The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-23

time. Lottie had resolved that sh
would spend the period of her husbands
absence in discharging long roll o
unpaid visits and renewing acquaint
anceships with old friends whom slit
had allowed to drop out of sight, ant
almost cut of memory, during thetwen
ty-fOur happy honeymOOns with which
she had inaugurated her welded life
The result of all this visiting, which
was undertaken at first as an irksomt
task, was that Lottie was soon favored
with anumber ofinvitatiOns to dinners
and parties. Charley, to whom she
wrote every day, advised her to accept
these, for he was anxious that she
should not be dull while he was away
Then, when he had been gone three
weeks, Lottie wrote to say that she
had been invited to take part in some
private theatricals. AT the end of her
letter she said:
what am 1 to do, Charley, dear? 1t
is Lady Styrre, mammals friend, who
has invited me. She is going to give
performance at her house in support
of some charity, and l am afraid it
would look ungracious to refuse,
though / do not like acting in public.
1 am sure l shall be SO nervous
But Despard, who was now in the
very thick of the electoral fray, with
kilograms pouring into his office at
every moment, dashed off few lines
to tell his wife that she ought not by
any means to miss an opportunity of
obliging Lady Styrre. So LOttie per-
formed at the theat icals, and acheiv-
ed a remarkable success. The perform
ance was not enacted at Lady Styrre's
house, as had been first arranged, but
at one of the theatres, which had been
chartered for one night. So many ap-
plicants for seats had. however, failed
to get admission, that it was resolved to
repeat the performance two days later;
and thus Lottie appeared before crowd
ed metropolitan audiences two nights
within the same week. And she was
applauded to the echo, not so much as
an actress as beauty.
So long as a woman lives quietly at
home her beauty may be acknowledged
by her friends, but it cannot be talked
of as marvel, for it lacks that renOwn
which gives conservation to human
gifts, whether they be of mind or of
person. The case is different when a
woman shows herself upon stage, for
then she appears to seek a public ver-
dict, and must abide by the consequent
ces. Lottie became dubbed 'the beau
tifIl Mrs. Despard.' 1t cannot be said
that the title displeased her. The ad-
miration which was lavished upon her,
though novel and somewhat disquiet-
ing in its sudden intensity, brought
with it sense of excitement and per-
sonal triumph to which no woman of
flesh and blood could be indifferent.
Lottie had been complimented in pub
lie by royal prince, and from that
moment all kinds of people in high so
ciety asked to be introduced to her, and
sent her cards to social festivities,
She received presents likewise-a great
many boquets, and handsome bracelet
from the stewards of the charity for
which she had performed. AS matt er
of course too, her services were solicit
ed for other charitable objects. Would
she sing at concert? Would she join
the Charade Club? Would she take a
stall at the forthcoming fancy fair in
aid of the Shoeblacks' Clothing Fund ?
Lottie wrote amusing letters to her
husband to relate her triumphs. He
had been absent more than a month
then, and she daily expected him home.
Unfortunately his absence in the
north was prolonged by series of un-
expected events. The election was
over, and the candidate belonging to
Despard's party had won the seat; but
now a new ministry, was formed, and
the member for b., having accepted
Office, vacated his seat before he had
formally taken possession of it. Con-
trary to all expectations, the reverse
party resolved to oppose his reelection,
and Despard, who had conducted the
first campaign in way to earn the
heartiest thanks from his employers.
was requested to remain few weeks
over the time to manage the second.
He could not have well refused, even
had not such satisfactory pecuniary
terms been appended to the request.
AS it was, he contrived to run up TO
town for three days to see his wife,
and then started back for his post, re-
freshed by this short holiday, and feel
ing game for any amount of work that
promised good pay and praise.
Before he went, Lottie had asked
that she might go with him. Il do not
like your being away so long, Charley,
she said, with tears i'm her eyes; it
feels as If our happy little home were
broken up
you couldn't go with me, DEAR
answered Despard. trying to banter
away her melancholy. 'B. is a regu-
lar hole, and you would find nothing
to do there. am at work almost all
day, and sometimes a greater part of
the night, at the office. AS for our
home being broken up. child, why
think of the lots of money | am max
ing, and how many pleasant things we
shall be able to afford when / return.
Il liked our old style of living best
answered Lottie, with little sigh. Il
have so many new friends now, and
they are forever wanting to take
me away from home. ! don't care
about going to parties without you
well, shall only be away for fort
night this time, affirmed Despard,
as he kissed her. After that there
shall be no more gadding about, except
you go with mech, little womanY
She smiled at him as he went off, and
doubted not that he would return in
two weeks. But these two weeks