Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-29
story for an
Hole Dour
Till LOVE wONE.

after,
Till love woke smitten at heart by
kiss,
With lips that trembled and trailing
wings.
-Swinburne.
Mr.. Densmore will be here directly,
sir; he expects you"
well, Baines; | shall be all right.
Bring me whisky and soda and the
cigarettes"
Nigel Wallace settled himself com
fortably in a big arm chair and lazily
regarded his surroundings, while
Baines retired to do his bidding.
Reggie Densmore's fat was GER
tanly we'll worth a little attention,
and on this particular November
afternoon the smoking room was a
pleasant place in which to find refuge
from the outside gloom. The soft red
curtains excluded the depressing
sight Of the heavy fog which hung
outside. The walls were paneled
with oak and the frieze above them
was red. Quaint silver lamps, such
as one sees in Catholic churches,
hung on either side OF the mantel
piece and over the writing table; the
rest of the room was lit by a large
standard lamp; all were shaded with
the palest primrose colOred silk and
shed a soft mellow gloom over every
thing. Blue china, books, and photos
nh; nf -
room, and every available bowl and
vase was filed with huge yellow
Chrysanthemums.
Nigel looked round approvingly,
stirred the already blazing fire,
picked up a copy of g. magazine which
lay on the hearth rug, and prepared
to enjoy a quiet read This intention,
however, was frustrated by the hur-
ried entrance of Reggie Densmore.
''Hullo, you old sinner" he ex-
claimeu; 1T is good to see you again.
Don't move, sit down and tell me all
about your travels"
There is not a great deal to tell"
returned Nigel. Il have been doing
nothing with great success in various
portions of the globe. Now l have
come back to civilization and mean
to enjoy life. What jolly diggings
you have got here! You are lucky
chap to be able to indulge in the
luxury of a millionaire bachelor
uncle, who gives you everything you
can possibly wish for"
Riggie smiled He has not yet
provided me with a wife," he
observed.
We'll" said Nigel, riding, you
have enough photos of feminine
beauty in all its variety to enable
you to make a selection. By jove!"
he continued, taking up a photo in a
massive silver frame, who on earth
is that?"
THAT" answered Reggie, lis Stella
Mandelsy, an actress. She is one of
the most heartless women in town
and also the most beautiful. We are
all mad about her and ruin ourselves
in vain attempts to make her care
for us. Then when she has amused
herself long enough she laughs and
o6tS CiiC has hCNSl dIlONGu I16 worn
love to enter into her vocabulary
She threw me over ages ago and yet
l go on being friends with her. Some
how one cannot help it; she is 50
fascinating"
The photo which Nigel held in his
hand depicted a gloriously handsome
woman clad in soft fluffy tea gown,
lying on a sofa with both hands
clsped behind her head, which posi-
ton showed how round and beauti-
fully modelled they were. The face
was perhaps a little wanting in ex-
preston. although the features were
perfect. The eyes were dark and
thickly fringed with long lashes
Undoubtedly it was a face which
when once seen would not be easily
forgotten.
Il do not believe that woman can
not feel" said Nigel, abruptly.
Those eyes are full of latent pas
sion"
so a good many men have thought
to their cost. | assure you that
lovely creature has no heart, re-
turned Reggie.
Nigel fiueshed. 81 tell you what,
old chap" he said, "I'll bet you five
hundred that in three months l will
make Stella Mandelsy care for me.
You will not take it?" he went on, as
Reggie shook his head; you are
afraid to back your statement, eh?'
Reggie was a little nettled by the
others tone. co." he returned,
naughty, sit is not that; only it
seems a caddish thing to bet about,
but never mind, I'll take it."
Done" said his friend; now I
must go. Fix your own time and
bring her to supper with me at the
Carlton. Good-by." And he had flung
himself into his coat and taken his
departure before his astonished host
who had prepared for a long chat
had time to demonstrate.
Two months later the papers an
nounced that Miss Stella Mandelsy
was staying in Rome, where she was
enjoying a well earned rest" Had
they possessed more intimate knowl-
edge they might have added that for
the first time in her life Stella
Mandelsy was in love. 1t had come
to her at last with all it's flood of joy,
so intense as to amount at times to