The Western news., 1903-08-19
A Scheme
That Failed
BY MARTHA NORRIS.
M QUITE too delighted to see Won

COuISe, ) ou hloW lHdt IL 5 10 De quite
the biggest ball of the year and,
really, dear, balls are quite too de-
lightfully new and fresh to me. They
hold some wonderful fascination for
me which il is impossible to explain"
"fes, 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
-glitters. as it were, ~ really it
seems scarcely credible that but a
few months ago you were in the
land of arithmetic and geography, and
now you are 'out'-and quite the rage.
/ hear"
Violet laughed lightly and her color
came and went quickly.
Great indeed were the changes that
had taken place lust few months
ago" for during that time Violet had
grown into an immensely pretty and
graceful girl. There was a sweet, re-
freshing simplicity. charming win
someness of manner which the world
ly-wise Veronica foresaw would inevi-
tably prove fatal to mankind as
whole.
She frowned and instinctively felt
that this young cousin of hers might
possibly prove to be a somewhat dan
previously Veronica had scotfed at the
proposal of a penniless, though ex-
ceedingly devoted. cavalier. and haugh
tily refused to even "hear him out"
and had finally swept from his pres
ence 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 inevi-
tably happens, and it certainly oc,
Cured in this case, for through the
sudden death Of wealthy uncle,
railway king" Dudley Maitland had
succeeded to that personage's vast
possessions, and Veronica, reading the
turn events had taken. resolved if pos
sible to recover. by strategy if by no
other means. the ground she had lost.
Hence her visit to her aunt's country
house.
"You won't mind sharing my room,
will you, dear?" cried Violet. as the
little circle sat and chatted over their
afternoon cups of tea; "you see the
house is literally packed, and"
80, sha'n't mind anything" replied
Veronica, deliberately. that is, pro-
vided have a good time"
"Her beauty" sAid Veronica to her
self, ''if I could mar that, not per-
manently, 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 dressingtable. A little acci-
dent happens so easily, she mentally
concluded. and she lifted her head
with an air of superiority and self-sat-
isfaction characteristic to her nature.
And later on. when Violet returned
to her room. she was delighted to find
her cousin looking SO fresh and ra-
diant.
"What pretty hair you have, child"
remarked Veronica, later.
Violet only laughed.
"Now. mine absolutely will not
wave." said Veronica. slowly, still re-
garding her cousin-"of course. mean
not without recourse to pins and tongs,
ETC. Naturally curly hair is indeed
something to be right down thank
full for"
SIS it. really?' asked Violet, laugh
ingly.
"It is." And then both cousins
lapsed into silence.
Finally the time arrived for both
girls to retire for the purpose Of lin
gering long over their respective toi-
lets-a matter of the utmost impor-
tance.
Suddenly there was a loud shrek
of dismay, and Violet's loveliness was
marred.
She dashed into her mothers room
with eyes blinded with scalding tears.
"Look! o, look" she cried, scarce
ly knowing what she said. 81 sha'n't
be able TO go to the ball! O, and I'm
dying to go! Did you ever see such a
fright before? Veronica did it, but
it was quite an accident! Do not .cold
her for it." seeing the look of dismay
on her mothers face: "she is as dis
tressed as am. O, but it does seem
hard; shall be marked for weeks!"
"But however did it happen. dear ?"
asked Mrs. Grant, as soon as she was
able to speak.
'"The tongs. dear" replied Violet,
still sobbing. "You see, she was do
ing her hair, and the hot tongs sprang
from her fingers and struck my face!
1t was purely an accident, but am
SO sorry!"
$50 am I. w." returned the elder
woman; $50 am l."
Apparently Veronica was terribly
concerned. but all her sympathy and
suggested remedies were of no avail.
Nothing could possibly erase the ugly
scar from Violet's cheek: and finally
it was declared that she must foreRo
the ball. great though the pain of
SO doing would be.
"You can write Dudley little note,
INV dearn said her mnfhor 1vha. - +.