Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-05-19
A Widows Manoeuvres.

event of his early death, with proper
natural guardian to look after her inter
ests and see that she was properly set
tied in life.
Sir Hilary meant well for Hildegarde
as we'll as himself in making that second
marriage, but only the girl herself knew
what it cost her
Not that her stepmother ill-treated her.
not that she had any tangible grievance.
but sometimes intangible ones are harder
to bear, because one cannot get rid of
them-all is vague unsatisfactory, and
that was what the girl found.
The new Lady Charters was overbear-
ing. selfish, inconsiderate. and. without
meaning to wrong or be unkind to
her stepdaughter, almost unconsciously
pushed her out of sight, and put Dot in
her place.
Dot was miniature of her mother. and
almost more aggravating because she was
Hlldegarde's daily companion, and not be-
ing blessed with much conscientiousness
and still less sensitiyeness. had no hesita-
ton III arrogating to herself the best of
everything, accepting greedily all invita-
tons and even dropping her own surname
altogether. whenever practicable, and
blossoming out as Miss Charters.
There was just little awkwardness
when Sir Hilary discovered that his wife.
so far from being a rich widow, with al
most unlimited means. was in reality
deeply in debt, and that her marriage
with him had saved her from utter desti-
tuition. Not that he was mercenarv. or
had married her for her wealth, but still
it was a shock, for he was possessed of
very limited means himself. beyond the
estate which, in the event of his diving
without son, passed, with the title. to
a nephew
He did not reproach her, but his silence
was eloquent, and she rushed into a tor
rent OF meaningless explanations. to prove
herself free from blame
Otherwise, their married life was har-
monious enough. Lady Charters delight
ed in playing Lady Bountiful to the vii
layers, in rustling into church handsome,
well dressed, the eynosure for all ewes,
and being person of real Importance in
the neighborhood. Then Fate touched the
Kaleidoscope Il second time for her
Sir Hilary died, the new baronet took
possession of the mansion and estate,
with his wife and children. and LADY
Charters was compelled to turn out
again, widowed. and rather less well pro
vided for than she had hoped.
Five hundred year for herself. one
hundred for Dot. and a thousand for Hill
degarde when she came of age; in the
meantime her stepmother was left as her
guardian, with full control over her for
tune.
Seen through her curious mental spec
tacles, the entire income was hers alone,
and in spending she acted up to that
idea, taking an expensive furnished house
in town, living at the rate of several
thousands a year instead of few hun
dreds. and not denying herself or Dot
anything
This time, she had not only set her
heart upon marrying again herself, but
also upon Dot making sensational
match. and from the first day the girl
put her hair up and her skirts down. the
creed had been dinned into her ears and
brain-'Iou are SO pretty, darling" the
fond mother would say, gazing at her in
admiration. "all men will fall in love with
you. You are the picture of what was
at your age, and l had no advantages
With those | can give you, you ought to
marry an earl at the very least. For
heavens sake don't throw yourself away
upon commoner, as ! did; Just get a
lofty ideal into your mind, and you will
carry all before you"
Dots mind was like virgin wax to ad-
vice of that kind, and she set her hopes
high. Her ladyship did not seclude her
self on account of her bereavement, nor
did she unduly prolong her mourning; by
dint of much ehcrtion, she was soon fairly
floated on life of constant amusement.
one round of pleasure, always keeping a
sharp look for "eligibles," and show
ing scant courtesy to any luckless male
who crossed her path with empty peck
cts. In fact, her motto in life was clearly
expressed in the lines of the old poet, who
sang-"If thy purse be empty, Come not
to me awooing."