Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-21
A Marriage of Pure Affection.
GBy Dutton Cook in Time 81

10y DuttOn COOK IN Tlmenl
L.
Sir Hercules Cumberbatch, K.C. r. was an
old man, judged by the family Bible. the alma
mac and the army list; yet, seen at little dis.
Tan, ,ance =, VI ny caSneignt ne wore certain
and elaborate process, while his valet was an
AUS. ia ms way, almost genius indeed. The
Iesuit was SO lar successful that, when the vet
eran nao Oeen duly bewigged and dyed DOW
dered and padded, buckled and strapped to-
eether, and generally succeed, so to say. with
luVenescence, his aspect almost suggested that
ne was younger than his son. Joshua uUber-
oatch, and but trifle older than his grandson,
charles, the only child of Joshua But then
Jtsnua Cumberbatch was a City man (of the
H ~ u OF Cumneroatch, Cropp Cosser, of Great
81 He.en's, Blshopsgate, East IDdIa merchants
ana aeents); and city men always look their
age, NJ indeed, they do not usually look to be
U.Sl tnan they really are Joshuas hair was
shoulders were round his back was bowed and
MS waistcoat projected gracelessly. He really
cared nothing about his appearance; dressed
untld1ly, wearing thick-sOled, square toed
boots, with ample accommodation for the worst
OF cornS. He habitually thrust his hands deep
INTO MS trousers pockets, to the ruin Of his
ha1f-pence or Jingled his keys together His
SON, Charles Cumberbatch, was one OF those
youths who pass from infancy to adolescence
course, smoked cigars, but he had also deVel-
oped Whfskers. There had been brief period
curing which he had worn boys jacket, aud
out he had very soon assumed coats with tails
and tied cravatS round his neck: a cadet at
Woolwlch he looked like captain; while his
mustache would have done credit even to
major. His expression was serious and his face
was carewOrn.
Sir Hercules and his son were dining to-
tary club In Pail Mall. Sir Hercules was of
course, the host. 1t was a simple entertain
ment enough. Sir Hercules could, when he
listed, exhibit much taste and cunning In the
ordering of dinner, was gifted with nice Judg-
ment concerning wines. But he felt that the
occasion demanded no eXert1On or display of
did not In the least care what he ate or drank
50 MS parent RECALLED him with cheap claret and
Well, and what Is this business of Char.
leys?" demanded Sir Hercules "Some scrape,
! suppose. Boys will be boys, you know; and
boys win get into serapes."
"Well. he's no longer boy; at any rate he
considers himself man."
..They all do that. A love affair, eh?'
He talks OF mOrr1age"
is she7 Do 1 know herr she's respectable, 1
"He says So"
rool!' Sir Hercules repeated.
"He Is not absolutely a fool" observed
Joshua Cumberbatch, with an air OF defending
MS son a3eaaI Hes et really been very good by
OF course, his expenses at WOolnich have been
considerable. But, no doubt, he's too young to
think OF marrying. It's absurd, It's out of the
You've not seen the woman-the lady!r
'NO. She's Miss MaShitern
Don't think know the name"
most people know 1t. Have you never
heard OF Mashiter's marmalade and mixed
Bless my soul, yes! Do you mean that
money!" ''' INV '''''
..she has some money, l believe. She is the
only daughter of old Mashiter who made the
hIlc Hnfo hnnv Had Fnt
thing Is now carried on as limited company
j don't suppose she's anything to do with it
now, except perhaps as a shareholder"
!" Wen but it may not be such bad thing
Hes very young. don't think he ought to
was. It's compiaiat we ousgrow. 1 don don't
think you'll do any good interfering. wouldn't
let pride stand In the way. 1t doesn't do In
these tn times to be too particular and pride has
money and Is otherwise unobjectionable, don't
see why Master Charley shouldn't marry her If
wants to yery badly ms might do worse you
having been In trade? People viii talk, no
doubt. Let them. The money won't smell of
pickles. or be sticky with marmalade."
Idon't object to trade" said Joshua 1Im
merchant myself; and it would be absurd for
me to be taking up with notions of pride upon
such q subject. We're good family, as good
pedigTees don't count for much.'
"No," remarked Sir Hercules. "It's only the
insurance companies that are curious nowadays
on that subject; TO find out whether ones pro-
genitors died of consumption or OF any disease
for ancestry"
aBut I'ye fathers duty to perform,
"JuSt So" Not that Sir Hercules had been
yeay heedful In times past OF bis own duties as
APPARENT.
look after him more particularly than other
wise should / have to consider what viii be
pest for MS happiness, and rule my own con-
"Just So" Sir Hercules repeated. Then. after
pause, he inquired: "When did Charley
pick up-I mean meet with this Miss Mashi-
Ier?r
at seems that her horse ran away with her
In the row-a hard-mouthed brute she never
ought to have mounted. AS / understand
Charley was Just In time to stop him, and 50 to
"Quite providential affair."" said Sir Her
CUES, sceptical grin greatly increasing and
deepening the wrinkles that scored and inter-
sected his face In every direction. But things
VIII happen like that sometimes; especially Ia
novels. She was very grateful, OF course"
"She so expressed herself; but she was not
hurt, only little frightened"
And she asked him TO call upon her, that she
might thank him for the important service he
had rendered tor?''
"Nell, i think he asked IL he might call to
Inquire II shs bad completely recoyered-if she
felt no i'll eff ects from her alarm"
49,, Just so; he result would be the same. And
Harley street. CavendiSh square"
Well, that sounds decent, at any rate. sad
Sir Hercules cautiously. " And you're going to
see herr
81 thought OF doing So"
"See her By all means; that can't do any
harm. you know. Altogether, the thing doesn't
justify any uneasiness that see L Was afraid
OF something very much worse when YOU first
limited that Charley was In some sort OF trou-
bic. knew there must be woman a. the
bottom OF II: but when you spoke OF his getting
married, feared IL might be a very innpruieut
marriage indeed-a ballet girl, you know; that
kind OF thing"
"Oh, but Charley's quite above that. had
10 apprehension On that score He's been very
carefully brought up; and he has always shown
himself 10 be so particularly steady"
Eyes; but sometimes those particularly
steady fellows do such particularly stupid
Things. They're so serious over their folly.
however, Ii Isn't ballet girl, IL seems: that's
In MS favor It's woman with money: so far
II sounds reasonable enough IL he must marry
there's good deal to be said for his cho0sing q
rich wife. However, youth see her ann. feti
me about your visit. should Ike 70 know the
result ~
"You shall know the result"
"I forget whether you smoke? Ah you limit
yourself TO one cigar after dinner. Prudent
fellow! i never could limit myself In any re-
spect. This is the way TO the smoking room
They sat and smoked for some time I'm the
vast chamber set apart by the club committee
to the uses OF tobacco and its deYOteeS. Little
more was said. however. touching Charley
CumDerbatchs love for Miss MaShiter.
II.