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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1890-5-22, Page 2A STRANGE COLRTSHIP, racingtheirponies;nay,eventhepaintedroom mentous„ and ueeded all their deliberation 1, but e quick ear could detect e sort of rattle with its gay fittings, so different from the At last the blue was fixed upon; and in the in his inside, which was his di:3r laugh.. vi erage parlor (though that has its own , blue, May presently appeared, as bewitehing ' This alarmed Mabel at first with the ep- ee " eobeeeraudhomeller charms), Affords herjoy. ' as any- tenant of the cerulean. She was prehension that he was not well. CHAPTER I. creature would otherwise double up and col- " -ish dea • m m was b e " ' 1 . o 1 ' I u 1 1 i et , tlee s nly ust su jfficientl) neryous and timid, " pink 1 " Do oung ge you see that yntlemant athe I regretful thought. It thenes so selfish to en• and palpitating," to make one long to com- ' end of the teble, evith the beautiful black eau dee TUE GlIAND.. jay all of this evith out him, though she had !fort and reassure her. Her appearance ' hair and. the white teeth ? Well, lie is lapse like a, burst belloon, and from the same , mighty coiree-roont exists, and the, common It left hineell alone, Sillee an old college , was enough to make a knight-errant out of fifteen years older than I am, mid a greet cauee—the rent. It is for these that the demon As Asmodeta would in these doe's ee- drawing -room, from whieh last are chiefly friend is his guest, whose company over a I the merest attorney. I beau. lie will come round and speak to It is pro'hable that even so energetic A dine to take the roofs off any perilous drawn the belles of the ball -room, for the pipe to tell the truth, he infirdtely prefers to I The gallant Frederick had providea a fit- ' you after diuner." anything in. the line of pleasure which Shin- ' tiug flower for the adornment of each of their , " Speak to ole? town to plosure ally ro,ortal. net in occurtuts of the pievate suites are often too 1 heads—a, rose for Mabel, and e camellia for 1 " Yes, certainly ; that is he will do so default of ea vest an operation of trepan, =elusive to mix in . dancing assemblies, 1 gleton has to offer him, he might netv obtain A IlllerOMS111 Of 1111S104 "where nobody knows who is who;" though 1 "lVell, Ju.," observed Mte Frederick-, Julia 1 but this courtesy was refused by the under pretence of speaking to your brother - life by comparatively simle means. In even they will ocerasionally leave their Olmn- with that provoking air of proprietorship of latter for self and sister. "Otte doesuat go in-law. It is Major Ponaeroy, the self-ap- the mantles of August or'September, he need only visit ORO of the fashionable sea - Loudon& and lift the highly decoreted roof front one of their °rend. Hotels. Like A. bee -keeper, through lliS cunning slide of Vass, he might then look down on the un. his "I suppose we must take Mav to the to a table-d'hote, you silly men, with flowers pointed master of the ceremonies here, who man heights and selected ambrosia for the i sasse.d,here tseday 1 she wort h .., eemz in ono% hair. i must knots meny o. y an o Even when Asmodms has shewn us alt, plum ue here alone witls,an old married, j "Oh, I am so sorry!" said Mabel, almost formation. He has just made a mailman- table-dleste and public fare, couple 'Ike outselves—eh 9 I tearfully. "It was so kind of Fred, to think dein about it in his note -book, because his from atttle to grouud-floor, there is lunch of i "ble indeed, Fred, I shall be quite happy of es—or, at least of me:" and she put her memory is getting defective,"' The Grand still to be explored. Beneath ` here " remonstrated Mabel. "'Why, what rose in e glass of water, and wore it after. 1 " BO how very rude of him," objected BEAUTEOUS LEPER. Horrible Secret of a Stately Russian Belle, I'llYINGTItOM MAD .A,D01'..OlaION‘ Rome in. Rtssalses iller Dread Secret is Revealed. — A mystery which has for years enveloped the life of a singularly beautiful woman was Cleared llp ill Varis, France, last week by her suicide. The woman WAS Mme. Bela', a Russian by birth who made a sensation on, her firat appeaanuce in Paris three years ago the basement are vast halls, such as Eemp- . sss yen suppose e „ere for, beyond, in.'s es -ares, all the enumg, in her bosom. 1 Alebel. •and whose name has been much associated ings might not disdain as places of company—and yours 1" I She bad naer been to a table -note be- ' "Not at all ; it la his mission. Would of the species, from thequeen- beet* the arena sepulture, but where, it is darkly Whispered, i ,"rhankyou,miss, for filet after -thought," , fore not even to a dinner party—unless her ' iry• like to be introduced—but don't look with that of a well-knowe Italian nobleman Mlle prOr ea the most persistent of her many commas human lave, mama& everY S artetY dim k Inc English are becoming less Elise), and occupy as they can and space permits. The p, because he is staring bard at you—to admirers. Mme. Butoff has always been Foriethe matter of theee huge caw:taxer" that great army of martyrs, the exalters, returned tbe yotmg man, bowing demurely - ea .1" t ler s et tin , s armers ' titl di er to which all hi f more Anterieen yearly. W. hole fend les take Grand never shuts its portels ; however full, , then, in a bantering tone ; .q. cannot, course tell at resent whose company yol yet o e out " or "b t tl cames efoultd‘b,e called such. She had not as • "Is it, necessary ?" pleaded Mabel, begin. this gentleman on my left r •considered among her acquaintances as a person whose past might possibl have con - up their quartersthere for aseason, or at least its erreedy maw is always agape for guests • - a portioleof lens en a home. 'Within it, the antrin seasons whicb the management ealls e . ' pu ic 1 tete," es Frederick called it. It was ug, - ni e • ni to tre ble wren' prettiest sight m the world to see her tained some terrible secret, a caunten- ' wail prefer to ORM TAY dear • but tliere is a iae .• . "good," there is no apartment so hnnible 6 • , 4' "Ala at all. Only she wants toknow you- ,- / / ance, though always beautiful, hail in MO - whole evade or play, of society is for the time reat chance of ehetble young men below the p carried on indepaidently of the world evitle, but that it is eilanhed from the slain who I stair' I trip don the hall stairease, with her trent- and she knows your :asterments of repose a. tragie ost that s Ica to o1 t. litindreeteof persons abut together daily temene it, and being swept and garnisheee I " Frederick, for shame !" interrupted his bling flugers lightly lail. upon ha brodier.im; "I thoughnete tsaid a gentleman?" be the reflection of some Or ersbadg g or at its tebee-d' hole. They dance together iii its is given up to visitors, and paid for by the wife ; "don't put such things into the child's law's arm, and pass into the great room, "So I did. I believe that Mrs. Marshall is row which was slowly complain. h . iiee giant, bail -room. They saunter out together to foot. Then it is that Safli canme once more ' bead. 1 wm't buve it dune." k crou ded. witliguests, whet.° every eel:, turned a, gentleman, although in female attire. We She was a, mere girlie. years though a WalllAlk mein love or friendelup, or to pia>. at crognet —not indeed in the open fields, as of yore, I " Why, dear ise, I thought, site came here at onee to look at her. ,ell call her "the General and she hill development when she first appeared inas cer. —an occupation SO entrancing tbat it seems but in the smoking -room, to which he ate on purpose l" exclaimed Frederick withinnos 'I WU nobody at all now, you see," 01 1- taiulY oectipied some Position of militarY Paris, from no one knew where, except that with some folks to supply the place of both not retire until the latest wassailer has left I cent amazement. " Didn't your gooe papa pered Juto her husband. But there was commandit was in the carahle because at they supposed Russia., and even that it was emotions—on its well trimeti-lawns, or on itfree; and Don Rodrigo &emus of WS an- 1 write and say—I should have the letter not att atom of wouncledvanityin theremark; the tirae she must have beeu superannuated, ' her heme they only premised from her ae- emetral greetness helrAth the shadOW of the SOruewhere—aud here this rogue rote dal on the contrary, she felt e pride in ber sister's the infantry did not wear mousteches, She ' how she managed to get lute socnity Ile elle quaintallo With the Russian cepitaL Just teneesiiip and contiguity beget fentiliarity, mumeeneme, I to search his kets— that li 0 et e er, •If I I 1 le • 1 Ls charging down -upon you in spite of me. the silver sands that fringe thene As aequains n 111 Wbaftlo thee think, I wonder, of his at, Grand would afford the be$t Qhanee hi the own, though, perhaps, if it bed not already Perhal's t° reeetv° cami"Y• , " I exaetly kuew. She appeared one eight at "o , ?iaxs The Grand? What eating do Gay follow, I world for getting her off his hands for geed 1" won her its prize, in the person addreasedHow dyou domy (1051sad A ho,rse the open in a stage bo, her person seuitil . and where, when the three mouths which I " rOn wicked wretch, bow dere you !"cracked voice. Alabel looked up in alarm, A luting with diamonds and her beauty the she might not have taken this trausferenee constitute tlie sea -London SI 1100 are over, !cried May ; aml both the sisters amide a of the Public allegiance so philosophically, lergefeaturedold hely lublue spectacles, and cynosure of all eyes. Before the week was entl ell of them, save some halfelozeu, are dis. simultaneous dart at the offender. But Frea, For, the fact was, Mrs Frederiek Telma:et A cap so full of leave,s read flowers diet she over the Ruesien beaatty the Sympathetic coalesets, the Autagorusue witharaw from one another; elklues and eoteriee ate formed: all have their "favor- ites" and their "avereons ;" just as happens in any large femily beneath .an ordinary roof. aud the eatue of life be " I armed of tray and napkin, and disbauded1 was tit the balcony in A Where ha a seemed to look out of an arbour, was nod- 1 WAS TI1F 'r.tt.ee Pauli 111 1110 ft00flOW10fl40U 00110 01 1110 ding at her across Air Flint, with au amaz- upon the ruins of conventieu. ionic penes wba scents do they hide beneeth those could uot De putenea , since it was A public Hotel ever since She hed dmened to appear at the common table, notwithstanding that It wee &evened respectively that she waa the are mede up diunerr far the morrow, or snow-white waieteoats? Wbat Bias life. and expeaedpositiou, common, indeed; to all there were other bride: in the house not in energy "You don'tknow me, but I seem daughter of high official, smuggled out of riding or driving excursions are arranged : historio must thev. lave totell, beside which the sittmg-rooms on the same iloor. • • • intich a.boet you from deer Mrs Pennant, togknow yo.u. mete well. I have heard so the country on account of her eihilistic • • • If f over all which :netters the fair see reign sin preme. But in the smaking.roorns in the base. thent :twee despots are eliscussed with consid- era.ble freedom and those of theirsubjects who are mot slavish above-steirs Are iuvariably that of Bullion lasquit-e, anti family, on the " My dearest Ju. ! exclaimed lie, from ';‘ t 4.°11, °.‘ 1,1_4 3' in' 1,111 "Pent 'n How well she is lookmg toelay : how well PrmcIP a monater whom aim had been come first floor. whom they eerve, is a pale antl this past of vantage, but taking care tothrow • IpIetes, 41.%'0,)4 etteeka to hus,.aud loolang. You came by the eome Old Ineffectual story ! The geutleman who lirst his volee well within the room, " if you will their position, anti especially in such places them waiting for yon pellea to entree for lus wealth, end a, dozen observed that one half the evoted did not bring alay out Imre. I wi'l introduce her at, ea The Grand. Vie haueYelacala folks ill:e afternoon train ; I saw at the anthem My name is Marshall." °tiler °merles lilt AS baselese. Mine. Ruiofr • • a lf 1^ • 1 1 ve on mto 'alt. Flint He ie sittin &med. the salt of hotel society, without whIch "P' Id Ma " ered air Flint " herself stud nothing, but graeefully evaded KIIOO 0011 111(1 lints, anti seheines 0oing oie too, of a more serious eat than° . the most audacious Lerma*. 'I'llere are often (whielt are sometbnes very serious also); for eren the hwe-Inahings However, let us have done with waiters, 1 "A most hideous old creature, who believo been a clever fellow; but it is certain t tat Ito can chair here, with his hat off, mtd looks Ives a eautions Me, and spoke within limits. , exceedingly well." If ever I seem to concern myself with low in nothing," Whiopered Ju. to May, with a, , would be almost flavourless. the favorite topic of the table-d'hote is always the last, bride. The males express their admiration, and the females mitigate it by depreciatory ,,,;iintisikuse11 s. remarks, She is eetssable-lookmg." they 4 6 1: 414: t so far as I cau judge on so Short All ae- " How do you like The Grand, iny dear ?" very much," Pia afabel—" at , lir. iu . all impertinent ienunees and showed. no de. sire to becoraeon intimateterms with any one. Of conne elle was pestered with suftors. There wove dozens of love-sick males ready vith meny men pleasure is only a. gay cloak, compauy, it le that devil Asrnodeus evil° toss of hoe head.feotsteps at every turn and the tars, re the fourth floor 01 80, there IS a, gee,. For myself, 1 ans never so happy as when gious faith, continued Fred. con pretty ." but. for their parts, she is "not e she nvn she doesn't eery mud% luso mut in the Rue St. Honore was like a con- alinw I '.‘8°me" Panille will dnaties3 call her ed the old lady. " I can't hear her." What does alto say F1' t a" ineuir- to dog her eel , 1'. 111-1111 into it. Pare Burke, Pace Mr. Aludie. 1 " Your pare made no restriction SS t 0 reli• little reeeption-thom of her modest apart. forliesinees. Thou up in the letchelers' guar - &natality. their style." Sostrikingdookinga liridegrooin deal of gainbliug tete at night; when the ' (whielt is more seldom than I could niald I " 'Youth and leetuty," he \Wiles, 'arena vo , aervatory, filled as it WAS with the bout:meta angel% who ace fitfully uaing their ivory hair- stretell my legs under the mahogany of important ae a large anti assured income.' tr tr hiamatrimonial lat. To this the males talkiug to so abort att acquaintance." mule ahowerent upon her by anxious adamant. might, they conceive, have been more favour- brinbee before the looklua.glass—learhig A person of title. This uarrative, I repeat, is His letter is full of good. and wise reflection& " Well, I'm sure I 11, het a very ohe lulu an equipage and, a, couple of servants seat their poor abigailsto bedfor meters oue of good society ; a fiction, if not of the It is never too early.' &leen be, 'for a girl young pemon ! I could never have believed , aml appeared to need nothing that money tlemur—t hey see nothing striking in the man allien auy young couple, or a couple of it of her, to look at her." could supply, She was a veritable mystery. at all. exeept an air of intolerable conceit. their sweet thoughts alone—Mlagine that OA the first, floor of The Grantl, then, and decidedly an abject." whom the lady at least isyoure matte their ` ' . ,., Quite unconscious of these last remarks, Towards tter male admiren Mme. Moil s sake, or in order tbat they might feed on filet class. at leest of the first floor. to Ili'.'. =object in life.' Now, Aln Flint is t heir SWains 44 the ball -non are airearaing " in au apartment furnished after the foreign "I am :mite sure that dear 31/1. wrote had:el lea turned to liaten to au observation conduct was cold and reserved. It evaseald The abigatts themselves, it es Probeble, arc gelding and many mirrors; with bright mangy . tio'n at onee opens upon to 1 r al 1 , them. The eon - Ad them. 1 faShime (which tins hotelalleashevith much =thing of the sort ! exeliumed . lay inthg- • • f t . 1 - • - :also ret without their thoughts. The wait- eornices on the eeilinge, and tt gay flowery "aeon*, that's very well sled," erica Fred versatiou resembles that which we read. in 'Are they. warned ?" "They are busband affe:4 an interesting study ; and if it were yellow 411111(01 ,40 what looks like damask), "there was an air of innocent, Simplicity in "They are brother and sister." mot fee the vulgarity of coucerniq ourseir,es and with mindoweloore that are opened your manner too, that reminda ine of your tv°4 wily. "They are allele allti. idea." "8ee, they with tea* emu people, one mieett Well 1$0. I wide upon 1131110113 overlooking the sea -- stster's early'days. Ju. angled for me enc. have changed chairs." "I Ala aura he ia her taillks , sit three of our dramatis persona.. It is as cessfully with that very bait. 'I am afraid,' means° she orders him about." tempted to sp_ecula.te upen whet Mary I of Savor Sall, at present attached AS wait- i retty a picture as you can nuaeine, for the she used to say, 'that my goad papa, will husband, 1 "He chooles Willa Withellt consulting her— never be iutleced to part with me, dear Frederick. Ile has no plots athe sown" for they cannot, then, be newly married." "Nay, but perhaps she drinks only water." my_future. as some father:, Imre."' "Not she ; he has ordered champagne— llore a dexterous movemerit was effected girls never refuse eleunpagne." "They must against the common enemy. As Fretl step- rs, bride and bridegroom, or else very rich," pea back, to tlArOkl All angry pat that i Idst "It is only a Rint." "Will ht) drink it all might have killed a butterfly, froin wife's „ ,s "Will lie OA ler none t" fingers, they closed upon the handle of the zumaelt ? "None : but be gives her fingers a squeeze French evuelow, and. abut him out ; at the same moment, Mabel did the like with the under the table—that pleases her (Tally well, and is cheaper—site is all smiles. "Is other window. This double -action escape - that tont-and-water Nelda* the waiter. ba,s Movement of theirs was in fact perfectly brought her ?" "I believe it is brandy -and - successful, and their persecutor began at water --how shocking!" "But perhaps her once to sue for peace. digestion is weaker than the brandy.and- "It is very cold, my dears, out here," " Trite ; she has too small a waist, pleaded he, flattening his handsome features water." against the pene, tent affecting to shiver in that sunny air. "That 2,41 why We shut the windows,'" an- swered the bride ; and at this happy rep- avtee the sisters Wished a laugh together with a rieber IllaSiO mit than any instriun- ent which MA'S contrivance ever com- passed. " I am not well, dears," continued the exile, plaintively. " Yon don't look well, I do assure you, with,your nose flattened like that, sir,'plied the relentless bride. "It is to- you I speak, sweet May," con- tinued Fred, in mock Shalspearian strain, "and not to that inexorable Jew. The air is piercing told, andI have a little bald place ceewn_which has come 0111 1. out to her upon Frederick% left. eyes TO he knew that she was 'in a large room—the ' " — (e0 BE corristree.) her as he would from a poison that would . 0 p ce w it was argest she had ever seen, andat a table even corrode his life. Finally she drove himfrom on the top of my you know her) you may think - she tore out ong a than that on which thesehool-feast to . Wearing a Wife. her presence with threats, and went, so it since marriage. It is not trouble, as (since 5 a handful of hair in one of her iantrnme " the village children used to be spread, upon A certain Russian nobleman visiting Paris is said, to Americaewhereshetraveled about the rectory lawn at home ; but she clid not was noticed to be constantlyplunged in deep for twelve months. She returned to Paris et. dare th Mok about her. The folded nap- sadness. He wore on his finger a very re- only to encounter her admirer again. He " You are a wicked story -teller, sire' said "I should like to do it of all things," said Kin on the plate before her astonished her by markable ring, large enough for a bracelet. had not consoled himself with another face Mable carting close up to the win' dow. the ingenuity of its sha,pe ; it seemed a and which extended over his hand like a but was almost: madly persistent in his ef. Fred, affecting to misunderstand. her ;"only I daren't without, Juas leave.—May wants shame to destroy so fanciful a form. buckler for the ring finger. It was of a fort to shake her resolve not th marry tem. "Is it n a pretty, May ?" murmured her veins' greenish color and -eras traversed by red The explanation which she gave ot this re- sister across her husband. "Mine is like a I fusel was, it is believed, that ahe olready had me'to kiss her, Jae ;the window is between us, and glass is a. zonconductor—may, I ?" " You wicked, conceited creature r cried coronet, Feed% is a fan, and yours"— It attracted the attention of everybody, a husband and therefore dared not marry. Mabel. Then, turning to her sister, with a . but no one was bold enough to interrogate Finally she promised th return to •Russia , sterious stranger until one day a lady, and obtain a separation from him t ere ut The Grand are idways polyglot, end wren Ion ehe lofty waus ; with sofas ot approvingly. ami 4oftly clapping his hands ruesedmoksdeeigned for continental travel, er to the first floor, and therefore to her rimeler's fatuity, but once a red-shirted pat- riot,. in the aervice of Garibaldi, whom (he tells here "he love next to woman ;" or of Don .1todrigos the third cook, who is really a first- rate hand at an omelet, and who boasts to her of being a noblemau in his own countver, and of the accomplishment of the guitar. The first, suite of apartments which that bus pudent Asmodeus would present to our no- tice if he had the herdihood to take advan- tage of his offer) would be the bowers of Mary and her sisterhood, the native or im- ported servant -maids, without whom—so let us not despise them—the machinery of life et The Grand would be out of gear indeed. Her mirror is not a swing one, like that of her young mistress, but a small square of glass, difficult, eveu by the adventitious aid of .her work -box, to prop at a proper angle for the due contem- plation of her charms; hair-brush—for she deo not possess% pair of them—is of common- nadeal. But the thoughts of the two girls run in the :sante channel, endure indeed identical. IL is spring -time with both of them, and the -tender flower of love adorns each bosom equally. The romance of the attic is as ,enthralling as that of the second floor, and indeed, to the philosophic observer, infinite- ly more so; for tbe way of life is not made smooth for Mary, as it is for Marguerite, and. it will be set, poor soul 1 with many A snare. Her very beauty, Which in }her young mistresse's case is but a source of pride, is with her one of peril also. Her mother is far away, in her olks in the foregouml (which t oes not al- ways happen in portrait drawings) are as fine and. elegant as are the accessories. These are two ladies and A gentleman, whose united ages (as the newspaper correspondent delights to write, when dismissing ancient people to their graves) do not exceed that of ono sexagenarian. The elder lady—if it, may be admissible to apply %term so sugges- tive of ago to so youthful a creature—is plump luta. dark as a daughter of Spain; vo dark, indeed, that when emu hear her cone panionseell her "Ju." (as theydolor love and brevity, het mune being Jae), you might easily think it a playful reference to her complexion. e`he is of exquisite beauty, and though she does her best to assume the air of a matron, cannot be more thantwenty years of age. The younger girl, who is but eighteen, presents as striking a contrast to bores their common youth aud beauty per- mit ; her complexion is fair 05 11. lily, though not pale ; her look is bright and fresh as the morn ; she has no cares nor fears, nor indeed has Ju.; but the latter has, or imagines she has, her "responsibilities," from etieich this other young life is as yet wholly free. Her name is Mabel, but theyr call her rightly "May." The merry English month that heralds sunimer was never better typified by human form. There is a breezy air about her that scatters wholesomeness ; her smile is gracious sunshine, and her tears, near to those tender lids, and loyal to the fast touch of pity, are still more gracious rain ; her words are= gross diamonds wed pearls, as in the fairy tale, but flowers of innocence and eferaneroofed village cottage, Praying. t° courtesy; she uses no other, nor has needto God, perhaps, th preserve her. child, use, for "May it is with 'May' from head th ,but little knowing to -what temptations she heel. is exposed . while Marguerite has not only The man—to drop at once from this clam atdear mamma" herself, a, model of propriety, but a deputy -mother also, when so-called necessity requires it, in a chaperone of rigid, and yet discriminating virtue. God see thee safely through ths dangers of the servants' Nall and of the bachelors' quarter, Mary, and flame mercy npon those who would harm thee for their selfish pleasure! This story is devoted to good society, and have little to do with .such as thou. The.strata of apartments in The Grand (as the people of Slungleton always term the liote), from pride in its colossal proportions and renown, quite as much as for shortness) are, of course, in inverse ratio to the social rank of their mhabitants. The lowest por- tion (beginning, that is, with thefirst floor) is devoted to those who pae the highest prices, and require the best accommodation—to families who occupy large private sitting - MOM, or to opulent couples who choose to indulge themselves in that luxury; then come the apartments of the bachelors with sing little parlours, from which the 'tobac- co smoke foes upwards, and does not in reality annoy Materfamilias at all, although she sniffs occasionally, in reprobation of such disgusting practices, and cannot think how her Angelina can "put up with" Edwin's eigsa. "In my young days, my dear, I can only say that if your papa, when he was paying his attentions to me, had ventured into my presence with a eigar in his mouth, rd have what would you have done, deer -mamma, ?" inquired Angelina, with a toss of her .head. Even in this early stage she flat- ters herself she knows how to manage her own Edwin (already acquired by engage- raent, though not yet in his ring -fence), and resents maternal in.ferference. 'What would you bane clone with papa and his cigar ?" "I would have put it out for him, Ange- lina." tion—is a •well -looking young fellow enough; fair-haired, bronze-cheeked, and with a neat moustache, the silkiness of which acquits it of any acquaintance with the razor. He is standing in a well-known national attitude, with his back th the fire-place—though, of course, there is no fire since it is late in August—regarding these two angels with a look of confident mastership on his handsome face, which, to a male looker-on, had there been such, would have been most aggravat- ing and intolerable. The wretch is upon his honeymoon with both of them. CHAPTER II. AT THE TA -BLE -D ROTE. o et el e . some of these that her heart was a ball " Look yonder," said lie, " in the de,:ae bi way. Here are, our ris-ce-rin at Wt." o ice in a form of marble. This proved to There hatl been a, couple of chairs tun. be a wrong judgment. however. The right ed dowe in the meet way, to show man came at last. He was like the hero of a rornance. He was a, young Italian noble they are engagea, immeditteely opposite • named Orla, with a title almost as Old as but since the dinner had progressed Rome itself and a plentiful fortune. It soon so far, tite arrival of their tenents had ceased to be looked foe The aeW•COnterS became apparent that Count Orla was not rather to be treated as the other suitors had been. were two gentlemen, of striking than prepossessing appearance ; they Avere The marble turned to flesh, the ball of ice . vibrated to the music of a fancy, perhaps A both well-fa,voured, but tlie elder% thought ful face WAS marred by a certain peevish 'Passion. The haughtY Slav basal bowed ner bead to the whispered flatteries of her melancholy, which never left it ; white tlte younger's, though much luuttlsomer, wor o a t'iml.thera lover Lula billahed like a virgin. contemptuous tur, which, when fixed upon Thei•e WAS HO doubt that defiant. Unabashed by their enpunetuality, I Yet ono day when the courtship was at WOIllalle became Insolent, and upon man, mi,LE.IIVI.01.7 U.tiv MET tier. neree they seated themselves with deliberation, its height, the famous -beauty dis, pored and as they unfolded tbeir nepkins, the ova , it was as sudilenly as she bad come, mul evident that to her friend, Couut ria, her discontentedly perused the wine list, the other cest his bold eyes down the long disappearance was just as much of amystory line of aests. I as it eves to the rest of the public. He was il "Ar' they brothers, think You," whis- ,bitterly chagrined and only stayed long pared Julia, "or father and son?" I enough to ascertain definitely that Mme. et•htell perhaps accounts for it." " elle has " I don't know," said Frail with irrita- Ruloff had left Paris before startle out to brought her own maid with her—I have tation ; " I am only sure that the black one hent her up. It was six months before he is au impertinent coxcomb ;" mul indeed. the accomplished les dur.pose. S us was in seen her—a very strong young woman, pour lacer son corsrt." "For shame, sir ; and be- young gentleman opposite lutd passed a, very Switzerland and living m a small eeialet be- sides, it is bad Frouch." Such is the talk of the British table-d'hoto 1* They leisurely survey upon both wife anti sisteran- law, ' alluring as averaand undoubtedly. pleased side the Lako St. Constance, bountiful es gossip ripens Into acautlal, it is rt sign that Flint' and a favourable specimen of it. When are not relatives :et all," said Mr. " the pear auce. ff alarmed, to see the Coua put m an ap- you have had the same neighbour more than elder is pure Caucasian, and would be very 1 with -philosophic decision: What, transpired betwemi the lovers was once—that acquaintanceship is progressing. tc handsome, but for his ill -temper." never known, but it is believed that Mine. first appearauee among the guests at The There was no such talkuponAfable Denham's for him if he stares at younglaaies like that," The younger will have his beauty spoiled him to satisfy him why they could never be Ruloff confided enough of her mystery to ment spell -bound. Unaware of the interest :Toole Grand. Her beauty held them for the mo- muttered the indignant Fred, aside to Air. . married, Flint. ' came her shadow and remarked that if she Still the Count persisted, he be - she was exciting in these good people, but pooh 1 he can't helpit, " rejoiued objected to marriage nothing should debar alannee at their numbers, she moved with thee philosopher. "Look at his skull— him her friendship. She 'begged him to . look at his jowl ;.that youth is a Carib." leave her, and seek other faces, to turn from Lest the line we have last written should be liable to misconstruction, let us hasten at once to explain that Mr. Frederick Pennant, the gentleman just introduced to our readers, though travelling on his honeymoon with two young ladies, is the husband of but one of them. He is a young English barrister, and no Mormon. Ju. his wife, a bride of five weeks old or so, whom he is about to take with him to Hong-kong, where he has an appointment ; and May or Mabel Denham is his sister-in-law. The married pair had been so very happy together, that it had suggest- ed to them the making others happy—an idea so rare in practice, as th be obscure and perhaps incomprehensible when stated. But the fact was that May and Ju. had grown up together side by side, like white and red rose on a single stem, twin buds of sister- hood, with no mother to expend their wealth of love upon; and beitig co -heiresses in that respect, they had lavished it upon one an- other. Lapped in bliss, then, as she was with her Frederick, the bride had not been unmindful of the sister left in the dull Berle. shire vicarage but had invited her to be their guest at 'The Grand. • It wai a life al- together novel th Mabel Denham, and the present was her first day of it. There were children in the house in plenty; the patter of little feet along the balcony is audible now within the room ; and childish laughter mingles with the soft sigh of the sea. But not a heart even among them is lighter or, more glad than May's. • Whatever her eye falls upon ministers th her pleasure: the stretch of suramer sea without, fleck- ed with white sails, as is the blue air above with white winged gulls; the harbour, which the flowing tide is filling; do sometimes,, mamma, for Edwin, or ableastV—here she blushes in the most be vitching manner—"it goes out of itself while us are—talking. But I don't dislike the smell of smoke myself, do you know 1" Above the bachelors' quarter, or contained in it, are the apartments occupied by the "pensioners" of the establishment—those who Ilene no private sitting -rooms, and who Eve at fixed charges bp the day or week, using the table-d'hote and all the advertis- ed advantages of the establishment. These are by far the most numerous class; and their custom keeps The Grand going at un- fashionable times, when the huge empty the narrowing loads, 011 which the boys are beer, May," said Fred,- cutting the my luough "I must introduce you to your next neieh- on the napkins.—"Mr kins —"Mr Flint this is short tam- meeting him in public, ventured to say: , if possible, ;the influence of her friends. blush : " I'm sure I wanted nothing of the my sister -in Denham, eulogy p . , The Russian made a movement as though of Mme. Ruled', but the veil of mystery has "You wear a very handsome ring." 1 That was the last Count Orla heard sort, Ju." " Of course you dicIn't, my darling," said one of Fred's absurd jokes, I know." ',whom I told . he would conceal his hand, but that feeling been lifted from her at last. A womanpass- the bride with assuring gravity; " it is only .0you we were expecting to -day. "Wont she letus ?" continued Fred,with Mabel looked up, and. bowed, then ca,st e gave way to a desire to unburden himself. ing under the name of Tuegevin committed It is not a ring," he auswered, " but a suicide by shooting herself last week in her earnestness. "1 can't hear what she says; down her eyes again, like a carnation which I apartment situated in a, retired part of sepulchre." A shudder passed through the whole cora- , Vienna. The investigation p h but she looks angry." Then, in solemn tones the south wind lifts and lets fall. This sud- , of the o 'co un - he added ; "Mr. Flint's compliments 'and den demand upon her frightened wits, just pony. I earthed the fact that the woman was a He says he can't believe s. 1 the stranger was old or young, nice -looking or Wa8 "This jewel," he continued," is my wife. leper, the lower part of her body being al- l. had the misfortune to lose her some years most eaten awa,y by the loathsome disease. might he peep through the window, and see as she was endeavouring to collect them, Mrs. Frederick Pennant looking angry? too much for her. She did not know whether dreaded the icy bed which awaited her after educe in Russia. She was an Italian and A SLAROR OP HER PAPERS. At which Ju. melted to the core, opened a fright ; but she felt an exceeding terra of It was very simple fooling, doubtless; but I things as this was "going into society," he this life. I carried her remains to Germany, / disclosed the fact that Tuegevin was not her real name and ended in showing her to the window andlet the flatterer in. : him, and decided that if such a state of Wile r e I was acquainted with a celebrated chemist, WhOM I directed to make of the be no other than the famous Mme. Ruloff. they were very happy, these young people, wouldinueltra,ther lave remained outsideit. 1 An old nurse who had officiated as a kind of and quite as pleased with pne another, and, "There is a considerable talent hidden in - perhaps even more so, as though they. had that napkin," said a slow, sober voice. The body a solid substmice which I could carry duenna to her stated that Mine. Ruloff was each uttered the most cutting witticisms. about with me. Eight days after he sent bo in Siberia her father being governor of Frederick had really a pleasant vein of humour of his own, and thegirls had an ex- cellent substitute for wit in their light hearts and high spirits. It was altogether an afternoon to be remembered, not for its brightness and its gaiety, but for the care- less happiness whieh made it bright and gay. To one at least of the actors in that little farce the memory of it was often destined to recur ; not to provoke the ancient mirth, alas 1 but to present a type of palmy days gone by and lost for ever. VVhieh of our- selves has not some similar reminiscence? Upon whose ear falls not, more sad then any knell, the far-off echo of laughter, which half -shut, gray eyes were full of intelle eassimere or diagonal. Inc scourer makes than submit to e increasing . g a strong warm soapsuds mid plunges the gar- the disease. To Count Orla the intelligence ment into it souses it up and down, and rubs of this awful discovery meat be a terrible , the dirty places; if necessary, putsit through blow, but he will know at last why he was a second suds, then rinses it through several forbidden the boonshe so vehemently craved. waters and hangs it to dry on the line. 1 What a culmination for a romance! Row When nearly dry he takes it in, rolls it nuoterablystragie, if they really loved each other! words were spoken behind her, as if intend- ed for her brother-law,and she felt gratifi- ed to thespeakerfor notaddressingher. There was a kindness in his tone•which seemed to intimate that he perceived her confusion, and wished to spare her. But perhaps whatpleas- ed her most in the remark was neither that nor its wit, but that the accents were evidently those of an old man, which greatly reassur- ed her. Indeed, when she took courage to look at him again, she saw that Mr. Flint Old clothing raay be made to look nearly meties. A more beautiful face or a more was older than her father, who had married as good as new by pursuing the following perfectly outlined form than Mme Rtiloff's by no means early in life. He was not °lassie plan ; could not be imagined and it is a wonder tally beautiful, les face being as long as to, Take, for instance, a shiny, old coat, that she did not long before put an end to almost resemble that of a horse • but his vest or pair of trousers of broadcloth, an existence so horribly accursed rather for me and showed me the empty coffin, • one of the north-western provinces. He had amid a horrid collection of instruments and leaving his daughter the possessor of alembics. This jewel was lying on the died, i much wealth, but the victim of the terrible table. He had, through means of some cor- disease. The girl insisted on seeing the world rosive substance, reduced and compressed • and had taken her old nurse with the that which was my wife into this jewel, • only confident of her tewful secret 8 aely enough, the disease had never inatifested itself on she girl's face, except in such a way that it could be concealed by the use of com which shall never more leave me. Made to Look New. Death—or worse, which Wretelieduess—has gence, and twnikled in thew deep-set caverns hushed for ever.? like stars. It was, however, but the dressing -bell of Ana what do you think your napkin The Grand Ti.hieh put a stop to these young most resembles ?" inquired be "11 is an people's mirth on this occasion, ox• rather artistic effort which Alphonse, the head - gave it a new direction, May was certainly waiter, has made delusively for your bene 10 go with them to the ta,ble-d'hote ; but fit; for see, there are no others like it." "It looks to nie like a heart," said Mabel. " Ah, that is because you are seventeen," what was she to wear?' Fred suggested a white frock with red ribbons and a coral necklace, since there was nothing like a childlike simplicity. " She should let down her back hair—if she has any." Here, being thumped, he apologised. How should I know? Ju. has none save what I bought for her : I've got the bill." In fact this impudent. young fellow was so incorrigible that they refused to listen to him. Mabel Denham had indeed no great choice of dresses, and all she had were as well known up for an hour or two and then presses it. An old cotton cloth is laid on the outside of the coal and the iron passed over that until the wrinkles are out ; but the iron is removed before the steam ceases th rise A quantity of halistite, the new explosive, returned the old gentleman drily. "Now o exploded at the factory near Turin, killing me, who am getting on for seventy, it looks from the goods, else they would be shiny. i fourteen persons instantly and wounding like a sheep's head." . Wrinkles that are obstinate are removed many others. 1 What a az on old mail 1 And now he had by laying a wet cloth over them and pas- Bunting (to policeman)—" I understand once made her laugh, how at home she sing the iron over that. you seeured the discharge of Officer O'Brien felt with him 1 He had something funny If any shiny places are seen they are 1 for sleeping on duty. That was right." th say about everything and everybody, and treated as the wrinkles are ; the iron is • Officer Muleahey--" Yis, sorr. Yez see, me yet in such a quiet, unobtrusive way. His lifted, while the full cloud of steam rises i an' O'Brien had a nice cornerto go to shlape lips scarcely moved at all; all the fun flash- and brings tae nap with it. Good cloth I in ivery noight ; but O'Brien snored thot to her sister as the flowerbeds in their ed from his eyes. As for smiling, Mr. pent 1 will bear many washings and look better 1 loud Oi cuddent shlape at all, so I reported home -garden; but the occasion was me- had never been seen th do nick a thing ; 1 every time because of them. I him."