The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-06-05
LADY JUDITHs VENGEANCE.

LADY JUDITHS VENGEANCE.
A single giddy woman can do much T.
set all the inhabitants of a peaceful tow
by the ears. ,.--
Until pretty Ms. Triptow aud her hus
band came to spend their winter season a
B., in Derbyshire, that watering -plac,
was one of the contest towns going. 1t So
happened that its permanent residents and
the temporary visitors who had come tc
recruit their bealths got ON well together
Between them they formed society ol
cheerful people, who clubbed their re
sources to make the time pass pleasantly
and who made no attempts to outshine one
another in the matter of over dreaming
and giving costly entertainments. Oi
course there were one or two gOssiping
ladies in the place, who would have dis
turbed the general harmony If they could
thus Miss Bickel, lean-visaged spinsteI
with an annuity, was very fond of prylns
into her neighbor's affairs and whispering
malevolent insin1ations, protesting all the
while that she had mot a particle of he
lief in the rumors she circulated: and
Mrs. Boundy, again, plump, laughing
widow, past forty, who was much less
good -naiured than she looked, delighted
in the rough sort of tittle-tattle which
brushes the gloss off peoples fair names.
But these ladies had found the influences
of B too strong for them. Local soci.
ETY. was ruled by Lady Judith Sharpman,
wife of the colonel, a tall, middle-aged,
masculine lady, who. by reason OF a mus.
tache seemed fierce, but who at heart was
even more good d-natured than Mrs. BOundy
looked. As peers daughter, Lady
Judith was accepted as an infallible arbi-
traitor of right and wrong, and she invaria-
bly, set her face against malice. She was
so indulgent and yet so firmly sensible, so
upright and yet such gentle peace
maker, that everybody liked her, and list
ened tn her counsels, even when they were
not palatablc. Then Lady Judith was a
great arrangcr OF marriages. II was she
who had obtained the consent Of young
mother ~ his engagement
with pretty Rose Fauncing, whom Mrs.
d. had at first turned up her nose at as a
girl of no family; and had further smoothed
away the obstacles which prevented Mr..
Meeking, the vicar, from getting be-
trothed to handsome Laura Cheverill, the
generals daughter. These things were
known. appreciated, and extolled in B,
and the young people of the colony felt
happier from the knowledge that in Lady
Judith they had Providence who would
always assist the course of true love.
Every tuiuS suuuchtN VhanScV, HoWCNci,
when Captain and Mrs. Triptow, above
arrived in B-,and began to
show of in the highest style, as if they
wanted all the world TO know that the cap
tain had lately come in for a handsome
legacy. To be sure, il was not Captain
TiiptOw who showed off SD much as his
wife. He was quiet, grntlemanlike fel-
low, who, if left to 20 his own ways, would
have been popular anywhere, but he stood
in awe Of his wife, and had no power eth
er 10 control her or Ia insist upon his own
liberty of action when she urged him TO do
foolish things. And she was always thus
urging him. II was soon ascertained that
Captain Triptow had served in a crack cav
airy regiment, and had contracted u sort of
with the poor niece of q broth
er officer. Mrs. Triptow had been the belle
of Malta for one year, and of Bombay for
another. and she had got the reputation (as
Miss Bickle and Miss Boundy avouched)
of being fast flirt; but as her husband
and she were of undeniable good families,
they were Hospitality received ut B..
The captain was admitted to the club. and
Mrs. Triptow was invited TO one of Lady
Judith's evening parties, her ladyship tax
ing care to tell her that it would be quite
an informal affair, and that she need not
dress. Mrs. Triptow disregarded this no
and came attired as though for
q court ball, making all the ladies and
girls present feel depressed by the plain
ness of their own attire. She had already
exhibited herself ON the public promenade
Of BIN u series Of morning costumes,
which had made the local milliners run
gaping to their doorways, and now the
dress in which she appeared at Lady
Judith's was one of those marvels of ART
which could have only have issued from
Paris. Lady Judith was very amiable
about the matter, and rendered full justice
to the great beauty of her guest, whose
piQuant smile and vivacious prattle'' (said
She to friendD ''werc quite refreshing;" :"
but she frowned little when she perceiv
ed Mrs Tiptow flirting violently with
young Duckdoodle, while poor Rose
Fauncing, his intended, sat by neglected
with big tears in her eyes.
Next day was Sunday, and notable al.
teration was observable in the apparel OF
all the feminine congregation at church
You may prevail upon ladies to dress So
berly until one of their number sets the ex.
ample of extravaganza: but once this done,
good :byc to moderation. The matrons and
maidens of B. were not going 10 be
outdone by Mrs Triptow. They ordered
new dresses, pulled out from drawers and
boxes their choicest furs. ribbons and false
tresses; and expended their pocket money
upon fifteen-button gloves. The men held
out a little longer, not wishing II renounce
the cheap and easy habit they had contract
ed oflounging about in tweed suits; but
That ass Triptow." as many called him
would turn out of an afternoon dressed
within an inch of his life. and some young
men proceeded to copy him. Then the old
ones had to follow. Frock coats, patent
leather boots, and gloves OF tender hue be
came the order of the day; and at nigh,
men who appeared at the club withou,
swallow-tails were the exception. Fine
clothing begets contempt for chear
amusements, and as might have been ex
pected, the people Of B. promptly grew
ashamed of their teaparties. penny read
ings, and penny-a-point whist Mrs. Trip
tow gave so ne elegant little dinners, and
other ladies felt bound TO return der hospi
talities in similar fashion. Then she go
the manager of the Assembly Rooms to
hire band which played every afternoon
and to reward him she organized two sub
scription balls Zone in fancy costume), d
charity bazaar, and some private thcatricals
in which she herself performed bewitch
ingly. Meanwhile Captain Triptow had
introduced into the club whist and ecarte
at half crown the point, and it was whis
pered that on a certain nights after all the
old fogies had retired, "Nap" and baccaral