Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-08-28
Fl Scheme that Failed.
By MARTHA MORRIS.
By MARTHA MORRIS.

&c. she claSpeQ ner cousin uduuS III
Il. warm welcome, and, of course,
you will know that it's to be quite
the biggest ball of the year-and real
ly, dear, balls are quite too delight
fully new and fresh to me. They hold
some wonderful fascination for me
which it is impossible to explain
''Yes, of course, l understand" re-
turned Veronica, the blase city cousin,
and she let her big, blue, handsome
eyes travel leisurely over Violet, you
are young and everything is new to
you-glittters, as it were, but really
it seems scarcely credible that but
few months ago you were in the land
of arithmetic and geography; and now
you are 'out'-and quite the rage, l
hear
Violet laughed lightly and her color
came and went quickly.
Great indeed were the changes that
had taken place 'just a few months
ago." for during that time Violet had
grown into an immensely pretty and
graceful girl. There was a sweet,
refreshing simplicity, charming
winsomeness of manner which the
worldly-wise Veronica foresaw would
inevitably prove fatal to mankind as
a whole.
She frowned and instinctively felt
that this innocent young cousin Of
hers might possibly prove to be a
somewhat dangerous rival. Only
year and a half previously Veronica
had scoffed at the proposal of a pen
niless, though exceedingly devoted,
cavalier, had haughtily refused to even
hear him out" and had finally swept
from his presence with the regal air
Of a queen, demanding that no further
attempt should be made to address
her on that subject.
But it is the unexpected that in
evitably happens, and it certainly oc-
Cured in this case, for through the
sudden death of a wealthy uncle, a
railway king" Dudley Maitland had
succeeded to that personage's vast
possessions, and Veronica, reading the
turn events had taken, resolved if
possible to recover, by strategy if by
no other means, the grornd she had
lost. Hence her visit to her aunt's
country house.
"You won't mind sharing my room,
will you, dear?" cries Violet, as the
little circle sat and chatted over their
afternoon cups of tea, you see the
house is literally packed and"
60 shan't mind anything replied
Veronica, deliberately, that is, pro-
vided [ have a good time"
Her beauty" said Veronica to her
self, eff l could only mar that not
permanently, but just temporarily, to
prevent her from attending this ball.
What can-what can | do?"
She walked over to the looking
glass. She surveyed the accessories
on the dressing table. A little acct
dent happens SO easily, she mentally
concluded, and she lifted her head
with an air of superiority and self
satisfaction characteristic to her
nature. And later on, when Violet
returned to her room, she was de-
lighted to find her cousin looking SO
fresh and radiant.
What pretty hair you have
child" remarked Veronica later
Violet only laughed.
DO you really think so? Mr.. Matt.
land often declares that it looks as if
| have been playing among the cur
rant bushes, but think he likes it
just the same,' replied Violet in
nocently.
Now mine absolutely will not
wave" said Veronica, slowly still re-
garding her cousin-"of course, |
mean without recourse to pins and
tongs, etc. Naturally curly hair is in
deed something to be right down
thankful for
is it, really?" asked Violet, laugh
ingly.
1T is" And then both cousins
lapsed into silence.
Finally the time arrived for both
girls to retire for the purpose of
lingering long over their respective
to1lets-a matter of the utmost i'm
portance.
Suddenly there was a loud shrek
OF dismay, and Violet's loneliness was
marred.
She dashed into her mothers room
with eyes blinded with scaTding
tears
Look! 0, look" she cried, scarce
ly knowing what she said. L shant
be able to go to the BALL o, and I'm
dying to go! Did you ever see such
fright before? Veronica did it, but
it was quite an accident! Do not
scold her for it," seeing the look of
dlsmay on her mothers face, ''she is
as distressed as I am. o, but it does
seem hard; l shall be marked for
weeks."
But however did it happen, dear?"
asked Mrs Grant as soon as she was
able to speak.
The tongs DEAF replied Violet,
still sobhi~s. You see, she was doing
be" Aalr, and the hot tongs sprang
from her fingers and struck nv facet
1t was purely an accident, but am so
sorTy!"
so am I, VIZ returned the elder
woman. so am t.
Apparently Veronica was terribly
concerned, but the sympathy and
suggested remedies were of no avail.
Nothing could possibly erase the ugly
scar from Viola's sheek; and finally
1t was declared that she must forego
the ball, great though the pain of so
doing would be-
You can write Dudley little note,
my dear" said her mother. when she