The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-25

A kissing of the lips of death,
And then rest
-William Wilfred Campbell in Sketch
A BOOK HEROINE.
If the woman who gave the bal.
counted for little socially, the world
, contented itself with leaving a card and
muttering, "What a bore to have to &C
out of ones way for that!' If, on tht
contrary, she was a leader, the duty o.
a call ON her reception day became 8
pleasure. Today, for example, every
body was there.
What coming and going! Meeting!
in the vestibule, at the coupe door hand
shakings on the stairs; smiles and salu
tations from opposite ends of the salon
Among the groups around the tea ia
Bles were heard hasty little couversa
tions like there:
'My dear, l cannot wait for you''-
looking at the bracelet watch. 81 havt
been here already IL minutes. 4"
AChu AuO yOuA pCASAA' hoNO AOo
mine from my list. must cross off tn,
Thursday visits 1 have made today.
have made three and have three more
I am heroic''-
"Look at Angelo Gelol He is the onl,
young man I know who always pays hi
visits. Who"-
"Always? You mean since he is il
love with Louise Waldorf. Calls are hi
only opportunity of seeing her. He is il
love-
"She is fiirt''-
care you going to the dinner Mon
day?'
"Yes. Who else will be there
Flavia?'
"No, but she expected an invitation
She is furious
"It is amusing to watch Angelo Gel
| passing milk and sugar and marron
| glaces"-
"What scheming just to be wit
| Louise Valdoril A minute ago ther
was fine chance-an empty chair a
| her side, but he was too late. Somebod
else has it. Look at him Stuck betwee
two old witches whom he detests
Obliged to do the polite. He isn't lii
tening to them. His eyes are always
| the same direction
| Among all these embryonic converss
tions one only seemed to have form an
| comparative continuity. 1t was the fo
| lowing:
"How are you, Louise?"
"Well. How are you?"
every well. I want to present m
cousin, here from Pisa this week-I
Marchesa Waldorf. -
"WilI you be with us for any lengt
of time?"
81 say, Louise, I never see your hu
band about. What fine thing is he d.
ing now?'
"Writing."
"To whom?"
"Writing a novel"
Writing a novel?''
The ladies were convulsed with laugl
ter. What an extraordinary thing. N
that gentleman could not do such
thing. There was nothing dishonorab
in it, but still it was comioal. For me
of position there were always race
clubs, theaters, firtations, balls, Il
county politics-so many things,
fact. But to tie oneself to table like
professori There are people made f
that-people whom no one knows n
receives. But literary dilettante-
gentleman writer-what an innovation
II Exclamations, jokes, questions fe
about. No one asked if he had re
ability.
"Has he shown you any Of it?'
"No," said the marchesa. 81 foul
it in his writing desk. He hides it al
does not wish me to see line. -
"Tell US all about it. How amusil
it will be! Roberto is so attractiy
rides so well, is so witty, and then
is observing, rare thing in a man.
notices and remembers what we wear
81 am crazy to know about it, " sa
Louise, "but you know how men are
times-impossible to make them tai
When Roberto went to serve as seco
for Theodore in his duel, do you fan
he breathed syllable to me about
Not word.
"And when will it be published?"
81 tell you / do not know a thi
about it. -
Angelo Cello approached the gro'
The women melted away unosten
tiously. There was in them tacit
sire to be repaid under similar circu
stances with like consideration. This
what they call being women of
worId-being intelligent. The March
Waldorf, being somewhat ingenious, |
a terror of making mistake; of
being in every point like other fashi
able women. Therefore she asked a
iously of Angelo:
"Tell me- like a good friendly
your honor-is it ridiculous thing
man to write a novel?''
"Oh, no; not exactly, " said he, lau
' ing; cit is simply bore for the per
who writes sit-sometimes for those Y
= read"
Two weeks later, Roberto Valt
having gone to the country, his
profited by his absence to rummag
his desk. In the first drawer, exactl.
top, in the most conspicuous place,
the manuscript Louise locked the d
established herself in the great a
chair and settled herself to enjoy
reading of an unpublished forbid
book. There were not more than
pages, neatly written in the large
manly hand of one who hates to W
letter, but succeeds in filling an Ell
line with a single advsrb. Nc title