The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-11-04


about the best thing ut the pictures.
atthey seemed never to be coming.
For some time amused myself looking
at the people; they were a shifting mass
OF faces and dresses, and Twas greatly
diverted. BY and by l began, to OBJ
serve that the crowd when they came
to certain picture stood there, forming
q regular line, as they did for Miss
Thompson. 1t was awfully hot, and l
had taken off my veil aud pushed up
my hat, for my forehead was burning.
Suddenly l noticed that great many
people turned their backs upon the
picture, and looked at me, and then
faced round again,to the canvass wall.
In my character of Beauty l have been
all my life pretty well accustomed to
the sort of homage conveyed by what is
called g. hard staring" SO that it must
have been an undue amount of it which
attracted my attention.; but surely had
never seen any like this. Groups of
two, three, six at time would stand
before me, calmly surveying me, and, 1
could gather by their gestures, talking
of me-. But I didn't hear what they
said. became very anxious to see the
picture which attracted such attention,
but the block round it was too great.
The next best thing was to ask for in
formation. 1t was some time before l
could pitch upon a person who seemed
fitting for this purpose. At last a very
quiet-looking lady came near me. She
had q catalogue in her hand. l ad-
dressed her. MAY I ask you to tell
me the name of the picture at which
every one is looking2' She turned to
the book, but first glanced at me; then
hurried on, and L saw her a few min
utes afterward pointing me out to some
of her friends. felt extremely uncom=,
Portable. Hooked about anNiously for
Charley and Matilda, but there was no
sign of either. Then did a very fool
ish thing; L got up to 60 and look for
them, principally to escape from the
numberless eyes fixed upon me.
To my surprise the crowd made way
at once, and, as1 walked, followed mes
pressing very closely upenpe, bnt not
6seourteously. 1 could -heaf some Of
the remarks, which were of the most
Hattering description. Just then saw
in the distance brother officer of
Charley's, a certain Captain Winton,
He was hangerIont and toady Of the
great, and a most conceited, tiresome
little creature. / disliked him, although
I'm bound to say he never absolutely
cut US. stsss u: s.ui;
He now stopped to speak to me; of
COURSE he was politely indifferent rs 10
the loss OF my party. :
S"I would helpyou to look for Char
ley," he said; "but the fact is the
Duchess of Cranberry is here, and She s
quite on the q,i rice. Some one has
told her that the original of the picture
is actually in the room, and, of course,
il would be everything to secure herfor
the goth, and"
Here interrupted hnn rather radely.
but he is such bore. - -
81 WONDER" I said-but here 1 was
in my turn interrupted. Two gentle
men on one side, two on the. other.
tapped Captain Winton on each shoul-
der.
."win Sou kindly, introduce -meaY
And me?' said the other.
"And meP''
"And meP" 7s-,
Little Winton stared, but did as he
sLord snsppington-Mrs. Redcar,
Colonel FotheringhamI7Mrs. Redcar;
Sir John De Tabley-Mrs. Redcar;
Major Beaulieu-Mrs. Redcar. Beau
lieu, l, think you know Charley Redcar;
he was one Of ours?' < -
In right of this acquaintance, Majsr
Beaulieu walked on my right hand;
Lord Snappington fought hard to keep
his place on my left, but the crowd,
which persistently followed in my wake,
would, not let him. Hardly any con-
versation was possible. At the first
convenient pause, little Winton darted
forward:
.'My dear Mrs. Redcar, how sly you
have been! And Charley, too, never
must come at once to the Duchess; 1
have her positive orders" And, be-
fore I could take in what he meant, 1
was being introduced to a very large
lady, with lbigh nose and . most
charming manner. 3sts sg.ss
s.I am SO pleased to know you, Mrs.
Redcar," she said. 81 am. obliged to
hurry away; but you will come to me
on the goth, won't you? haven't time
to say half the pretty things 1 ought;
but really, without fiattery, it isn't
equal! There, now, I'll not say anoth-.
er word. stays oOuldyou come to me
this EVENING" Its,shockingly informal,
Out lOu uOu tlOOh Eur w nav.
lin answer to q whisper from little
Winton -''Of course, Captain Redcar,
by all means-that is. if he will give me
90 sorry Ny carriage, Captainl Win
ton, if YOU please. Good-by.'' And,
with q pretty smile and bow, she van
ished. ,,t.s-
1t was all SO sudden I felt quite
- ovA
said. Il don't know her, or what she
wants with me-"
THAT'S the Duchess of Cranberry.
She's great friend of Masses, and
her wonderful; party is to be on the
20th."
"But what does she want with meP'
I repeated.
They all smiled, and Winton, who
had just come back. said Capitaln'
He volunteered to go and look for
gentlemen to see about my carriage.
1.-The Duchess is delighted" he said,
s' and thanked me 30 much for the in
PRODUCTION, No wonder, it makes the
whole thing complete. Didn't I do well
about Charley? 1t wouldn't do at all
for him to be in the background. But,
listen, have a hint for your priv ate
ear, I shouldn't be at all surprised If
q certain Person is there this evening"
"Wherep" Jill
: "Ohi at the Duchess, of course.
I just give you the hint. Throw over
any engagement, do you hearp And
mind you bring Charley" And with a
grave face he went.
For minute or two felt inclined to
cry. "I had had no luncheon, and
this extraordinary adventure puzzled
me. I looked round at my escort of
four gentlemen. 81 should like to go
home" said, 1a-ar y-iE ..rtr-
Lord Snappington Immediately offered
me his arm. Major Beaulieu brought
my parasol-the other two ran for my
carriage. az haven't any, indeed" !
went on; 81 think you take me for some
one else"
A.