Litchfield enquirer., 1881-09-22
7 THE lE13[El MARaU1s'si j. RING.
7ooaCHAPTER l.

sis9hl Is7o2@CHAPTER l" 2"
 Enormously rich, and looking out for wife," Those, are the very words the Deansi wife used ln speaking of the Marquis j. it was at dinner given at the Deanery, and we found him extremely pleasant. After that it was only natural that he should call on moth- CT, and we should make up a party to intro duce him to the people of Weston.
 Weston is where mother and l have lived these many years, ever since Lefty was mar ried. It isl very pretty, sociable place; little monotonous, perhaps, but 1t is we'll sult- ed to people who haven't much money and who like society. and there is good deal of that one way and another. 4"
 The great drawback to Weston is that it is quite close to large manufacturing town, and the wives and daughters of the manufac- turers are always trying to push themselves into our set, therefore we have to be very par ticular; at least we aoere;; of late, indeed, things have altered. ..
 We, who live on the Royal Crescent, are looked upon as quite the aristocracy of the place not but that there are some good fam lilies in the lower town, but they are not visit ed by the Poddletons of PoddletOn Hall or the Deanery people. Indeed it has been re- marked that for once the Dean's carriage is seen in the low town, ten would be nearer the mark on the Hill. As for the Poddletons, Lady Augusta only calls "once year" on the Crescent, then sends cards round with the gov erness. .
 During the season there is good deal of entertaining going on. On the Crescent we have, of course, the best company and the most elegant klDd of parties-tea, music, cards, and light refreshments. We think suppers vulgar and only fit for the 'traders." am sorry to say we are not so select as we ka6 uJll known ten years ago but this is all since Mrs. Colonel Blacker came among us. She is regular democrat, and only wants to marry her seven daughters by hook or crook, and doesn't care if it is sweep, so long as he has money enough. She has set the fashion of dances and suppers, but I am glad to say she has it all to herself, for in general our reunions are quite quiet and very exclusive. l only wish we could exclude the Blacker girls, but of course we can't, as they have the middle house, and the largest one too, and have been on the Crescent since the Colonel went on ''half" more than ten years ago. It is very annoying having such regular out-and-out mannuverer as Mrs. Blacker in the midst of, us. ''She swoops down." as Lady Tumble towers says, Ion man as an eagle does on bird, and never gives any girl but her own chance of picking him." !. e
 1 may say here that am not girl, so to speak. dare say Mrs. Blacker would, and does, call me an old maid. but that's one of her nasty il-natured speeches. won't say how old I am. l don't think it matters. Every one agrees now age is nothing; it is looks and feeling that tell Not that would make fool of myself by marrying a young inan-certainiy net. -5.-.s
 Now, the Marquis de rArrlere was not young he was decidedly middle-aged. Sophy Blacker said, in her pert, impudent way, that he was dyed and made up, but he looked to me fresh, well looking man. I don't mind looks, provided a man is intelligent and well educated and the Marquis was both. and perfect gentleman. always said that, and 1 always will say it.
 There was good deal of excitement when it was known on the Crescent that we expected the Marquis at our Friday" l had wished to keep it private, but mother unfortunately let It out to Lady Tumbletowers. and then it was public property at once. In fact it made quite little stir in the place; for Miss Withers told me, when called in to hurry home my lace nchu and mothers new cap, that she thought it must be one of the Deanery nights, so many orders had come in quite suddenly.ah
 Every one came very early, Inconveniently so, indeed for had not quite fnlsheddecant- ing the wine with Jordans man. We have kept DO regular butler since Letty's marriage,
 
 with the maids waiting but this time we felt it only right to have his head waiter from the Jordan Arms. A very respectable man he is, and gives no trouble by getting drunk or steal: ing spoons, as the more fashionable ones do.
 The rooms soon got very full. The only people who did not appear were the Hackers, which surprised me very much, and began to hope they were not coming.
 There was an air of expectation over us all, ard we had to answer great many questions, for no one else had seen the Marquis, al though good deal of gossip had been collect ed about him by the gentlemen at their, club, and it seemed very generally understood that he was very rich and looking out for wife. When Colonel JoDes said this. little Miss Jones squeezed my fingers, and felt my face get hot; but all the sameI was glad my new fichu had come home, and was not ill-pleas- ed that we were to introduce the novelty
 Just then Jordan threw open the door and announced- AF
 "Tbe Quis de PAr."
 Which was his rendering of the Marquis de rArriere. It was very provoking and I was but he didn't seem to mind it in the least Certainly foreigners have charming man. ners. '. ..te
 He was quite at home in a few minutes with us all, and laughing and talking as if we had known him hundred years. Of course every one wanted to be introduced and it was quite funny to hear the attempts some people made at speaking French. He seemed to under stand me the best: but I, of course, knew that he had an empresse manner; 1 am sure, how ever, Lady Tumbletowers and Miss Jones drew their own conclusions. By and by I got him to the piano, and then he had suc- cess.
 Whatever might be said of anything else, there was no doubt his playing was something beautiful, divine, angelic. l could have lis- tened to him forever; ana to sit near him quietly drinking it in was to me enchanting, even after Ikuew his playing was not for me but for another. ST [lgj- 1s aiYa@3 FI
 remember quite we'll he was in the middle of Chopins 'Impromptu, wien rustling of silks was heard outside, and the Blackers came in noisiy, as they, always do-Mrs. Blacker talking in her high military voice. and Sopbv ana Bessie giggling. 1 heard Mrs. Blacker say to my mother. "We have come in force tonight, but thought you would be hurt if I didn't bring her." and then saw Lady Dal- rymple.I sG ea
 She was the eldest and only married daugh- ter, the widow of a Scotch Barenet, an old man who had been caught somewhere abroad and who had only lived two years after the uioii iioso'.A Ancio wefo eomo ugiy storleS floating of will made at his deathlbed, and of money and jewels diverted from the right. ful heir; but there was no public escldndre, and Lady Dalrymple5 was we'll received ID London, where she principally lived. T. Ii 2 { don't think her money eff she had it( was rofmuch use to her family Sometimes she had one of thegirls to stay with her, and she came down to the Crescent for a little while after the season; but she was evidently try ing her chances again, and with very probable success. She was handsome woman, or rather girl of the slender, willowy type her head we'll set, and with cold, clear-cut face and fair complexion-a woman not much troubled with the finer feelings, but calm, self possessed, and always, mistress of herself. She was looking particularly we'll Thought, With certain air of distinction which singled her out from the other women. and that un-