The Dickinson press., 1883-11-17
MISS LIRRIpIP'S LOVERS.
From Chambers Magazine.

pectations. Pretty faces are common
enough, even in these days of agricul-
tural depression and stagnant trade;
but a girl with five thousand a year is a
variety, and a girl with five thousand a
year and a pretty face into the bargain
is a positive phenomenon, and. as such
cannot fail to be greatly admired by a
number of more Of less eligible young
men with a taste for beauty of the more
substantial kind. Even mi ldle-agei
bachelors awoke from their habitual in.
difference when, on being introduced to
q lovely damsel of .two-and-twenty they
are conscious that the possessor of a
considerable fortune stands before them:
for, although money is the root of all
evil, it is a root which most people very
willingly undertake the risk of c%ultiva-
ton.
Since Lydia Lirripip was to us beauti
full and thus rich, it is not surprising that
she had not only admirers-mea who
dared to wish uncertain things-but low
ers, too; men who had the presumption
to hope. 1t is true that Lydia encour-
aged none of them, for she was quite
satisfied to live at home with her father,
General Lirripip, in Bruton street,
Grosvenor square, and to ride in Rotton
Row in the morning and to drive in the
park in the afternoon. But, fortunately,
young men do not require encourage
enlargement they receive the greater
their persistency becomes. And, con-
sidering that ea'thily-constituted Young
women seldom, if ever, give any encour-
ragement to young men, the persistency
of these latter in the face of alarming
difficulties is a matter on which all of us
may heartily congratulate ourselves. In
deed, but for the persistency who knows
whether the world would go round2
1t was in the height OF the London
season, and Lydia Lirripip went with
her father IA evening to a great ball
atthe Countess Of Carnaby's. Every
body was there-everybody, that is of
rank and fashion-and ere she had been
in the brightly-lighted rooms for five
minutes Lydia was engaged for all the
dances on the programme. Now, to the
most of her partners she was only en-
gagged for q single valse ora a polka, but,
for old acquaintance sake, or for some
other reason, she allowed three gentle
men to take two dances each. 1t was no
doubt very indiscreet Of her to do SO.
But, in one case, at least, it was also
very good-natured of her, for she per-
mitted old Sir Pertinax Popinjay,-who
as everyone knew, was far too stiff and'
equity to move about properly-to put
down his name for the only two sets of
lancers: 81 + PertinaX was effusiyely
grateful and smiled his sweetest upon
her when he returned her programme.
kindness felt thoroughly rewarded by
seeing that she was giving pleasure to
the gray-haired baronet, who, thirty
years before, had been a noted dandy,
but who now struck her as beingsimply a
prosy old fellow, whom very few girls
would be likely to dance with. LyGia's
other favored partners were Mr.. Horace
Freake-a young artist who had that
year for the first time exhibited at the
Royal Academy-and Nj. Merton MUIR
ley, a man who had TIC profession and
no occupation, and who, if he had a pri-
vate income, derived it from a source
not generally known even to his friends.
In This world many strange coinciden-
ces happen. Two chemists have been
known to make exactly the same dis
covery on the same day; and two as
tronomers have claimed to catch sight
ofa new comet AT almost the am mo-
ment. 1t is not, therefore, incredible
that, while dancing these six dances
with her three favored partners, Lydia
casually mentioned to each of them that.
upon the following evening, her father
was going to take the chair at the nnu
al meeting of the Society for the En-
couragement of Coldwater Bathing on
the Continent; that she was not going,
but would be alone at home; that she
wished the girls we're able, like men, to
her partners their clubs, their theaters,
and their sociable smoking concerts
Nor is il incredible that, having heard
this, Sir Pertinax Popinjay Mr.
Horace Freake, and Mr.. Merton Murley
all made up their minds to call on Miss
Lirripip' upon the following evening,
and to make to her certain avowals,
which, although they had long medita-
ted them, they now felt impelled to
make as soon as possible, and without
any unnecessary delay. What these
avowals were may be G essed; but why
the three gentlemen all determined al
the same time to make them is a cues.
zion that cannot be explained, although
the fact that Lydia that evening looked
ever prettier than usual may possibly
have been one of the causes of the ex-
traordinary coincidence.
Lydia little dreamed, when in thu
morning she dropped off to sleep, of
what was hanging over her. Sir Pertin-
AK bad made ne sign; Mr.. Murley mad
not been more attentive than had for
somet time been his wont; and Mr.. Freake
had been actually dull and unin-
teresting than Miss Lilripip had ever
seen him. She therefore slept soundly,
and was undisturbed by fears of the
coming evening and its visitors.
The following day was wet. The
General, who had for many years lived
in India, and had a liver which caused
him to be somew has lrascible, shut him
self up in the library, and savagely
ing; and Lydia, who could not go out,
painted in her boudoir. The Lirripips
: iined at half-past 5, to enable the Gen
eral to get to the meeting at half-past 4;
and as he had taken no exer Use during
the day, and had been quite unable to
master all the information he required
relative to the average of cleanliness up
on the Continent, Lydia's father was not
in the best of tempers. "Sit up for me-"
he said; 81 shall be in by half-past H."
These were his last words, as, the car
riage having been announced, he hur-
ried away from the table, stopping for
ali instant at Lydia's side to kiss her
hastily on the top of the head. And
Miss 1irrpip was left alone in solitary
grandeur, sitting st one end of the
dining-room. She did not stay there
long, but went to the drawing-room,
whittier she babe a servant bring two
candles, which but dimly lighted the
large apartment. Then, taking her seat
at Tho niano lydia honan To nla.. I'D