The Portland daily press., 1879-11-05
THE PRESS.
london Society,"
A Romance Of the Prince Of
Wales's Garden-Party.


Eastern barbarian.
No story related of the diamond decked
monarch was at that time too improbable to
receive credence All London stood ON tip
toe, trying to catch q glimpse of an inner
life said not to be over edifying, and the
very presence among us of man at whose
nod heads could disappear, who thought no
more of ordering ''slave" to be killed than
a careful housemaid of sacrificing spider,
gave an impetus to trade and brilliancy to
the West-end which it was deyoutly TO be
wished could be repeated in 1879.
In all ranks, amongst all classes, the Shah
was Il household word. Tom Thumb Gre
ated no more profound sensation. The popu-
larity of the Claimant may have proved
more enduring; but even that was by no
means so universal as tine homage rendered
to the Shah. We have outlived it, and We
have well-nigh forgotten the fHrore he
caused, as we have habit OF forgetting
most things; but it may be doubted whether
we have ever since been so apparently joyial,
rich, or prosperous, although 'seventy-four,
l fancy, is named in the City as the last
plentiful year before there set in the dearth
of richness, pleasantness, and confidence
which marks the era We have now reached.
To most of the Yarrells life in Seventy
three seemed very pleasant. They had
grown accustomed to their new state and
their strange wealth. In very truth, the old
life at Bersey seemed like far-away dream.
1t is true Sir Hubert was always troubling
because he conld not do sufficient good and,
indeed, he had never learned the art of do
ing good efficiently. Lady Yarrell was an
moved to find twelve thousand year and an
old famly-tree could not make her 8 queen
of society; and Susan was saddened because
nor word nor line to her had, during five
long years, arrived from her lover.
She rad been faithful to him; but he
she did not like to say had not been faithful,
but she felt afraid her memory Of the olden
story was more tenacious than his.
However that may be she was free from
her engagement-had long been free. She
could have married any one of the suitors
who asked her hand; but to each and all she
answered No.
A softened look, kindly smile, gracious
word, and 10, the deed was done.
They who came to wed enrolled themselves
as friends: and there is many a wife in Eng
land who knows she had once q rival in fair
Susan Yarrell and who does not fear to say
so.
The new life was very pleasant to her at
first; but in the year OF which l write she
was growing somewhat tired Of the eternal
round of pleasure party-giving and party-go-
ing.
IF you would make up your mind to re-
gard ME as the old maid of the family" she
said one day to her widowed knswoman,
Mrs. Dallwood, 81 really think we should all
be great deal happier" But Mrs. Dali
wood shook her head.
''Early times for that my dear" she an
swered. ''You have had q grand passion, |
suspect; but you will outlve it. myself
/, who speak to you-was once over head
and ears in love-indeed, am still in love
IL, bod tn
him. If he had 1 should have accepted him
to a certainty, and-been miserable. After
ALL Susan, love is not everything"
Susan did not answer, though she thought
it was great deal.
~ think it rather too bad Of you not to
marry, after all have done for you," pro-
ceeded her friend Had you been my own
daughter, my own very own, l could not have
toiled more indefatigably in your behalf; but
you will not help me. You do nothing
smile ON no one. You have been out nearly
five years. In two years more you will be as
that saucy boy of mine said the other day,
quarter of a century old; and you are yet
unmarried My dear, my dearH' and Mrs.
Dalwood shook a warning finger as she
spoke. 81 will pop in and say how dye do to
your papa before 1 co." she went on almost
in breath. with his books as usual
Bless the dear mani He loves them better
than he ever loved anything, yourself ex-
cepted. OF that | am quite certain; but
don't tell your mamma | said So"
And with this caution, laughingly uttered,
Mrs Dallwood trailed her long train down
the ample stairs of Yarrell House, and, peep
ing into the library, asked,
SIS anyone at home? 1t is only George,
who wants to have a chat with her old
friend"
With that simple courtesy which never
failed him, Sir Hubert greeted his garrulous
kinsw oman.
81 knew you were here,' he said, Sand
should have come up, but l thought you
were having a confidential chat with my
dear Susie"
"Quite right, Hubert, she answered "and
now / want TO have a confidential chat with
you. Why does not-why will not-Susan
marry?"
Had you not better ask Susan yourself,
Therese?" answered Sir Hubert.
mo; she has never volunteered her conf
dence, and do not want to force it; but |
should like to know. / wish her to marry
Mr. Forrest. Who is there stopping the
way@'
The baronet paused. He TOO desired that
his child should make this match, but he
would not urge her to it. He had his MEM
cries, his story; and they made him pitiful
WIN lSSdlu W lAlC loNO-IdiS liz ilub SCC1l I'LL
folding page by page.
''When we lived at Bersey," he began, af-
ter pause, ''there resided at a certain place
a gentleman called-But no; will not men
ton names. The story is all you desire to
be told.'
Mrs. Dallwood inclined her head She
was shrewd woman, and knew, if she re-
quired to do so hereafter, she could put two
and two together in five minutes.
''He was not wealthy. II he had been we
probably should not have known him so in
timately. 1t was fine old place, lovely
place; but the owner was almost as poor as
ourselves. He was widower," proceeded
Sir Hubert; "a maiden sister kept house for
him, and there were sons and daughters and
a nephew. never recollect the time when
Susie and that nephew were not promised to
each other. l think when she could scarce
toddle she was called TOMS little wife,
''tnd what became of Tom?" asked Mrs.
atwood.
me went for a soldier,'' answered the
baavnet sadly. "All his people had fought
remember the day he came across to show
himself to us in his uniform. can see his
open handsome face, his frank laughing
smile. can hear the tone of his voice. My
poor lad! my poor, honest, honorable boyn'
'sDid he dep
''No; O, no. He went out to Abyssinia,
and there performed deed of valor which
gained him the Victoria Cross and sent him
to Malta invaded. We have not seen him
since. My darling wrote to him, and he nev-
er answered her letter. l also wrote 10 him
to say that our change Of fortune could make
no difference in my feelings towards him."
''You dear simpleton, I'll be bound you
did; and what answered the hero?"
HE thanked me; but he said the engage
ment must now be considered at an end. He
did not intend to return home. He had eX-
changed into regiment ordered to India;
and-and, in short, Therese, the lad was too
proud to bring his poverty home to share our
riches. / know that, feel that, because"
He stopped, and Mrs. Dallwood's lips
moved, though no sound issued from them.
''What did you say, Therese?" he asked.
81 said nothing" was the answer; ''but |
was asking like the man in Hawthorn's TO-
for my lost life. 1 want my happi-
ness cried poor Clifford. Ah Hubert, what
numbers of lost lives there are jostling ell
bows with us if we could only see them"
If Susie had been present at that moment
she could have guessed the name of the man
Mrs. Dallwood had loved and never married
''Well, at any rate, he is clear out of the
field,' she remarked, after a minutes 81
lence, land there is no reason why Susan
should not marry Mr.. Forest