Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-01-18

Il
gave me his arm and he would take me
there. As we walked along | heard a
great many people whispering together,
There she is, on Lord Snappington's
arm" was dying to know what it all
meant and | would have asked Lord
Snappingt n then and there, only that
Matilda's last words had been, mind
you ask no questions. Just take every
thing as il comes" Still think ! would
have said something, but just then we
got into the boudoir, and there was the
same lady 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 gentle.
men with her, and she was talking TO a
parsonage whom recognized at once and
my knees knocked togather with fright.
Oh here is Mrs. Redcar!" cried the
Duchess: "now we have her we shall be
all right
The certain person put a glass in his
eye and looked at me.
Fond of swinging. Mrs. Redcar
much in the manner Charley would have
said it, and zen syone began to l.ugb.
| laughed, too, although | had no idea
why.
"Do you swing much the Parsonage
went on, still surveying me through the
glass earnestly.
hadn't swung since was child,an
| thought it very odd question, but be-
fore had time TO answer, the Duchess
struck in.
Ny swinging party comes off on the
20th. and have given directions to have
rose colored swing put up for Mrs. Red
car"
There was general chorus of approba-
ton, and really began to thing | had
20, among set of lunatics. Just then
some music began in the next room, and
there was move towards II.
The certain person fingered moment.
Duchess | shall certainly come to
your swinging party on the 10th for the
pleasure of seeing Mrs. Redcar, in the
rose colored swing" He smiled pleasant
" a, me as he spoke, did this Great Man,
and strolled lazily out of the boudoir.
When he was gone every one crowded
round me. I'm sure made twenty ac-
ouain,ances and had twenty invitations
in as many minutes.
All the rest of the evening was one
whirl of pleasure Charley enjoyed 1t
quite as much as | did, and we both
agreed that, after all, good company was
nicer than, and quite as cheap as any
other.
In the middle Of the night Charley
awoke me By another loud fit of laughter.
II ca1't help it. Beauty" he said. "but
can't get over gcdfathers wife when she
hears of our being on easy terms with the
best in the land.
It was most surprising. There was
certainly no doubt on that point.
The next morning we had just eaten
breakfast when to our surprise, Charley S
godfather's wife drove up. Matilda had
Just time to give word of caution when
she come in, all laces and ribbons, ban
giles and chains-so unlike the Duchess.
She made straight at me. my dear,
she said, and kissed me on both cheeks; ;
.how sly Of you" and then she kissed
me again.
Just then there came another knock
at the door. and one OF Charleys uncles
a very great manufacturer, with works
a, the Feat End was announced. He
was good man, and | liked him, but
his face was extra long this morning.
He took Charley and me aside:
is this true:" he said, and he thrust a
copy of the Whitehall Revie,o into my
hand pointing TO this paragraph:
Il am glad to tell my readers that the
charming original of NJ. Henri Masse' 5
famous picture Of Love in a Swing Is
among us. She is not French woman,
but English born and bred--Mrs. Red
car, wife of Captain Charles Redcar, late
Of the 10th Regiment, and we may well
be proud of our lovely country-woman.
This puts an end to the countless stories
which have been floating about since the
picture appeared. Its to the Duchess OF
Cranberry IN. Masses old friend) that
we owe this addition to the ranks OF
Beauties. Mrs. Redcar appears under
the Duchess wing She made her debut
at the Cranberry House soiree last night,
and was hugely admired"
So much for the truth Of report. AT
ter all, then, there was no harm in it,and
although at first didn't like sailing un-
der false colors, still Matilda persuaded
me it would be foolish to make fuss;
had only to hold my tongue and let the
fashionable world and the fashionable
newspapers tell as many lies as they
pleased. did so, became the fashion.
After the Duchess's swinging party on
the Goth of June, 1879, my position was
assured. No one can be more fashion
able than / am. Under Matilda's di
rections am trying hard to push Charlie
on. If succeed l will tell you all about
it, Whitehall Reriew.