HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-9-30, Page 7San. 30, 1887.
PUT ASUNDER;
Lady Castlemaine's Divorce 1
By BERTHA. M. CLAY,
1/o; OP
ilounte4 "Who lattrFe Atone.
iseent,” .• etreeeie for tt
ete, etc., eie.
dawn; for in her fancy, all night long,
she was watching the growth of the
little seed she had sown.
---
CHAPTER XXV.
uo GROWTH OF Zia FIMM.
During the next few days, no matter
where Lady Castlemaine went or whore
the met, the eonversation always turned
on Colonel Lennox, his bravery, and his
adventures.
The nine -day's wonder had not died
out; he was still a great hero.
No new scandal had. been told of him,
and there were some few people who
believed that rumor had been exag-
gerated. One thing was quite certain—
any lady whom he admired became the
fashion. He was an authority on the
subject of feminine beauty, as on
politics and war.
At &rat people did not notice his de-
votion to Lady Castlemaine. At first
they met but rarely. Lord Castlemaine
was his wife's shadow; ho was still too
much in love with her to be happy for
one moment when he was away from
her; be disliked all those engagements
that kept him from her wide, but there
were times when it was quite un-
avoidable. It did not strike Lady
Castlemaine, either, how strange it was
that whenever she went out without her
husband the colonel was by her side at
once.
Lord Castlemaine could not go to the
Duchess of Raneleigh's ball. It was
only at the last minute he found he
must go to Portsmouth to say "good -
by" to an old friend who was sailing
away.
Lady Castlemaine and Isabel went
together; they had agreed to dress so
as to represent their old characters—
the White Rose and the• Red Rose,
Lady Castlemaine looked especially
charming. She wore a -white silk,
richly embroidered with fine pearls, and
trimmed with sprays of white roses;
she wore white rosebuds round the neck
of her dress, and a lovely white rose,
the ideal of herself, nestled in the coils
of her guidon hair. A general murmur
of admiration followed her entrance
into the crowded ball -room.
The costume of the Red Rose was
quite as great a success. Tho dark,
passionate beauty of Isabel Hyde had
never showed to such advantage as in
the exquisite dress of pale rose silk,
with its elaborate trimmings of deep
red roses. Sho wore a small wreath of
damask roses in her hair.
Society smiled at seeing its two favor-
ites in their last year's characters. Two
more beautiful women never entered a
ballroom.
Strange to say, although on the Sat.
urday morning when they met, Colonel
Lennox told Lady Cwatlemaine he should
not be at the ball, there he was, abase
Meg to meet her, with a smile on thet
bold, handsome face of his, before which,
if she had been a wiser woman, the
would have fled, or died.
She was surrounded, as usual, by a
crowd of courtiers; he towered
above them all.
Fle took the jeweled tablets from her
hand in bis most graceful and courtly
feshion.
"I mean to be selfish to -night," he
said; and Lady Castlemaine saw that
ho had placed his name against every
waltz.
She shook her blonde head gravely
at him, and what he thought the farm-
liarity of the graceful gesture intoxi-
cated him.
There was a spice of romance about
it all that amused her; it was the old
story of Hercules and the distaff, of
Cleopatra and Mark Antony, over again.
To the feminine mind, there will always
be something delightful in the conquest
of strength and bravery.
Lady Castlemaine had not the faint-
est suspicion of evil. She had regretted
with most bitter regret that her hus-
band had not been able to acoompany
her; but there was something of ro-
mance in the fact that every time the
music of a waltz sounded, this splendid
colonel immediately sought her. Sho
had no idea of doing anything that was
in the least degree impudent or un-
seemly, but he clammed her so that she
forgot everything dee, and longed for
his conversation again.
There was never a wooer so eloquent
as he. He told her stories, anecdotes,
adventures, some full of rollicking fun,
some of infinite pathos --all pure as
though he had boon conversing with an
angel. But they interested and amused
her; and when he left, sho looked for-
ward with eagerness to their next intoe.
view.
He danced with her so often "this
evening, and made himself so conspicu-
ous by his devotion to her, that Isabel
' thought it prudent to administer a
warning.
•It would not do for strange or un-
trained hands to force this seed which
she had son with such care.
"Gertrude," the whispered, "X would
net donde again with Colonel Lennox."
"Why ?" she athed, impatiently
The reason obvious said Miss
/I
Hyde. "That wag your third waltz,
and ,people ate beginning to look at CHAPTER )XVI.
/To Took at me I" cried Lady Castle- A rive O'OLOOK TgA.
Maine. "What for? Why Oixould they The atevieg.reem at Neat), nous,
TIEaRt,ISSELS POST
_aalenaernalaitealialaertillettOriettlaertertettr
Ieabel Hyde iihrugged her thouldere,
"You know how people talk," she
said. "Suppose that tomorrow some
one jests before Lord Caotleinaine about
the number of times you have waltzed w
with that handsome oolomil, Youwould
not like it."
"No," she replied, slowly. "I might
not like it, but I did not see that ib
could matter aieli."
As it war( in this osee, 50 in every
other; no matter -where she appeared!
there, sooner, or later, earn° Colonel
Lennox,
"I could almost believe," she said,
laughingly, to him one roorning, "that
you must receive a telegram from the
birds to say when and. where I am
going."
She did not notice the sudden Flush on
hie faceolor the still more suspicious
foot that Isabel Hyde had turned
quickly aside, 11.8 though she did not
OW70 to bear the words.
Twice when the was out in the park,
once at a garden party, and mice at the
Zoological Gardens, she had met him
when she was with Isabel ; and he had
made so much of these occasions that
she began to look upon him as quite an
old friend.
She had never meant any conceal -
went, any disguise, and deceit; least of
all had she thought in any way of keep-
ing secrets from her husband: she had
merely carelessly followed Isabel's
words—not to speak to her husband
just at first about it. She was too young
and too guileless of heart to think much
of it, or to see any evil in it.
She was now on quite friendly terms
with him. She had met him twice at
Lady Cresson's at five o'clock tea, and
they talked on until Lady Castlemaine
had been con:veiled to drive home
quickly, and had a very narrow escape
of being late for dinner.
She was less an her guard now, and
after dinner, during a long conversation
which took place on the different stations
of men, their different employments and
professions, Lady Castlemaine said,
Buddenly
"I like soldiers best. If I were a man,
I would neither be a lawyer, a doctor,
a politician, nor anything else, but a
soldier."
It was curious how strange a silence
followed this remark.
Lord Castlemaine looked at his wife.
"You have few opportunities of study-
ing the different professions, Gertrude.
What makes you say that 2"
She was conscious /II one moment of
her own indiscretion, and hastened to
cover it.
"Soldiers are heroes," she said.
Lord Castlemaine laughed.
"Some of them are very far from it,"
he answered.
Yos, they were quite good friends
now. They met with smiles, parted
with regret, thought with pleasure of
the next interview. On her side there
was nothing but the feeling of great
interest, of quiet aro.usement, of hero
worship. On his, there was the con-
sciousness that he loved for the first
time in his life, and with allthe despera-
tion of a man's first passion.
Verily, the little seed was growing,
and would soon bo a strong plant
Then he became impatient to see
more of her, and that could not be dime
unless he knew her huaband, and could
call at the house.
"The Lady of Heath," he called her
in hie own mind, and he wished that
the days of chivalry were back again,
that ho might proclaim himself her
knight, fight for her, die for her. All
his past wicked life seemed to rise up
in vengeance against him, now that he
was earnestly and deeply in love.
What a wretched past, what shameful
memories, what horrible remembrances
"But the will never know," he said to
himself. "No one will tell her. In her
beautiful eyes I shall always be a groat
hero, and I desire no more. '
But ho must see her oftener ; he could
no longer hear that a whole twenty-four
hours should pass without one glimpse
of her.
"I should like to know Lord Castle-
maine," he said to her one day.
"Nothing would be easier," the re-
plied,
"Will you introduce me, Lady Castle.
ramie° ?" ho asked.
"Yes; will, with pleasure," she re-
plied. "Five o'clock tea is quite= ineti-
tution at Neath House—will you call to-
morrow and take a cup with us ?"
"I shall be most charmed and happy,"
he rep 8 . is 0desire 0 My
11002t to visit; youv house."
Again a slight fro we on her face warn.
ed him.
"I have been told," he continued,
"that Heath House is one of the finest
mansions in town, and. I admire beauti.
fel houses."
"A strange taste for a soldier," she
replied, laughingly.
"I like a camp better," he cried.
But she would not believe him, and
playfully called him a carpet knight.
They laughed and jested, and -were more
friendly and more familiar than they
had ever been before.
She was pleased at the idea that he
should visit her, pleased that ho should
wish to know hes husband ; but there
was no time to speak of it.
That evening she went to two differ-
ent balls, and in the morning sho was
too tired to remember it. She had been
anxious to tell Isabel, but in the varied
engagements of the day she forgot all
about it.
As events turned out, it did not ranchOlatter,
tt but 's oseible th tif h d
h
told her husband that morning who was
to be her guest that evening, a tragedy
teight have been averted.
look at me ? •
was a maguificent oom. It ran alon
the g
whole length of the building; it 144
six large windows that opened into a
balcony, wbioh was always Ailed with
fairest flowers, all the flowers that
Lady Castlemaine liked best—small
clusters of white Macs, the lovely nar-
cissus, the white daphne, the white
rose ; white was to be seen everywhere,
It was a room bright as sunshine, flow -
ors, light, and magnificence could make
it.
The five o'clock tea at Heath House
was an institntion, but Lady Castle-
:nal:le was very particular as to who at.
tended, The invited$ were all her own
particular and intimate friends, arid she
was much. beloved in general eociety.
She enjoyed social life. To see her-
self surrounded by fair young girls, by
witty and. piquant matrons, was a
pleasure to her. She enjoyed these
Little reunions. She liked to hear th#3
last aneedotes, the last new novel die -
cussed, the last now fashion commented
upon ; Lite newest engagement, the lust
fashionable marriage—all were conned
over with a merry laugh and jest. The
ladies wore [mob pretty dresses, the
colors were so beautiful, the sound of
the silvery voices and laughter were so
sweet.
Lady Castlernaine's teas were famous;
those who had been there once longed
to go again.
On this evening, when Colonel Len-
nox was to pay his Drat visit to the
house, Lady Castlemaine looked more
Lovely than usual. She was thinking a
little of hire when she chose that most
exquisite of tea gowns, 'which was a
combination of pale -blue velvet and
white satin. It was impossible to tell
where ono began and the other ended.
00 her golden hair lay the loveliest
little picture of 0 cap ;,,her white hands
thane with jewels.
The little table before her -was a poem
in itself; the old-fashioned silver ser-
vice, the Sevres China, delicate and
beautiful as flowers; the fragrant tea,
with thick, rich cream fresh from the
country; and Lady Castlemaine, while
she dispensed the tea with her own
fair hands, led the conversation. Sho
was the wittiest, the quickest at re-
partee in all that brilliant band of beau-
tiful women.
Isabel Hyde wore a tea gown elabo-
rately constructed of fawn -colored vele'
vet and rose -pink silk, the soft tints of
which made her face look the brighter.
Ther Thewas only one drawback to the
perfect happiness of the beautiful mis-
tress of that splendid house as she sat
there, and it was that her husband was
absent. All her favorite friends were
present. Miss Hyde, who was still
visiting Neath House; the young and
most vivacious Countess of Brksclale,
who could talk twice as much and twice
as long as any other lady; there was the
beautiful and bright young matron, the
Duchess of Weetwater, who had the
candid blue eyes of a child, with a mind
full of wit and mischief; there was theweot.faoed,
sweet-faced, sentimental Lady Buchan-
an, who thought nothing more substan-
tial than flowers worth discussing;
Lady E astlaIse, the leader of the (estheticsobool,
school, who almost died of a sunflower
and wont into ecstasies over a lily ;
there was the lively and coquettish
young Marchioness of Heathers, who
made war all round; her eyes, like ar-
rows, pierced the hearts of the men who
gazed upon her, and she had nothing
whatever to offer them by way of cola -
solation ; there was Miss Grantly, the
famous heiress, who never opened hor
mouth but to utter an epigram; there
was the famous poet, Oswald Clyde,
the writer of the last new poem,
which had driven the poetry -loving por-
tion of the public mad.
Neither wit, wisdom, nor beauty was
wantiug, and Lady Castlemaine, as she
gracefully dispensed the Sevres cups,
seemed to hold all the threads of the
conversation in her own hands; it was
she who pointed the sharp arrows of
wit; it was sho who called forth the
thoughts and ideas of others; it was
she who seemed to bring her visitors
more together, mind to mind. Isabel
looked at hor with eyes of envy.
"I should have been just such another
hostess," she said to herself, "if these
rooms had been miuo, as they ought bo
have beau."
There was a slight stir when Colonel
Lennox was announced. Most of the
ladies knew him well. Tho Duchess of
Westwater admired him, and her blue
oyes were never more beautiful than
when they were raised with the candor
of childhood to his. Lady Eastlake
sighed at the mention of his name ;
there was nothing of the (esthetic about
him. The Marchioness of Heathers de-
lighted in him ; she liked his stories,
Ins adventures, and not being one of
the most scrupulous of womankind, did
not dislike him any the more for his
character of a gallant raan.
Colonel Lennox looked neither to the
right nor to the left ; he went to the
beautiful hostess, found a seat by her
side, and asked for soup of tea from her
bands. She gave it to h,im.
enjoyed the whole situation ,• the
magnificent room, with its Wealth of
fragrant flowers ; the beautiful and
witty woman, the clevet men ; ho en-
joyed the coeversation, the wit, the
repartee.
Under cover of a general laugh, raised
bytho Marchioness of Heathers, /sabel
said to Lady Castlereable :
"You did not tell mo that Colonel
Lennox was coming."
"No," was the frauk reply ; for.
got
Argot! The word made Isabel ellud-
der. If she had indeed forgotten, evi-
dently her mind was not filled by hitn.
"Me wants to no Rudolph," she
continued, carelessly, "and I thought
this a very pleasant time for an introdue-
bon."
"There could be none better," replied
Isabel, .
On the table sear her lay a eprey of
white Mae, that some oarelese lady bad
let fall from a bouquet; she rinsed it
and hold it to her lips; the word e she
whispered into it were the same as those
she had uttered in the church on the
wedding -clay, and when elie raieed her
face again there was a smile on it not
good to Seo.
"This must be a lady's paradise," said
Colonel Lennox, "I wonder what the
world did before the luxury of tea was
discovered ?"
",Pretty much the Immo as it does
now," said Lady Heathers. "There
must always have been something to
drink, something cheerful and enliven-
ing, even for savages."
"Marc you (men the famous new
picture at the Academy, Colonel Len-
nox?"I have had so many engagements,"
he replied, "that I have not had time te
seo one-half that I want to see."
Said Lady Westlake:
"The prettiest sight I have seen
the large grove of chestnut trees in
Richmond Park."
"I quite agree with you, Lady West-
lake," said the poet.
Colonel Lennox turned to his beauti-
ful hostess.
"My bachelor quarters 000 80 limited,"
he said, "X am most unfortunately pre-
vented from returning the hospitality
pressed upon ; but I have had
daring, and I believe original, thoughts
of giving a dinner at Richmond, if
could persuade some kind and gracious
lady to help me,"
"You would have no difficulty in that,"
she said; but he observed that she was
careful not to offer her aid,
"If 1 ani fortunate enough to succeed
in iny efforts," bo said, "you will pro.
nein to bo the queen of Lmy httl
festivity 2"
At almost any other time she would
have answered "Yes" without a thought,
but there came to her mind a sadden
recollection, that until Colonel Lennox
had been introduced to her husband she
could not accept any such invitation.
"I must have time to think of it,'
she replied.
"I shall live on the hope of it," he
said. "I am sorry Lord Castlemaine is
not at home."
"He was sent for quite unexpectedly,
two hours ago ; be seldom misses the
tea hour."
"1 should imagine not, for it is a very
happy one," said Colonel Lennox.
He wanted, if be possibly, could, to
get her away from these brilliant poo.
pie. It was the first bias he had been
at her house, and he wanted to make a
sentimental occasion of it, and she had
no notion of the kind. How earnestly
he wished that these pretty women
would put down their teacups and go
out. Surely there had been tea enough 1
For a few minutes he almost hated
Lady Heathers, whose vivacious anec-
dotes kept every one in continued
laughter.
If they would but go I It was hie
first visit to the house, and he wanted
to say a few words to her. How was it
possible ? The great poet sat silently
watching him,feeling sorry in his heart
to see ColonelLennox on such friendly
terms with beautiful Lady Castlemaine.
He knew him, knew the truth of all
the stories that were told about him,
knew what his reputation really was.
"If I bad a young and lovely wife like
that," he said to himself, ',Colonel
Lennox would find no place in my
drawing -room."
Bub then he was a poet, and poets
take strange views of things.
Then, to the colonel's great relief,
Lady Heathers rose, one or .two others
followed her example, and a small
laughing groupmade for the door.
The poet remained ; he had seen the
impatience Oh that bold, handsome face,
and he understood,
"This is ono of his old tricks," ho said
to himself; "he wants to talk to Lady
()estimable, and he washes that we
would all go away. 1, for one, shall not
oblige him."
Tho colonel staid and the poet staid,
until Isabel Hyde, with her usual quick-
ness, guessed at the situation and came
to the rescue. She went up to him:
"Have you seen Lady Castlemaine's
portrait ?" she asked. "Millais only
finished it last week."
No, he had not seen it, but should, of
course, be delighted; and Miss Hyde
led him to the library, where the picture
hung. The colonel blessed her in his
heart; then he turned quickly to his
beautiful hostess.
"1 8.81 so glad to have a chance of
saying one word to you," he said, hur-
riedly. "x thought they would never
go."
"I did not want them to go," she said,
coldly.
"I did," he cried. wanted to tell
you what au infinite pleasure this, my
first visit to you, gives 1330."
She laughed, a pod, careless laugh
that out him like a knife.
"Edo not see," she saM, "why you wish
my friends goue, in order that you
might make a simple speech like that."
"Give me something to remember it
by ?" he asked. "Give me the rose you
have worn all the afternoon."
She looked at it, then at him,
"I think not," she replied; "the
giving of a flower means much se little;
in the first case 1 should not give it, in
the second it would not be worth
having,"
Later on that mull:kg, Isabel Hyde
stood by her dressing -room lire; she
slowly pulled out the leaves a a white
rose and watched them shrivel and burn
in the flame.
CHAPTER XXVII.
"LADY =MIA'S ltUSQUFItAbtr
In fashionable life one gayety nu. •
coeds another 00 qUiekly that them is
hardly time for any euterteleraent, hew. ,
ever epleudidto make much imprea.
eion ; but Lady Denhani'e masquerade '
0
wee quite another affair. It was to bo
held at Denliena House, and was the
Tote of the season; the =raw of it
was to live in the mind drum
Denham House was well suited for an
entertainment of this kind; the suite of
aims that opened into the ball.room
was ealiguificent; the ball -room itself
opened Into a large and lofty conserve,
tory, that led again into an exquisite
little fernery, a rare thing to find even
in a Hyde Park mansion ; at the end of
ibis fernery were two huge glees doors
that opened into the lawn; they were
all on a perfectly straight line, so that
it was pleasant to stand in the hall -
room and watoh the crescent moon rim
in the sky. Most people pronounced
Denham House the fitted mansion in
Loudon. It had certainly the largest
conservatory and the most extensive
grounds. Tho night of theft* the May
moon was shilling brightly—so brightly
as to form a beauty in itself no arteould
imitate; the yellow larape, half hidden
in the trees, although they were like
great golden stars, had no such light as
the lady-moon—a crescent moon rising
in a blue night•sky.
Ah i what it is to be wealthy; to he
able to surround one's self with all that
there is of the most beautiful, the most
exquisite; to be able to make a fairy.
land even more lovely than that -which
the fairies make for themselves.
To have the power of carrying out
every beautiful idea, that comes to an
artistic mind. Lady Denham was able
to do this,
Lady Denham or her guests were able
to walk from the great droaving-room,
where the hangings were of white.and-
gold ; through the smaller room, where
the hangings were of palest bine, and
where two of Claude Lorraine's finest
landscapes hong; through a third room,
where was every luxury that art or
money could procure; through the mag-
nificent ball -room, with its painted
ceiling, its, fine statues, and grand deco-
rations ; through the great domed con-
servatory, where flowers of the richest
color gave forth the most fragrant per-
fume; through the cool green fernery,
where the light was dim, and the con.
scant sound of water dripping from the
rocks was heard; through to the green
lawn, where tall, noble trees lent their
shade, and pretty fountains threw their
spray high into the air—a perfect fairy-
land.
It had all the charm and beauty of e
town residence, combined with many of
the advantages of the country.
The place above all others for a mas-
querade. One conld imagine a goldem
haired Undine among the rock -work,
the cool ferns, and the tiny silvery
fountains of the fereery. One could
fancy Juliet, Bosaniond, and Viola in
the conservatory, flitting daintily among
the bright blossonas, just as one might
fancy royal women sweeping through
that superb suite of rooms.
The roll of carriages was like the die.
taut vibration of thunder on the night
of the fete. Vast crowds had assembled,
hoping to catoh even ono glimpse of the
brilliant figures that emerged from them,
The house was like a paradise of flow-
ers and lights. The brilliant rooms
were not crowded, but wore well filled
with guests. Never was scene more
beautiful, more dazzling.
Mary of Scotland, in her coif and
veil, with a silver rosary shining in her
black velvet dress; the royal Elizabeth,
in cloth of gold, and a jeweled oroevu;
Katherine of Valois, fear of face and
stately of mien • Katherine of Medicis,
magnificent andimperious ; Joan of Arc,
tall and fair Marguerite, with a wealth
of golden hair ; Cleopatra, with the im-
perial robes of an empress. On they
swept, that imperial procession of
women. Every epoch in history, every
figure most remarkable in art, in fiction,
in poetry, was there. Undine, looking
as though she had just risen from the
fountain; Beatrix Cenci, Amy Robsart,
Di Vernon—a brilliant, yet, in some re-
spects, a motley crowd.
Italian peasants, Italian brigands,
French. chevaliers, Spanish grandees,
gipsies, Swiss mountaineers. Some of
the gentlemen wore the richest and most
picturesque of dresses. There was Rich-
ard Occur de Lion; the Black Prince;
at least four Charleses. One of the
moat striking figures in the room was
that of a Knight Templar in the pictu-
resque attire of his order.
AU wore masks, and no mask was to
be removed until supper -time, The die-
isee were good and well sustained.
Lady Westlake, who represented a
Water -Lily, talked for twenty minutes
with Oswald Clyde, the poet, without
recognizing him, although he was dress-
ed as a Troubadour, and she talked
afterwards aboub the Troubadour she
had met at the ball, and declared that
the one louging of her life was to meet
labs again. Lady Heathers wont as
Flora MacDonald, an was one of the
most animated figures in the scene.
Troubadours, fairies, gipsies, all iu one
mad whirl.
The Bnight Templar was conspicuous
among the men, and a masqued figure
called the Snow Queen was conspicuous
among the women, tall and dazzlingly
white. A slender figure, which was the
perfection of girlish grace—a perfect
Snow Queen. Her dress wee of white
velvet. The snow was represented by
the finest and whitest of swan's down,
the icicles by diamonds; the rounded
white arms bare to the shoulders, the
graceful neck clasped by a necklace of
what looked like frosted diamonds—so
white, eo virginal, so dazelingly beauti-
ful, so radiantly fair, that the Sem
Queen was pronounced on all sides the
greatest Mimeo.
Another very beautiful figure was
called Dawn. " This was alto a tall,
fee
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