Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-04-09

CHAPTER 1.-THE QUESTION OF MARRIAGE.
As Stella answered Lady Loiing she
was smartly tapped on the shoulder by
an eager guest with fan.
The guest was very little woman,
with twinkl ng eyes and perpetual
smile. Nature, CORE cted by powder
and paint, was literally displayed in
her arms, her bosom, and the upper
part tf her back. Such clothes as she
wore, defective perhaps in quantity,
were in quality absolutely perfect. Mo
adorable color, shape and workmanship
never appeared, even in a milliner's
picture book. Her light hair was
dressed with fringe and ringlets, on
the pattern which the portraits of the
time of Charles the Second have made
familiar to us. There was nothing ex.
actly young or exactly old about her,
except her voice, which betrayed faint
hoarseness, attributable, possibly, to
exhaustion, produced by untold years
of incessant talking. 1t might be added
that she was as active as q squirrel, and
as playful as kitten. But the lady
must be treated with certain forbear-
ance of tone, for this good reason-she
was Stella's mother.
Stella turned quickly at the tap of the
fan. Mammal" she exclaimed, show
you startle me!'
"My dear child" said Mrs. Eyre.
court, "you are constitutionally indo'
lent, and you want startling. Go into
the next room directly; Mr.. Romayne is
looking for you "
Stella drew back step and eyed hei
mother in blank surprise. "Is itpossi.
BILE that you know him?" she asked.
"Mr. Romayne doesn't go into soci.
ETY.. or we should have met long since, "
Mrs. Eyrecourt replied. He is strik'
ing person, and noticed him when he
shook hands with you. That was quite
enough for me. l have just introduced
myself to him as your mother. He was
q little stately and stiff, but most
charming when he knew who was.
volunteered to find you. He was quite
astonished. 1 think he took me foi
your elder sister. Not the least like
each other-are we Lady Loring? She
takes after her poor, dear father. He
was constitutionally indolent. My
sweet child, rouse yourself. You have
drawn prize in the great lottery al
last. If ever man was in love Mr.
Romayne is that man. am physiog-
nomist, Lady Loring, and see the pas
sions in the face. Oh, Stella, what o
property. Vange Abbey. I once drove
that way Wien I was visiting in the
neighbolhood. Superb. And another
fortune (eight thousand year and q
villa at Highgate) since the death of
his aunt. And my daughter may be
mistress oil this, if she only plays he1
cards properly. What compensation,
after all that we suffered through that
monster. Winterfeld!"
"NTamma! Pray don't"
"Stella / will not be interrupted
when am speaking to you for your
own good. 1 don't know more pro-
voking person, Lady Loring, than my
daugbter-on certain occasions. And
yet love her. would go through fire
and water for my beautiful child.
Only last week I was at wedding, and
/ thought of Stella. The church cram
med to the doors. A hundred at the
wedding breakfast. The bride $ lace
there no language can describe it.
Ten bridemaids in blue and silver.
Reminded me of the ten virgins. Only
the proportion of foolish ones, this time,
was certainly more than five. However,
they looked we'll. The archbishop
proposed the health of the bride and
bridegroom. So sweetly pathetic,
Some of us cried. 1 thought of my
daughter. Oh, if I could live to see
Stella the central attraction, so t.
speak, of such wedding as that
Only would have twelve bridemaids
at least, and beat the blue and silver
with green and gold. Trying to the
complexion, you will say. But there
ore artificial improvements. AT least
am told so. What house this woult
be-a broad hint, isn't it, dear Lady
Loring ?-what house for wedding
with the drawing-room to assemble il
and the picture-gallery for the break
fast. I know the archbishop. Ny
darling, he shall marry you. Why
don't you go into the next room? All
that constitutional Incidence. If you
only had my energy, as I used to say tc
your poor father. viii you go? Yes
dear Lady Loring, / should like glass
Of champagne and another OF those de