Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-06-10

"Ah, of course" with a laugh and
shrug again. "But, then, my dear, ii
she is at all likely to get to be the
fashion as an entertainer this next
winter, I may as well have the eclat of
being amongst the first to take her up.
l intend asking her for a week down
to our place, Green Hollow, at the
end of this month. We have a party
coming off. Will you join US? You
must say yes," eagerly. Il won't take
a REFUSAL"
Indeed, lear Mrs. Percival, you are
too good. / hope | shall be able to ac-
cept your invitation" returned Miss
Heath, heartily. Green Hollow is
near lockwood, in shire, isn't
it?"
Near for the country, my dears yes
that is to say, ten miles off"
Here the tea was brought in. "a de-
lightful solitude a deux,' said the hos
tess, beginning to dispense the bever-
age. "One doesn't very often get
that
And we're growing too soon,' said
Miss Heath, laughing as a peal of the
hall-door bell suddenly resounGed.
mo peace for the wicked, you see"
The door opened, the foo.man an
ncunced Mrs. Dexter" and The Amer
lean lady rustled forward as Mrs. Per-
cival rose to greet her end introduced
to her her friend Miss Heajh.
Mrs. Aurelia Dexter looked quite four
or fve-and-thirty. She was rather tall
and robust, but certainly possessed a
fine figure and carriage.
What an imposing woman" was the
instant impression. But" (oh, those
terrible butts and ifs!) "she misses be-
ing handsome" And this was true,
though there were certain suggestions
that perhaps in earlier years she might
have had that evanescent beauty which
depends solely upon youth and fair,
brilliant complexion. OF the latter
there was absolutely not a trace or sug-
gestion in the very sailow skin, a sal
low so pronounced and tinged with a
yellowish hue that vel the American
climate or a spiteful freak of Nature
could scarcely have been entirely re-
sponsible for it without the aid of
fever. The features were irregular,
the mouth a trifie too large, though
not badly formed. and had lost the col
curing (of Nature) and dimples which
had probably in youth redeemed and
made it pretty. The eyes were we'll
set, well opened, but their blue was of
too pale a hue; had faded, doubtless,
and though bright and intelligent, the
brightness was rather a glitter. Her
hair, arranged in heavy braids and low
or the forehead, was brown, with a
dash of gold, both shades being owed
10 art, save 10 very unSOphlSt1cated
eyes. Dye and gold-wash were respon-
sible, not Nature; though, oddly,
scarcely any attempt by means of the
tempting makeup had been made to
touch the lips or ruined complexion.
Possibly Mrs. Dexter had had the sense
to recognize that, save for this slight
est touch of rouge. her skin was past
redemption, even by the elaborate and
always too visible enamelling process.
Or, perhaps, the lady had other reasons
for her wisdom.
She was very fashionably attired,
but, of course, a little over-dressed.
AS was also to be expected, she had the
American speech, fu~Il-1edged, nasal
s%ing-song, and last, but not least, the
inevitable wrong quantities, which are
so dreadful to the cultured English
ear, a point upon which even educated
Americans too often offend, unless,
perhaps, they happen to be virtually
classic scholars.
She bowed to Miss Heath, smiled,
said she was Charmed to meet a
friend of Mrs. Percival, and subsidized
into a fauteuil near the dainty tea
table.