Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-26
THE BALL SCANDAL.


When our lord lieutenant, old SIR Thomas |
died, ! certainly did think the |
government would like to have the oppOrtu- |
nifty Of paying me the compliment OF APP |
pointing me his successor Indeed, my social !
position in the country almost gave It to me .
as right. They ignored me, however, and /
appointed nv friend and neighbor, Lord .
Forton.
Now, ! have not a single word to say
against Lord Forton, and TO show that there
was no ill-feeling l cheerfully allowed myself
to be made his deputy. He is a good fellow
in fact, | may say a very good fellow; but
do all he can, he can't get his people further
back than the frst George. Somewhere
about this time there was Dawlish his
family name who managed TO make huge
fortune out OF the notorious James Law
-peculations in France. | believe 1t was
further supplemented during the South sea
bubble. He certainly assisted the Regent
Louis in France, and, report says, George
also, in England. At all events he was
raised to the peerage as Lord Forton, taking
his title from his HEREFORD estates. l have
known the present mar all my life. He IL
about ten years my junior, sowed great
number OF wild oats, which considerably
Impoverished his rent-roll, Is q careless,
brave little man, and when young notO-
rious for many absurd escapsdes. His
declarations and formal propositions OF
marriage WOulu MI NOluHS. Cu one &C
casion he proposed to a belle at the county
ball, and wrote the next morning to a apollo
giz. for his ruden-ss. For this he was
called out By the brother, and sitter two
Intellectual shots proposed they should pIac-
tice at a target for ten minutes aud begin
again. Then wishing 10 be impressive with
the daughter OF very aristccratlc house, he
took her to the family mausoleum, and asked
her if she would allow her bones 10 repose
HE l. rnzrrind tho
woman at last. He had made up his nina
to propose TO the second daughter OF Lady
Bowmaster, and went fast asleep while cogI-
tatIng on the form Of his proposal. When
be awoke in the twilight she was, a he
thought, still by his side, upon which he
dropped on one knee, and sand what he had
to saw a. tenderiy possible. 1he voice,
| however, that answered, st shall be as you
WISH Lord Forton,' was that Of the elder
| sister, who had by chance come in during
| his nap. Forton married her, and she has
| made him an excellent wife. To nature so
naturally careless as his she must have proved
| invaluable. She is very agreeable, and
| knows by instinct the exact amount OF con-
siderstion to be given to such person. He
! may be the lord lieutenant, but it Is she
who rules the county with an iron hand,
though you only see the kid glove. She has
| frequent sources of worry either with Mrs.
Randall Rawson, who oppose her sway in
the county, or with her husbands young
| brother and sister.
The Hon. Percy Dawlish commonly known
| as Dawiey) il twenty wears Younger than
Forton, and mad little scapegrace as
ever entered the British army. He is always
in some shocking scrape, always impecuni-
, Gus and always bothering his brother for
help. Her ladyship is forever hnanciering,
arranging or taxing her energies in some way
on his account. Then there was younger
| sister, Emilia (about Dawley's age) with
| whom she was always pickering, and who in
consequence Of sustained disagreement was
living with the dowager lady Bowmaster.
| A few weeks before the ball at Stonnor Hall
| Lady Forton was greatly perturbed, for not
only had Dawley done some dreadful thing
that entailed the sale of his commission, but
| she had received a letter from the dowager
aunt Bowmaster, which quite alarmed her
| Eorton told me that when she came into his
smoking-rsom with papers in her hand, and
closed the door carefully, he lit fresh cigar
| and prepared for the worst. He knew he
was in for bad half hour. On this occasion
she was unusually excited.
"This is a wretched business, Fortop," she
began. "What do you mean to do?"
Haven't the slightest idea, unless we cut
down the trees and 60 to Boulogne.'
Don't he absurd The money must be
paid Somehow, and then what is be TO do?'
perhaps you'll tell me. Why, there isn't
a single respectable calling he is fitted fUr
He has a remarkable genius for iniquity
but where else his talents lie | know not
The first question il, What has he let me il
for"
"These bills appear to be drawn in con
junction with Captain Benson, OF his regi
ment. You remember him? Benson ha
had none of the money, but is in some wa,
or other responsible for $4,000 He has paiC
$1,000 Then, Dawley's other debts ar
terri6cw
"Well he must make a clean breast Of il
We had better see him and hear the worst.
81 won't have him here. Why, he woul'
upset the household"
81 don't believe he would stop here, if yol
asked him, for any length of time. Writ
up to Lincoln's Inn Fields, and get Lawson
down to meet him for a day or two. He ma.
invent plan to get him out OF the cOuntr,
| with a clear stage"
| Now about Emilia"
"What about herr"
Something most unpleasant. Lady Bow
master writes that she is starting for Cannes
and that Emilia refuses to go with her. Sh
! also says that Emilia has been in close cor
respondence with Captain Benson, and tina
she believes they are engaged"
= "Whew, Why, she can't marry withou
my consent, and Pm not going to consent t
the marriage OF two mendfeants. She mus
come here, too"
: Exactly. But remember Forton, she
very quiet and very obstinate, exasperal
ingly so. Benson cannot have any money
: and she has given all she could of her owl
to Dawley. The engagement is nonsense
and must not be listened to-"
.. "Weli, you had better talk to her." sat
|, his lordship.
a! l may as we'll talk to your cigar. !
is for you to speak. You have authorit
over her"
81 can't sermonize," said her husband
at is out of my line. But let EN- bot
come, and see If We can't put thing
: straighter."
5 In due course brother AMI sister appeare
at Forton House. Dawley l had never see
in my life, but Emilia L remembered
little girl some-well, good many year
l ago. She was now grown into tall youn
2 woman, who carried herself with extrem
grace and dignity. Her face was not wha
is termed beautiful, but had regular, classica
features. Her chief charm was her cal
riage. She stepped like an empress, and ha
that understandable thorough bred air whic
; to me is more captivating than pretty face
As to Dawley, he was a dissipated
looking little fellow with light hair an
, mustache. He wore an eye glass, an
| drawled out the latest London scandal wit
irresistible humor. Rather bad some {
them, but it was impossible TO angry wit
this wicked little gentleman, for at the en-
of each story he would put his eye-glass t
} his eye and say, with the most comical draw
"'Pon my sawl, it is the best thing l eve
2 heard in the whole course of my lifew
With Mr.. Lawson's aid the Fortons e
: him clear OF his present embarrassment
without any expose. With Emilia the
we're not quite so successful. Lady Forto
: had high words with her, and Forton re
! minded her she could not marry without hi
H. 1x, ali doll
wouldn't bulge an inch or promise anythin!
After time Forton left it all to his wife, :
the two ladies were soon at dagger5 draw
At last Lady Forton confded her trouble
: to me.
"What pity" she said, "to see such
noble creature throwing herself away
, Could you not, MIR. Stonnor, as an ol
friend, speak to her quietly"
"a very delicate task" l answered. "BJ
your ladyship must remember that ny az
quaintance with Miss Forton is quite n
1 cent"
"Oh, you have known her since she was
child. But come oftener, Mr.. Stonnor, CON
and help u.s. She is really destined for
higher sphere than TO be the wife Of poe
? captain"
I She was quite right. Emilia was fitted IL
higher sphere. She was the sort OF perso
+ who had presence enough TO grace the hou:
4 OF any country gentleman.
: l don't think Lady Forton could have col
: fided The task to better hands than mine.
: required much patience and delicate tao
: but by degrees Emilia gave Inc her conf
] deuce, and ultimately told me all about b,
Z engagement with Captain Benson. induce
= her to allow me to teach her billiards, so OF
conversations were generally uudisturbed
\ / the neglected room.
' Il would not tell you one word, Mr.. StoI
: nor0 she said, during one OF our games, "di
: | not feel sure you would keep my secrets
/ Pray be sure" / replied, "that whatey'
I you say to me will be held sacred"
| II do believe it. You are man of to
much refined feeling and good breeding TO &
anything underhand. l feel can trust you
I ''.Stonnor It Honor" l said. bowling.
2 fLady Forton can think of nothing bl
:. money. As if money was everything
suppose you believe there are such things
| love and affection. Mr.. Stonnor?"
"Assuredly, most assuredly, l reptile
| warmly