The Portland daily press., 1879-09-24
THE PRESS.
The Last of the Season.
lCONCLUDED.
Five o'clock, and no Patagonians!


constantly wandered to the door even when
she was smiling at a compliment from
Bulgarian Christian who had come to Lon
don for English sympathy and sovereigns.
The honorable Sybl was mildly flirting
with an Austrian attache in the back draw
ing-room, Charlie Temple was yawning on a
settee not far off, and |, not knowing soul,
was standing stiff and defiant against the
wall, trying to look bored, but in reality
marking the features and endeavoring to
catch the title of every ancient lady in the
room.
My reception half an hour ago had been
gracious enough. $50 good of you to come,
Mr.. Killjoy." Lady Dawlsh had simpered;
you mast be as amusing as possible, mind;
aid shall | introduce you?-but Of course
you know everyone in the ROOM
then shook hands with Sybil and bowed
across the piano to Araminta and Olivia. The
damsels returned to my respectful salutation
inclnations of their heads, as if they wished
to be civil but could not, and went on with
their gossip.
A Herr Somebody had strummed sonata
on the grand piano, and little snub-nosed
Frenchwoman had sung Partisan love-song
with much chic and go. | had swallowed
three cups of ca, not because | was thirsty,
but for want of somebody to talk to, and ev-
cry one was anxious to see the Patagonians.
Presently Lady Millefeurs arrived eXquiS-
itely decorated by Worth She was gush-
ing little person, and talked as fast as cat
aract.
"Dear Lady Dawlish, so kind of you to
give us this treat and the little woman
glanced round the room, including myself
in her observation. But" she added, in a
lower key, II am horribly disappointed-he
seems quite civilized and commonplace
''Hushr' whispered Lady Dawlsh, and
took her aside.
l comprehended the Millefleurs' chagrin.
She had come to see a Patagonian, and as |
was the only outsider in the room, she had
very naturally taken me for the interesting
object of her visit. The fact was ludicrous,
but annoying; / felt Inundated, and began
to wish myself in the smoking room of the
Geranium. Park street was after all by no
means as pleasant as Bayswater.
Presently Sybil advanced and made her
self pleasant. She is not an unattractive
girl; she has full gray eyes, and figure
which might be called graceful but for GER
tain infeXibilty of outline which shows it
self even through her morning toilet l
once heard man say that the Honorable
Sybil had many good points; / began to real
ize that she had too many.
On the other hand she h S that indescrib-
able air of good breeding, which does not re-
veal itself in the selection Of words, which
are generally commonplace enough, but
rather in the confidence and easy delivery
with which they are uttered
''Been ridir' to-day, Mr.. Killjoy?" asked
she winningly, sinking gracefully into set
tee.
Now the fact is that l do not show myself
to advantage on horseback. Not but that L
am skillful and energetic rider, but it has
pleased Providence during the last few years
to add a certain rotundity to my once SYM
metrica waist. have keen sense of the
ridiculous; do not ride in the Park.
''No, Miss Dawlish; | was rather better
employed"
s"Oh, yes? Playin' pool!'
''No; writing"
sob, indeed"
Then, wishing to give her an idea of my
importance, l added II was writing at my
book. Another novel;
81 didn't know you were CLEVER" id
She ''How nicer' And Miss Sybil turned
asde to conceal a yawn, as thought
But after the yawn or the blush she took
more interest in me. She knew l was a
Worcestershire man, of course; should be
there for the shooting, or should / remain
late in Scotland?
All this was delightful | wasn't at all
certain that my cousin, the head of our fam
lily, would invite me down to the shooting;
in fact, generally passed my August, Sep
TENDER and October at the seaside-Trou-
vile, Scarborough, Dieppe, and Brighton.
Still, / was not going to confess that didn't
go the round of at least dozen good houses
in the visiting season. In fact, / rather gave
her to understand that did.
But she didn't seem impressed. Of course
not why should she?
Presently there is stir at the door and a
stately mental announces
Ellis Excellency Senior Don Emmanuel de
Todos Santos.''
Upon which all look as if the Sefor Don
were the very last person they cared to see,
instead of being the interesting and ntelli-
gent foreigner they had met to stare at.
Lady Dawlish steps toward the door, but
judge her disappointment. Instead of a pro-
cession of half dozen stalwart ard gigantic
Patagonians, rotund little parsonage clad
in dress coat, morning waistcoat, and trou-
sers, and carrying h,f dozen decorations
at his button holes, smiles and hobs to the
company at the door.
His native tongue is bastard Porting, Sc,
his French is unintelligible, of English he
does not know word in short, the Patago-
mans, not being able to agree on an Ambas-
sador to st. James, had hired a foreigner
and sent him to London with a Patagonian
retinue.
Senior Don Emmanuel looked remarkably
like thief, and very probably was one. APP
pearances were decidedly against him; and
his intellectual endowments, owing possibly
to inability on his part to illustrate them,
were hard to find
In point OF fact he was social failure:
and as British investors did not seize with
alacrlty the chances OF immediate and per-
manent proht which he offered them through
a State loan, Don Emmanuel was regarded
by his stalwart employers as financial fail
ure likewise But at the time / describe the
Patagonians had not found him out.
So as the ''object' proved less interesting
even than the outsider, and as the visitors
were more or less tired of each other-the
season had been long and eventful-Lady
Dawlish's drawing-room in the course of
half an hour was nearly empty. drank an
other cup OF tea, shot down my shirt cuffs
and prepared to depart.
Don't so, Mr.. KiIljoy, unless you have an
appointment said Lady Dawlish, guessing