Year: 1877

THE COST OF A JEST.


Genevieve Noble was the belle of her
set-a tall queenly-looking woman, with
superb melting black eyes, and wealth
of ietty half, Which shE wore in coro
net of lustrous braids ab0ut her shapely
head


Genevieve Noble was the most arrant
coquette that ever made a mans heart
ache.


Everybody was glad, think, when
Miss Genevieve met her match. Desper-
ate hirt as she was, she had always in
tended in her own mind to marry Frank
Dupont sometime.


Genevieve had brought him to her net
early in her first season, and ever since,
through three winters and as many sum.
mefs, she had kept him dangling at her
apron strong as pitiable captive as could
be imagined should be afraid to say
how many times in the season she goaded
him Almost to the last extremity with
her hirtations, and then Hmade up with
him lust in time to save herself "n9m
being Tilted.


Over and again Frank vowed himself
that it should end. She would stop
smiling on other men, or she would stop
smiling on him. He would be all to her
or nothing. And then touch of the
velvet palm, a glance of the brilliant
black eyes, would bring him to her feet
again


Each time that he suCcumbed she grew
more imperiOus; each time that she
triumphed she grew more secure in her
conquest, till she thought nothing could
break his chains from her neck. But
one day she amused herself with a cruel
Jest. This was how it was At home
Miss Geneyieve had a little pale, plain
faced cousin, dependent in the house
a shy, sensitive, delicate, bufieted little
creature - who submitted to all the
naughty beauty's impositions uncom-
plainingly and nrverreplied word to her
most unreasonable TRADES. Miss Gene
We've had a temper with all the rest


This poor little cousin was named Lena
Montrose, and she was not only exceed.
ingly homely and awkward, but she was
ALWAYS, bv most unaCcountable whim
of Miss Genevieve's, dressed in such an
unbecomiDg and dowdy garb, that it
wouldtnave been exceedingly difficult to
have discovered it, if she had been as
lovely as a young houri fresh from
Paradise.


1t happened one day that Miss Gene
We've, having been unusually capricious
and tantalizing for Il week past, had
found it more than usually difficult to
recall her lover to his allegiance. She
had grown very exacting, very daring, to
try Frank in the way she was resolved to


There was to be grand sleigh ride,
and Genevieve Noble was to ride with
Frank Dupont, in spite Of the coolness
between them.


Frank was on hand betimes in his
handsome turnout, and, somewhat to his
surprise his lady.love was all ready and
waiting for him. He marveled as she
came running down the steps to him,
before he could so much as get the gate
undone, for Miss Genevieve was prOyerb-
ial for being behindhand, but he only
said "Good evening" as he helped her
in.


The pair rode some distance quite
silent. The night WAS cloudy, and Frank
could not get glimpse OF the face OF his
companion, she was so muffled up
" Another of her whims," he said to
himself Grossly, and resigned himsel
with sigh to the task of conciliating the
poutiug fair one. Downright sulks were
Miss Genevieve's last and most valued
resource when her lover proved especially
contumaciouS


Frank leaned forward and tried to look
in her face. Then he stole ali arm about
her muffied form,


To his astonishment she threw up her
hands with a sharp little cry, and bury
ing her face in them began to sob convul'
sively.


He suspected nothing even then,
though it was not like the proud beauty
to waste in tears in that fashion. He
only drew her closer to his side, and
called her his darling Genevieve."


She cried out again at that, and push
ing back her hood, showed him her face,
1t was not too dark for him to see, when
he really looked, that it was not Gene
vieve's face, but Lena MOntrose's. The
little pinched features were too peculiar
to be mistaken.


She made me promise not to let you
know til we got to the hOtel but-but
how could |"


She said it in such a pitiful, sad voice,
and broken with sobs, that, angry as he
was, the young man could not help being
more sorry for her.


"Never mind, Lena" he said in his
frank, kindly voice. There, don't cry


"I'm CRYING more for you than for my
self, sir. She is angry at something you
said about the French gentleman she
had been with so much lately, and she
had dressed me in as ridiculous man
ner as she could, to mortify you"


Frank scowled in the darkness, but
he laughed aloud for Lena's ear.


"You poor childW he said, "don't
shed another tear, if that is all you are
crying about. You and will see if we
can't enjoy the evening in spite of Miss
Geuevieves pretty jest"


They found the company all gathered
in the hotel parlor and waiting for them.


Frank conducted bis frightened COM
panion to the door Of the dressing-fOom,
left her and returned fOT hel in dae time.
She trembled violently rs she took his
aru and as, involuntarily, he glaI ced at
her scanty, ill-ftting dress, his wrath
rose toward Miss Genevieve who was
promenading on the arm of her Freqch
cavalier Wham Frank had been rash