Morris tribune., 1882-10-26
AN AUTUMN MANICURE.
An English Story.

|
garded his attentions as quite serious.
For some time past he had been grow
ing uneasy at Mrs. Hambleton's highly
tlattering demeanor towards him.
When he renewed acquaintance with
the woman who had Tilted him many
years before, he had no thought of drift
ing into dangerous Irritation. The
truth was that the seven years which
had elapsed sence they parted had COM
pletely cured Frank Dunsmuir of his
boyish infatuation. Upon his return to
England with his regiment he had al
most forgotten Byzantine Maine, or
could hardly realize that the stock bro
ker's wife, whom he accidentally met at
garden party, was the divinity whose
| fickieness had cast gloom over his
youthful existence. Yet Mrs. Hamble-
ton still retained her beauty, though she
had lost the freshness of girlhood, and
young Dunsmuir could not resist paying
| her the attentions she assiduously court
ed. But he perceived she was foolish,
frivolous woman, weak and impulsive,
I
dened with intelligence.
Mrs. Hambleton seemed bent upon re-
gaining her ascendancy over her old
| lover. 1t may be that his handsome
face and figure inspired her with gem
uine admiration. She certainly used all
| her powers of facination to keep him by
| her side. and Dunsmuir yielded, partly
from gratifed vanity. But his regard
| for Mrs. Hambleton was of a very luke.
warm character, and consequently he
was not oblivious of the dictates of pru-
dence and propriety. When the Jealous
husband scowled at him, he felt honestl,
ashamed of himself, and Mrs. Hamble-
| toms foolish letter-written evidently after
| domestic scene-only fastened a re-
solve which he had long ago formed in
his mind to put an end to this equivocal
state of affairs.
Dunsmuir, therefore consigned the let.
| ter to the flames, and told his man to
| pack up his things Immediately. His
! first impulse was to write to Mrs. Ham
| bleton and formally break off their ac-
! Guaintance. From such an extreme
course, however, his chivarous feelings
not unnaturaliy revolted, while prudence
! suggested that it would be unwise to
! commit himself by sending sentiment
! tai farewell. Upon the whole, he
thought it best 70 take his departure
without attempting to offer any eNpla-
nation, and leave the lady 10 draw her
own conclusions. At the last moment,
however, a brother officer looked in at
his rooms, and mentioned incidentally
that he was going to callupon Mrs. Ham
bleton.
"By-the-by, I wish you would leave
card for me, old fellow, and tell Mrs.
Hambleton I've gone fishing in North
Wales" said Dunsmuir.
Every WE'LL" replied his friend; and
Dunsmuir started off on his expedition
without thingingany more of the matter
He took up his quarters at quiet inn in
the neighborhood of Snowdol, and de-
voted himself to the pursuit of his favor
lite pastime. Frank Dunsmuir was an
enthusiastic fisherman, and thought
nothing of sacrificing his nights rest to
the prospect of sport. He would camp
out in primitive fashion, regardless of
heavy dews or falling rains, in order to
be ready, rod in hand, at the scene of
action when the first streak of dawn APP
peared on the horizon. 1t was after one
of these occasions, when his zeal had
been rewarded by highly satisfactory
take of fish, that he was met on his re-
turn to the inn about nine o'clock in the
morning by the landlady, whose face
bore an om!nous expression.
"lf you please, sir, a lady have ar
rived" said the buxom hostess.
ga lady Did she ask for me, Mrs.
Roberts," exclaimed Dunsmuir, in
amazement.
Eyes, sir. She came by the night mail
from London, and arrived quite early
this morning. But she won't take bit
nor sup nor rest till she have seen YOU"
said the landlady, whose glance denoted
grave displeasure. "She is waiting in
the coffee room more dead than alive"
Dunsmuir entered the department in
Dictated, more puzzled and curious than
apprehensive and to his CONSERVATION,
found himself face to face with Mrs.
Hambleton. The poor lady looked dis
tressed and weary, and at the sight of
Dunsmuir's grave face broke out into
eager protestations.
"You wished me to come, Frank
Don't say you did not! 1 understood
your meaning when you sent message
by your friend to say where you Rad
gone. My husbands conduct has driven
me to this. Oh! | am so unhappy and
ashamed of myself"
"Confound Marshalw Dunsmuir ex-
claimed inwardly 81 did not tell him
to mention any address. Here is deuce
of a pi.klew
But before he had time for further re-
Elections his visitor gave way to violent
Mysteries, which rendered it necessary
to summon the landlady. 1t was some
time before Mrs. Hambletcn recovered
her senses, and she was then so ex.
hausted that Mrs. Roberts Indignation
gave wav to womanly sympathy Duns-
muir was much moved by the unfortu-
nate lady's distress, from which he right.
ly guessed that she had already repented
of the fatal step she had taken. That
she had b1indly followed rash and fool
lsh impulse in consequence of some dis
agreement with her husband was as ap-
parent as the feeling of shame and hui
initiation which evidently overwhelmed
her.
Dunsmuir assisted in removing Mrs.
Hambleton to the landlady's own room,
and then began to think seriously what
was to be done. To devise some means
of saving the foolish lady's reputation
was naturally his chiefanxiety, especially
as he felt in measure responsible for
what had occurred. His first idea was
to send her back to town on the next
train; but unfortunately, Mrs. Hamble-
ton was not in fit state to travel, and.
besides this expedient seemed some
what clumsy and unsatisfactory. After
further reflection, he resolved upon an
other course, which he impaired to the
landlady at the earliest opportunity.
Mrs. Roberts, there has been an un-
fortunate misunderstanding" he said.
The poor lady up stairs has evidently
had disagreement with her husband,
and came here expecting to find my mar
ried sister, who is an old schoolfeilow of
hers. lam agoing to telegraph for my sis