American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-11-06

made up our k1inds that it was mis-
take of some kind. We went CAREFUL,
through the catalogue, but there wa
nothing there. Charley proposed run
ming into Mrs. Smthers ut No. 10 (sht
sets up to be artistic) but Matilda sale
no-not on any account-the thing was
to keep our own counsel. Matilda wa
all for our going to the Duchess. She
said it didn't matter, mistake or no mis-
take. She had asked me to her house
IN my own proper person and under
my own proper name. and there was nC
imposition or forcing myself in on my
side. Charley said the same, and added
that at all events it would be fun-sC
we went. Charley burst out laughing
in the carriage he said his god
fathers wife would get 4 fit when
she heard that we had been to
Cranberry House. But l think he got
nervous when we were actually inside.
know felt ready to sink into the earth
when we walked up the grand staircase
through lines of powdered fOotmen. II
seemed to me so utterly absurd. The
first person | saw was Lord Swapping
ton near the door. He seemed like an
old friend; and presently Colonel Beau
lieu joined us. He seemed to know
Charley very well. although Charley
says they haven't done more than nod
these ten years; but he was very friendly,
and asked us to drive down on his coach
to the Orleans next day. l was very
pleased, for Charley had been wishing
to go and-so had l.
After time little Winton came up in
a great fuss. and said the Duchess was
asking for me, and that l was to go into
the boudoir. l didn't, of course, know
where that was, but Lord Snappington
gave me his arm and said he would take
me there. As we walked along, l heard
a great many people whispering to-
gether: ''There she is, on Lord Snap
pington's arm" Twas dying to know
what it all meant, and l would have
asked Lord Snappington then and there,
only that Matilda's last words had been:
Mind you ask no questions. Just take
everything as it comes" Still l think
1 would have said something, but just
then we got into the boudoir. and there
was the same lady 1 had seen in the
morning, only looking much grander,
and with the most lovely diamonds on
her head. She had about twenty other
ladies and gentlemen with her. and she
was talking to Parsonage whom 1
recognized at once, and my knees
knocked together with fright.
"Oh! here is Mrs. Redcarr' cried the
Duchess; ''now we have her we shall be
all right
That certain Person put glass in his
eye and looked at me:
Fond of swinging, Mrs. Redcar?"
much in the manner Charley would have
said it. And then every one began to
laugh. l laughed, too, although 1 had
no idea why.
"Do you swing much?" the Parsonage
went on. still surveying me through the
glass, earnestly.
hadn't swung since l was child,
and l thought it a very odd question;
but, before 1 had time to answer, the
Duchess struck in.
my swinging party comes off on the
10th, and I have given directions to
have a rose-colored swing put up for
Mrs. Redcar.''
There was general chorus of appro-
baton, and really began to think |
had got among set of lunatics. Just
then some music began in the next
room, and there was a move toward
it. The certain Person fingered q mo-
ment:
duchess! 1 shall certainly come to
your swinging party ON the goth for the
pleasure of seeing Mrs. Redcar in the
swing" He smiled pleas
antly at me as he spoke. did this Great
Man. and strolled lazily out OF the
boudOir.
When he was gone every one crowd
ed round me. I'm sure l made twenty
and had twenty invita-
items in as many minutes.
All the rest of the evening was one
whirl of pleasure. Charley enjoyed it
quite as much as l did, and we both
agreed that after all good company is
nicer than and quite as cheap as, any
other.
In the middle of the night Charley
invoke me by another loud fit of laugh
er. Il can't help it, Beauty he said,
"a but l can't get over godfather's wife
when she hears of our being on easy
,erms with the best in the land"
1t was most surprising. There was
no doubt on that point.
The next morning we had just done
when. to our surprise. Char
ey's godfather wife drove up. Matilda
lad just time to give us word of eau
ion when she came in, all laces and
-ibbons, bangles and chains-so unlike
,uC buChCoo. OAC stl t1lCs
. My DEAR" she said, and kissed me on
10Th cheeks; chow sly of you;'' and
hen she kissed me again
just then there came another knock
It the door, and one of Charley's uncles
a very great manufacturer. with works
It the East End) was announced. He
vas a good man, and l liked him, but
lis face was extra long this morning.
Ia fnol- Cha ,.lau and mo aSiIa-
lis this truep" he said. and he thrust
copy OF the Whitehall ReUieU into my
land, pointing to this paragraph:
Il am glad to tell my readers that |
he charming original of Monsieur
Ienri Masses famous picture of Glove
n Swing" is among us. She is not |
but English born and |
'red-Mrs. Redcar, wife of Captain |
Redcar. late of the Tenth Regi- |
nent; and we may well be proud OF
ur lovely countrywoman. This puts
n end to the countless stories which
ave been floating about since the pict-
re appeared. 1t is to the Duchess OF
(Monsieur Masses old
riend) that we owe this addition to tho
anks of the Beauties. Mrs. Redcar APP
ears under the Duchess wing. She
nade her debut at the Cranberry House
oiree last night, and was hugely adj
hired"
So much for the truth of report.
After all, then, there was no harm in
!, and although at first l didn't like
ailing under false colors, still Matilda
ersuaded me it would be foolish to
lake fuss; had only to hold my
ongue and let the fashionable world
nd the fashionable newspapers tell as
,any les as they pleased. did SO. L