Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15

to trouble you?"
ooh, waiting on customers, for one
thing," FTodie tossed her head like a
FLY.
Mrs. Royalton didn't, apparently,
get the sarcasm. Well, you don't
seem to wait on them very much!
Isn't Mr.. BonisteIle ready for me YETI"
FTodie started to reply, then changed
her mind. q don't know" she said,
| I'll see."
Hall was blinking from the dark
room, loaded pIate-holders in hand.
"Oh, Mr.. Bonistelle," Flodie whis-
pered despairingIy, you aren't going
to propose to her. are you? Oh, don't,
| don't, please, Mr.. Bonistelle!"
We'll, what's the matter now? I
thought you wanted me to-
'tOh, but don't now!"
''F7odie! You're crazy! Don't you
worry! It'll be happy day for you,
little girl, when I'm married! I'll see
| that you get a better Job than this!
Say, where's that other plate-holder?"
"Over on that shelf. Oh, Mr.. Boni-
STEELE, you'll be awfully unhappy!
know you Wilt"
He stopped impatiently.
Unhappy! With four millions,
Flodie? With a private yacht-a
country house-a villa in Italy, per-
automobiles valet-by jove,
I guess not!"
Her face was absurdly distorted
| with pain and anxiety. Her fists were
cIenched. She summoned her courage
/ for the last despairing stroke. ooh, she
paints, M Bonistelle! She paints
| her face like a clown! You wouldn't
Hall laughed aloud. For heaven
| sake! Is that what's troubling you?
Now, I suppose she's the only woman
who does it in all New York! Well,
put your mind at rest, Flodie; I'll
| promise to reform her after we're mar
| ried Tell her to come In"
Mrs. Royalton wandered into the
studio. She began, as usual, with a
shipper and a smile. 81 don't know
that I ought to shake hands with you,
Mr.. Bonistelle! You're a bad, bad
boy! Why haven't you been to see
me, all this long while?" She filled
the place with her dulcet personality.
Hall inspected her sagely, as one in
spects a valuable object he is expect
! ing to purchase, seeing her, as it
were, for the first time. His first re-
mark lacked conviction. ooh, I've
been busy-Rena!" That "Rena''
barely saved it.
Busy! Oh, you're always too busy
| for poor little me! I'm sure you'll
/ take a horrid picture of me-and 1 did
so want to get a good one today!"
| Mrs ROyalton ratified on, taking of
her veil and inspecting her hair in
the cheval glass. She twitted him on
his impoliteness, she made her big
eyes bigger. She did the spoiled child
kittenishly.
Hall still seemed distract. He broke
! away nervously and went to work. II
was his custom to engage his object
in conversation, permitting her tC
change position, talk, drink tea, f1irt
or gesture as she would, while she was
| unaware, and before she began tC
wonder why he did not begin, to have
| managed the exposure of some dozer
plates, from one or two of which he
was pretty sure to achieve a triumph
of art and naturalness.
But, at the mercy of his obsession
this method was impossible today
Hall was too busy making up his mind
and could not do two things at once.
You're not paying a bit of attention
to me-" she pouted. Mrs. Royalton
babyish, was a picture for cynic.
But Hall was too engrossed in his
own thoughts. He caught her with
an untitled finger, cried "There!" ant
slipped in a plate. THE fact is, an
a bit worried today" he confessed
Just look bit over that way. That:
right! Fine!" He deity pressed the
bulb.
She went up to him and patted hi:
arm "Oh, you poor dear man! Oh.
wish could help him out!"
"Oh, no, I'm afraid you can't hell
me-" he said irritably. 81 wish Il
heaven you could. Now look up" ht
commanded. Then he dived under the
focusing cloth, and emerged to say
It's partly you that I'm worrying
about. though. Rena."
About me? MOI" Mrs. RoyaltoI
was delighted.
Yes, am, really!" He went up K
her and adjusted her jabot.
Her eyes went off at him like {
double-barreled shotgun in an expo
sion of coQuetry. 4 suppose you tel
that to every woman you know!"
He was in for it, now. Nonsense
It's true, Rena."
She opened her eyes still wider
What in the world do you mean?
She was hungry for more.
wait till I get another picture.
Hall wheeled his camera into a new
position, wondering what to say next
She was animated enough, now, he
big eyes fairly blazed. The tigres
had scented the antelope.
For some time he held her off while
she leased for further revelation, in