Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-05-29
From the London Punch.
TIL T. STORY OF
A r H. A II HI n H..
CHAPTER XIII.
by DOUGLAS JERRoLD,

1
ED WoMAN.-THE COUNTESS is SUM-
MoNED HoME.-AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
The countess was in raptures Garrick,
Her friend, Lady Dinah, too, a widow of
four-and.thirty, whose chief lavorite in
this life was her own broken heart
was softend 10 the extreme of tenderness
by the passion, the energy, the enthusi-
asm Of the little man. have said it
Lady Dlnah had broken heart. Hap
py woman that it was so; for that SKATER
ed organ stood to her in the place of
parrot, a spaniel, a precious pet, TO be
fondled and fed upon the choicest morsels.
1t was this attention to the craving appe-
tite of her broken heart that brought La
dy Dinah to Romeo and Juliet Sympa-
thy was necessity of her nature-but
then it must be sympathy with the wants
and woes Of love. AT eighteen she
had been married to a nobleman of large
estate, sixty years old, and pair of
crutches. The daughter Of a fox.hunting
squire, she had been legally sold to his
Iordsnip-vended to the winter-stricken
peer, like any peach In January, She had
been widow only four years; her husband,
with s,ubbornness often peculiar TO the
aiing, determining not to cancel the con-
tract single day, before. "And so, my
dear, that is how my heart was broken"
This was the constant theme Of Lady Din
ah, who would continually show her brok-
en- heart to her friends and acquaintances,
as other women would show their china.
1t was, indeed, her only soIace-her only
comfort Her face had in it frank good
temper; her eyes were swimming in
laughter; her lips ever curling with Smiles
she was altogether ripe, plump piece
Of lrolic nature; yet to her FIVE hundred bo-
som friends she insisted upon being known
as "a bIightcd thing; indeed, disap-
pointed woman, with a broken heart" -
And then she would hint at tie rnystery Of
an early passion-of what in her girl
hood she had suffered for a frs: love-
This mystery was never cleared: for |
give no credence to the vulgar gossip Of
her nurse. who, as | heard, declared .ha,
her ladyship before marriage had "aever
loved any thing that signid>d but green
goose berries.
The play proceeded. and with every
scene the admiration of Lady Bushrose,
the emotion Of Lady Dinah, increased
"Tis very NICE" said Lady Blushrose at
a part of the balcony scene.
Nice. my dear It's delicious" cried
Lady Dinah, and for moment spreading
her fan before her face, she sighed deep
ly. Very different were the feelings of
the two ladies' The one sat as patron
ess of the poet and the actor-now and
then graciousy according an approving
smile, the other was in the scene; was,
indeed or assuredly tried to think so,-
Juliet herself It's very foolish said
Lody Dnah, and with an attempt at Vi
yacity, she crushed her handkerchief "a
cross her eyes, do verify believe, think
ing there was at leest one tear in each of
them.
"Dosi thou love me' know thou wilt say-Ay;
And will take thy word"
Thus spoke Julict, and Immediately La
dy Dlpah, in whisper to her friend eX-
claimed, "Just like me when quite girl
"Good night, good night! parting in such sweet
sorrow,
That shall say good night till it he morrow"
Here Juliet disappeared from the balcony,
and Lady Dinah, throwing herself back
in her seat, slowly shook her head, OBJ
servng,-'If it doesn't take me quite to
my fathers orchard"
MY dear child SAID Lady Blushrose,
looking round the house-'you distress me,
you do, indeed, to find you thus give way
to your feelngs.-You know its only a
play
very true-I know that-but memory
memory, my dear. In this life we-ar'n''
they the Clevelands opposite? Lud, no!
I'm getting blind ,hink-in this life, wo
man has but one heart, and when that i:
broken
TO be sure. Why, there's that wretcl
: Huntingtopper,' cried lady Blushrose
who, whilst sympathizing with her friend
had carefully surveyed the boxes.
He mustn't come into the box.
wouldn't have him see us for the world
where is hel' Lady Blushrose lmmedi
ately pointed out to her broken heart et
friend the situation of his lordship, who
. on the instant recognizing the ladies', kiss
ed his hand to them, aud left the box