A Beauty Rebuked.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 6, 8 February 1908, Page 38

A Beauty Rebuked.

In the “Memoirs of the Comtesse de Boigne” the following is told of an incident which happened during her stay in Rome in the latter years of the eighteenth century:—Mr. Wilbraham Bootle, a young Englishman, handsome, clever, of high social position, and immensely rich, fell in love with a Miss Taylor, who could bring her husband nothing but her pretty face. Mr. Wilbraham Bootle, however, aspired to obtain her hand, and easily obtained her consent. Tire marriage day had been fixed. At a great dinner at Lord Caipelford’s the conversation turned upon an ascent that had been made in the morning to the cross upon the dome of St. Peter’s. To reach the cross it was necessary to pass outside the ball. Mr. Wilbraham Bootle said that he did not possess a steady hand, would never be able to reach the cross, and that nothing in the world would induce him to try. “Nothing in the world?” said Miss Taylor. “Nothing, I assure you.” "What, not even if I were to ask you?” “You would not ask me to do a thing for which I frankly admit my dislike.” “.Excuse me, I do ask you, I beg of you, and, if necessary, I insist.” Mr. Wilbraham Bootle attempted to laugh the matter off, but Miss Taylor insisted, notwithstanding the interference of Lord Camelford. The whole company met two days following at St. Peter’s to watch the performance of the task imposed upon the young man. He performed his trial with great coolness, and when he came down the triumphant beauty came toward him with outstretched hand; he took her hand, and kissed it, and said: “Miss Taylor, I have obeyed the whim of a charming girl. Permit me now in return to give you a piece of advice; if you wish to keep your power, never misuse it. I wish you all prosperity, and now good-by.”