afterwards what
she had meant. | told her that | did
not know, and that Lady Harston was
more or less mad But | might Just
as we'll have told her the truth, for
it was impossible to spoil her. think
she knew that she was very beautiful,
and | suppose she was glad of It. But
compliments on her beauty. however
delicate and indirect. bored her when
they came from women and frightened
or displeased her when they came
from men.
Bertha gave dance soon after Will
may came out. Certainly. that night
Wilmay hardly looked like flesh and
,n'"od mortal, an ordinary thing that
danced and could be taken down to
supper. Her beauty was not only that
her features were perfect in shape
and that the coloring of her eyes and
hair and skin was so lovely; she had
a rare sweetness Of expression, an ex-
preston that is only found with an
absolutely unselfish and noble nature
| saw Stenling, the portrait painter.
looking at her with undisguised and
reverent admiration. Later in the
evening Bertha touched me on the arm.
Isn't she splendid?" she said.
Who"
'Wilmay, of course Bertha went
on, speaking rapidly in a low voice.
Everybody's talking Of her. Stem
ling's in great state of excitement
He goes about saying. Either paint
Miss Amory-or / die" But mustn't
wait here" and before could reply
she had passed on.
Wilmay gave me two 4unces. r
danced the first with her. and we sat
out the second
ITS good Of you, Wilmay," ! said.
ITO take pity on the aged and infrm
like this"
do YOU know. Edward" she said.
Tx. you've always been the same age
ever since I've known you You've
not changed in the least You'll never
be old"