Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-01-12
AN uNeUARDEp MOMENT.

Not Satisfied with what she saw, she
ceased to smile and tried to assume
an expression Of complete repose.
That was wrong, and she shook her
head at herself. The thought flashed
through her mind that people had Of
ten asked her what was troubling her,
and they had usually put the question
when she was In day dream. That
fact seemed to prove that her natural
expression in repose was one of dis
content; she told herself that she
ought to have remembered that
1t is not easy to appear serious
almost lntense-when one Is holding
a power puff, but Mildred Challener
made the experiment She thought
she had succeeded until her eyes,
sweeping round The glass, came to
the powder puff. She tossed It on to
the dressing table In disgust and sat
down.
Perhaps, after ALL she ought to
have worn black dress; the one she
had chosen was pale blue-Jack's fa-
forite color. 1t ought to have suited
her, for her hair was golden and her
complexion clear and fair. But some
how the dress was wrong; 1t always
had been wrong
II suppose ! am really plain" she
whispered to herself, and peeped into
the glass again. Men don't usually
fall In love with plain women" she
went on, 80 perhaps after all that
detestable Philllpson woman was
right and It il my money that Jack
--u
She stopped abruptly, rose from her
chair and touched an electric bell.
Her maid appeared.
"rve changed my mind, Harris. I'm
do me, please, ! shall wear black
frock. This blue Is wrong somehow
makes me look too yellow"
yellow miss" exclaimde the dis.
Greet Harris why. you look beauti-
full" Her fingers were busy with
hooks and eyes as she went on "0f
course there's no getting away from
black; 1t shows up tho shoulders and
Va bbNN'i ~ ull goul 'oloin' lohlp
always are beautiful white, miss,
but when your wearing black they
look like marble"
Very well, Harris. that will do.
can manage the rest"
Harris subsequently informed the
kitchen that something was up with
Miss Mildred" A parlor maid desired
further information.
Don't know yet" said Harris, "but
there's one thing certain-I shall
have a pale blue skirt to my name,
and low.neckod bodice what's no
manner o. use to me before the weeks
out"
Meanwhile tho owner OF the pale
blue dress was In tears. They had
como almost Unexpectedly, and II
Mildred Challonor had been examined
on the subject she would have found
1t dlllicult to give an exact reason for
their appearance.
She felt little mean, for she was
about to play trick on tho man to
whom she was engaged to be mar.
rlod Not for this was she crying.
Tho tears were there partly because
she was half afraid that Jack might
not come well through the test to
which he was to be submitted aud
partly through sheer vexation. What
ever trouble might como to her would
be entirely of her own making. and
the moro Mildred thought of the
whole business the more she de-
splscd herself for having been lured
into 1t by the person whom she dc.
sorlbed privately to herself nv that
detestable Phillipson woman"
Mande Phillipson was not woman,
but girl-nInetecn years Old ravish.
ingly beautiful, and ponniess. Mil
dred Challoner was the same age the
helress of n wealthy merchant, and
plain. Her lsindest friend had to ad.
NIT that she was not pretty; Mildred
almost knew 1t herself. That after.
noon, while walking home from the
ice, Maud Philipson had spoken bit
terly of her lot In life.
Poor as church mouse" she
had said, what earthly chance have
| of ever getting married?" In her
heart of hearts she euyied Mildred the
possession Of Jack HARDWOOD. Mildred
had replied that poverty-or riches
made no difference to girls chances
Of getting married
what" Maud had said, you mean
to say that--oh. | beg your pardon
Mile, forgot"
"Go on" Mildred had replied, you
were going to say-bluntly, until you
stopped yoursclf-that my money Is
my attraction"
Maude had protested at this, and
Mildred had insisted on It, and hat
offered to prove that Maude was
wrong.
How are you going to do that?'
Maude had asked.
Easily enough will tell hin
quietly tonight that fathers affairs
are involved. and that the bankruptc.
court is"
81 at tho moor man have his ChrIaf