Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-09-19
Mr.. VINEYARDS WARD.
BY HoLME LEE.
AuTioR OF SYLVAN IoLT's DAUGHTER.
p III.
CHAPTER ".

lie woril IN NormnSttr; onccrpt lis plea |
s,lres, TO share its ambitions, and To study its
leaders. Mrs. Lcievrc called on Mrs. Wyn- |
yard when her daughters engagement was
arranged and the two families became inti-
mate There was even II proposition that
Anna and Lois should share with Jean and
Philips three sisters the office of bridesmaids
on the occasion of the wedding; but Mrs.
Wynyard declined it on account of their
mourning
Mrs. Lciryre was of the highest considcra-
tion in Norminstcr society, and 1t was felt
to be great advantage to Anna Wynyard
to be first introduced at her quiet evenings
in the Minscr-yard, where there were tea
and whist, n little good muisc, a little good
singing, and an early departure. DR.. Philip
Raymond was IL general iavorite in the
house, and the Earl Of Eden was quite one
OF the family. Rumour had whispered many
time that he was to marry the gay and graci-
Gus widow; but neither had ever any thought
oft. Besides being his cousin, Mrs Icfevre
was ten or twelve years the earl's senior.
Their friendship dated from his boyhood,
and was more that of sage sister and way
ward brother than anything else. They had
been brought up under the same roof and
had never allowed their natural affection to
waste through disusc.
Mrs. Lcleyrcs rooms were small, but cle-
giant, and always well supplied with novel
ties to make conversation about People
came together there easily and got on easily.
Nobody took airs. The distinction of visit
ing intimately ut that house lcvclcd all other
distinctions. One frequent guest was Miss
Brothcrton, u woman imperially handsome,
dark-browcd, ricll-voiccd, the daughter of
great musician, herself teacher of singing.
Another was II short, thick, ugly man, whose
pictures were world-renowned, and whose
talk was very diverting Birth, talent, or II
million are the usual passports in society,"
Mrs. Lcicvrc did not care for the Million
She was wont to say that unless man wero
of very high dignity, or very high mind,
wealth vulgarised them-cspecially new
wealth. Purse-pride she utterly condemned;
graceful poverty was always plea for her
favor.
She heard the story Of Eastwood, and was
| touched. She declared herself warm par
tisan of that odd Penelope and Mr.. Tinda.
She saw Anna Wynyard, admired her serene
pcrfcctions and determined to bring her
forward in her best light. Jean was yet too
young, and she enjoyed having a girl to plan
and cater for Anna looked also as if she
might do her credit She had turn for
solid studies, and Mrs. Lcfevre set her cousin,
the earl, who also had turn for solid studies,
!, to make her acquaintance on u geological
foundation. They progressed Mt II rapid
rate, and one morning in January, Anna was
taken to the carls dusty old mansion, on
the cold north side of the Minister, to view
his cabinet of specimcns-al, as he told her
collected, arranged, and labelled by himself
The earl was a tall, thin, angular man,
very nervous, and shy by fits and starts /;
but worthy, generous, and much more scnsi-
BILE than he got credit for being. His father
had been awfully wild and cxtravagant, and
had left him only the ghost and name of rank
without enough means to support even those
unsubstantal nothings; but by thrifty man
agcment, his property had been since so far
redeemed that his circumstances were now
sufficiently easy. His sistcrly cousin had
preached to him for several years past the
, expcdicncy of marriage-marriagc with a
good, handsome, amiabc young woman,
who would give him an heir, and look the
countess on the very rare occasions when
his wife might be required to do something
more than play homely Joan TO his homelicl
! Darby. Such a young woman Mrs. Lefevrt
9 believed she had discovered in Anna Wyn
yard, TO whom, in her opinion, no man unde
! forty was likely TO take Il tender fancy. Sh,
# belonged to the old gentry. Put her on /
9 velvet dress and diamonds, and she would d,
! honor to the peeragc. Put her on comfort
s able insey, and she would dust specimen
all day, and at night appear as very fair
n docile, kind wife, by the dull philosopher
C fireside.
!, When she had composed her little domcs
i tic drama, Mrs. Lefcvre become quite impa
t, ticnt for the misc en- scene. Her drawing
room had bay window, supported by fly
" ing buttresses, which commanded n three
ie sided view of the Minister yard. The cal
,g was very partial to that window Of an aitel
noon. Notwithstanding his turn for soil
studies, he could relish chapter in contcn
porary social history, and was by no mean
le above taking an interest in his neighbour
\ That pretty window, luxuriously cushionc
a round, gavo a view of the Deancry pore
of and the Residence gate, and of the patl
bt trayersing the grass by which the membe
= of those digniiied ecclesiastical househol,
,rs went to prayers. Nothing was more con
of mon in the course of the days events tha
en- for the earl to come up stairs about 70,
u. ne o'clock, and take quiet possession of h
of favoritc corner, whether Mrs. Lefevre W,
is, at home or not Thence, long before Am
INT Wynyard become intimate at that house,
Ia III had taken notice of her wise, effective WI
lcr of walking in high wind, and had point'
he her out for admiration to his cousin.
,nt One very wild day, about week ait
ra- Annals inspection of the cabinets, Mrs. l
tevre kept the house, and Jean with III
The Earl came in the afternoon at his ust
ger hour; shuddcred, said the cold was bitt
ow ,Sv singing; the hoarth was the only comfor
we BILE place in such weather: who would
lch out that could help it?
we Jean was in the window, at work on
em- M wonderful achievement in scarlet bl
kos and white wool, l,-iice worm work for
ally season,-and taking up the word, she sal
den "Anna Wynyard does not care for wealth
'ves She never misses the anthem on Wednesd
the iet IL ram, snow, Diow as !. WILL ihere
tar. comes now, drifting around the corner.