Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-08

| herself, over and over again, how
! much better it was that Philip haG
chosen her sister instead Of herself
! she never could nave added lustre tC
| his home and title as IneZ did.
Every day brought fresh triumphs u
Lady Lynne. Philip wondered a
times that her head was not fairly
turned by the homage and adulatior
! offered to her.
No English peerless was ever sc
exclusive as the Duchess Of Ruthwell
Young, beautiful, and accomplished
charitable and generous even to {
fault, she was one of the leading
members Of the English aristocracy
| To belong to her set was the highest
| Of all honors Wealth could not OBJ
| tain admission to it, nor rank, un-
supported by intellect To be on heI
visiting list was an honor upon which
people pride themselves. She was
rot proud; no one ever called her
naughty; but she was exclusive. When
it was known that her Grace OF
Ruthwell was about TO give the grand
est ball Of the season, the whole
fashionable world was aroused. Those
who were sure Of receiving invitations
watched, with amusement, the in
trigues of others who were not so
happy.
Lady Eversleigh was the first who
mentioned the coming fete TO Lady
Lynne She knew that for herself
an invitation was certain; she had
known the duchess many years. She
waited anxiously to see if her two
cousins would receive the same. She
high terms of Lady Lynne; but this
ball was, after all, the tombstone.
Let me know directly if you receive
a card" said Lady Eversleigh to Inez.
Il am very anxious over it. Let me
know at once"
1T cannot be- she said to herself,
chat, in the midst Of my triumph, I
should be Sighted" and she smiled
as she saw her face in the large
French mirror that adorned her dress
ing-room. Still, that day came to an
end, and brought no invitation for
the Duchess of Ruthwells grand ball.
CHAPTER XIV.
What large envelopes!" said
Agatha, as 81 e entered Lady Lynne's
boudoir, where breakfast awaited the
sisters.
do not make fun of them, Agatha"
said Philip; chose very envelopes
you are now criticising contain tails
mans that some beautiful and fashion
able ladies are dying for
Il never can quite understand you,
Philip" demonstrated his cousin.
What do you mean? What are the
letters about?"
eff I am right in my conjectures,"
he replied, "these envelopes contain
no letter, but merely an invitation to
Her Grace Of Ruthwel's grand ball
the most exclusive of the season.
rs it really so?" cried Inez. How
pleased Lady Eversleigh will be! I
must send her word at once"
did she fear you would not re-
ceive an invitation?" asked Philip.
mo, not quite that" replied his
wife; but she was very anxious about
it,"
If Inez could have foreseen the con-
sequences of that ball, the cards she
held in her jewelled fingers would
have been torn into shreds. A thOus-
and times afterwards she regretted
that she went, yet her fate would in
any case have been the same.
Another hour brought Lady Ever
sleigh, excited and happy, to hold a
grand consultation about dress. No
thing was costly or magnificent
enough to please her. Agatha's cos
tune was soon decided. "a young
girl" said her ladyship, "can never be
too simple attired; plain white silk
and good lace for you, my dear; but
for Lady Lynne it is quite another
interchangeable not simplicity,
for her"
Il want you," continued Lady
Eversleigh, ADDRESSING Inez, ito sur
pass yourself. Everybody-who is
anybody in our world-wrf be at the
ball, and you must be the belle. You
do not know how much depends upon
it. I really think in so important
matter we had better consult Madame
Nevers There are no diamonds in
London finer than yours"
After short study of the splendid
face and figure, Madame Nevers soon
decided upon the toilette. The dress
was to be the palest rose satin,
covered with rich founces of white
lace, and Topped up with white cam
elias The celebrated Lynne dia-
monds, she said, were all-sufficient
without aid of. other ornaments or
flowers.
To be Continued.