The Portland daily press., 1877-03-31
From the London Society Magazine ]
Kiss and Try.


little beauty stamped her foot, contradicting
herself with wrathful energy that would
have done credit to an accomplished actress.
my dear"
oDon't dear me! Pm not your dear. I
can be dear to plenty of people if choose"
"My dear, really you are so impetuous
you'll never be married"
"There it is again, that hateful topic.
Can't you understand don't want to? Why
should I? I've got plenty of money. Pve
got carriage and two such sets of ponies
and hunter and a house in the country
what more do want? 1 wish you would ali
let me alone. Tnere's papa talking SORROW
fully, silly old darling, about his declining
years and only me, and not married, and if
you are my aunt It's no reason you should
worry me night and day. 1 won't have your
lawyer if he's as rich as Crnsus-how much
has he given you to plead his cause, eh?''
"You need not insult me at all events. 1
counsel you for your own good, Miss Della
selle. Mr.. Marshe is most eligible person,
most eligible. His father is in the front rank
of the profession, and immensely rich; your
papa approves of this suit. There is posi-
bility Of the dormant peerage being revived
IN the fawn of that family; Mr.. Marshe SEN
ior has rendered great services in high quar-
ters."
''Thank you for your genealogical particu.
lars. Now please tell me all about Captain
Williams and Theophius Bishop, who will
rise in the Church, and Sir Cornelius Wilkes
and Squire Thompson and Mr.. Burnaby and
Lieutenant Vane and Lord Pauline, &C."
"Really, you may well pause; the firta-
tons you carry on are beyond all belief
There were dozen soldiers in the house yes
terday.
Sand there'lI be two dozen tonight, and l
shall have at least hundred valentines TO-
morrow morning. Everybody likes me; of
course they do. All the men know l don't
try to trap them into marrying me, like the
other girls. All, there's the ring; sure to be
somebody to see me-"
I'Shamefulp' groaned Aunt Jane, compos-
ing herself to her work.
mantelpiece, smiled and adjusted stray
curl.
"Aunt, don't you think look awfully nice
this EVENING""
"Charmingv' said gentlemaD's voice as
the door was thrown open and Mr.. Marshe
was announced. ''Pardon me, that dress is
perfection.
"Sir, do not like personal remarks; they
are extremely rude. However, your profess
sion, suppose, brings you in contact with
Vulgar people.
'sMarieP' reproachfully from Aunt Jane.
"M:ss Delaselle is privileged" said Mr..
Marshe, dapper young man, not bad look
ing, but obviously conceited. Marie said all
little men were vain, and as for lawyers they
seemed to consider it the duty of heiresses to
marry them.
"What divorce case are you engaged in
now, sir ?" she asked.
.tWe do not undertake that class of work."
said Marshe, loftily.
"Captain williamson, and Lord Pauline,
too! I am delighted to see you. We have
been SO dull this evening, have we not, Aunt
Janep
These newcomers hardly acknowledged
the lawyer, who on his part surveyed them
hundred pounds cash." thought he to him.
self, sand yet such airs"
Marie, however, was much more pleasant
in her manner to them, which CALLED him ex-
tremely, yet he could not tear himself away,
and after twenty times resolving never to
speak to her again, he had actually opened a
tacit understanding with Mr.. Delaselle.
She was indeed one of those girls OF whom
it must be justly said there is no living with
them nor without them.
He turned to pay court with Aunt Jane,
when the Rev. Theophilus Bishop arrived.
He was acting for the present as curate in
town till valuable living, in the gift of rel
alive, should become vacant by the decease
of the aged incumbent.
"You cruel manw said Marie; 81 heard of
your sermon. So if poor lady is deserted
by her husband and gets divorce she is not
to marry again?"
'We are opposed to such unions on the
highest grounds, my dear Miss Delaselle. If
we had only known that divorce was one
of the contracting parties we should have
most certainly refused permission to use the
sacred edifce."
swell, it's very hard. Don't you think so,
Marshe?'
ITO refuse would be Illegal" said the law
yer, glad of chance Of putting down one of
his rivals, quite illegal, feel sure, to say
nothing of the bad TASTE"
''By the ecclesiastical law" began the
curate, firing up in moment.
"Its confounded shame" broke in Cap
tain Williams.
''The ladies are deserving of every consid-
eration," said Lord Pauline, an aged beau,
but well preserved. "You may be sure the
lady was the injured party.''
Ecclesiastical law" repeated the curate.
Suppose it was me-" said Marie; sup
pose had brute of a husband of course
never mean to have one, that's understood"
1.-The premises are very lucid" said the
lawyer, SarcaSLlcaiy.
"And-I was divorced. Mustn't I-have
well"
"You of course would be an exception"
said the curate; "but as a rule such mar
riages are even more sinful than those con-
tracted with view of filthy lucre."
This was cut for Mars1e.
II hate women who marry for money!"
said Marie; ''there's nothing so despicable.'
s.Nothing so despicable," echoed Captain
Williams and Lord Pauline, neither of whom
had dollar.
Except mans marrying lady for her
money!" added the curate, who was well
provided for as far "as the good things of this
world went" "There should be certain
equality of position and pecuniary means in
order to secure mutual respect"
s'Mutual respect be hangedp' muttered
Captain Williams in his beard
'What did l hear?" asked the curate !;
"the language of the barrack room"
II say a girl that marries the man she
loves is the truest and best" cried the Cap
tain loudly; "whether he's poor or rich
doesn't matter. She's the girl for me.'
To his surprise the Captain caught Marie
eye fixed on him with an expression of SYM
patty that made his heart give thump of
delight. Could she? He was not such a bad
fellow, this Captain, though trifle out
Spoken
II differ from you entirely" said Lord Pau
line. 81 think nothing shows a more COW
ardly character than for man without a
penny and without social postion"-this was
a hint at his own title-"to attempt to obtain
the affections of lady who might engage
herself to great advantage.
LORD fauline understands the world and
human NATURE" said Aunt Jane. "His re-
marks are very just. Oh, good evening. sir.n
with marked emphasis on the "sir.''
Marie merely bowed in distant manner IN
the gentleman who had at that moment en-
tered, and turned toward the piano. Thev
all crowded round her, and pressed her to
play, scarcely deigning to exchange saluta-
tions with the new conner, who was thus as
it were excluded from the circle-except
Captain Williams, who welcomed him cor
daily.
'."Tis poverty parts good company"
whispered he, quoting the old song. "Neyer
mind, old fellow; you're twenty times more a
man than these miserable drum stick imita-
tioLs. By Jove, what chest you havew
ihurstan Bayard was indeed 'a man of
inches," and broad in proportion-perhaps
rather more than in proportion-though he
had hardly reached his full development. being
but twenty-six. A long, silky black beard,
thick, curling moustaches, bright dark eyes,
open wide forehead, and rather massive head
gave him no inconsiderable claim to be called
handsome. Thurstan was one of those men,
sometimes met who seem to possess every