Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-01-23
CHAPTER II.
THE WOMAN.

THE WOMAN.
He went straight from the palatial
mansion Of the duchess TO a house not
more than a stones throw away-the
house of the beautiful Mrs. Beringer.
One thing the world had to admit
Mrs Beringer had exquisite taste and
knew how to use her money. If it were
4 fact that her earlier life had been
spent in scenes OF squalor, she must have
had an inherent refinement which
amounted almost TO genius.
A footman IN an irreproaehable livery
Of dark blue and silver opened the door
Tor Enstace Darnley, and admitted him
into an entrance hall whose walls were
painted IN a series of the most lovely
landscapes; a white marble staircase,
bordered with choice ferns, and palms,
and flowers, was in front of him; he
passed up it, and along q corridor car
peted with thick violet velvet pile; a
violet velvet curtain was withdrawn, and
he was inside Mrs. Beringer's private sit
ting room.
His mistress was engaged Just at that
moment, said the footman. In five min
utes she would be at liberty, if Mr.. Darn
ley would wait,
Darnley knew the room we'll, he had
been IN it scores of times; but its ex-
quisite refinement struck him afresh.
after lrs conversation with the duchess.
The mistress OF such a room was surely
fitted TO be guest at Cromartie. Moth
ing ugly, nothing commonplace; no touch
of gaudiness was there. The walls were
paneled with white satin, fiecked here
and there with gold. The carpet was of
a white ground, strewn over with
punches of violets so natural that one
seemed to only have to stoop to pluck
them. A gem of picture by Rubens
hung over the mantelpiece; half a dozen
other gems were judiciously let into the
panaled walls. There was an almost
priceless cabinet, filled with even more
priceless china; Marie Antoinette time
piece; q table of Louis XIV; the chairs
were of white satin with plain gold
frames; and over and above all there was
the fragrance and loneliness of flowers
lilies of the valley and violets, Mrs. Ber-
myers favorite blossoms
There was light football; the pleas
ant swish-swish of a woman's dress, aud
Darnley turned to give his hand to
Emerald Beringer.
Il am glad you have come" she said,
| and looked him frankly in the face
Il was sure to come There need not
have been shadow of doubt in your
mind about that" was his reply.
And then he placed chair for her, and
drew his own rather near her side.
! All London had decided that this
woman-this girl, az, from her exceeding
youthfulness she ought rather to be
called-was supremacy beautiful, and in
truth she was. Tall, very slender, and
with a matchless carriage, she could not
turn her head, or stretch out her arm,
| or walk across a room without display
ing grace such as was the envy ard
despair of every other woman Brilliancy
of coloring she had none; but her profile,
the curves of cheek, and throat, and chin
were absolute perfection. She had all the
purity of a Greek statue, and with it all
| the essential charms of living, breath
ing woman. Her eyes were of the most
exquisite tint of violet blue; their dark,
silken lashes swept her cheek; her lips
were of perfect beauty, and tinted Ike
crimson flower. To crown all, her hair,
which she wore in loose masses about her
snowy forehead, was q rich nutty brown,
tinged here and there with q CLEAN of
purest gold.
| Her taste in dress was the envy of
every woman who knew her. Superb sim
plicity was its keynote. Today she wore
a tea gown of ivery-white catin, with
scarce vestige of trimming; only a
bunch of fresh blue violets at her bosom
Its severe plainness would have tried
most women; on her it seemed perfection.
1T is not often | am SO happy as to
find you alone said Darnley. "Where,
NAV / ask is LADY WinthroD7.
''She is spending the afternoon with
her niece at Kensington."
Emerald was attentive-not slavishly,
but in a calm, well-regulated fashion-to
all the edicts of society. Lady Winthrop
was the widow of a highly respectable
| baronet, and lived with her as companion
Then | am doubly glad | came" said
Darnley. As he spoke he cast on her a
glance which was eloquent with admira-
tion-perhaps with something more.
She must have been a duh woman in
deed if she had failed to read its signif-
canoe. Emerald Beringer was not dull;
but no tint of color rose to her fair
cheek; her beautiful long dashed ewes
looked straight before her without either
seeking or avoiding his.
Il have been spending tiresome after.
noon" he went on. longing to get away
all the time. That is the worst of rela.
tions. A man cannot do as he likes with
them quite as he would with other peo.
pie"
TO BE CONTINUED.