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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 im COMINIMD.] H 1•• 0 CO 0 cl td o 0 (1) H A • t<1 CO Carp pi, 5 0 t -s c+- 5 a) 0 w 0 co co 0 0 eNtro,`, •