The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-11-04
Miss Lirripip's Lovers.


b" MS LiIIlplp a n PASNe1 AN~S "HN w
thousand a year, not to speak Of expecta-
tons Pretty faces are common enough,
even in these days of agricultural depres-
sion and stagnant trade; but a girl with five
thousand a year and a pretty face into tho
bargain is a positive phenomenon, and, as
such, can not fail to be greatly admired by a
number OF more or less eligible young men
with a taste for beauty Of the most substan-
fial kind. Even middle-aged bachelors Gwoke
from their habitual Indifference when, on
being introduced to a lovely damsel Of two
and twenty. they are conscious that the pos
sessor of a considerable fortune stands be-
fore them; for although money is the root Of
all evil, it is a root which most people very
willingly undertake the risk Of cultivating.
Since lydia Lirripip was thus beautiful
and thus rich, it Is not surprising that she
had not only admirers-men who dared to
wish uncertain things; but lovers, too-men
who had the presumption to hope, 1t is true
hat Lydia encouraged none of them, for she
was quite satisfied to live at home with her
father, Gen Lirripip, in Bruton street
Grosvenor square, and to rid in Rotten Row
in the morning and to drive in the park in
the afternoon. But, fortunately, young men
do not require encouragement; nay, in GER
tain affairs the less encouragement they re-
ceive the greater their persistency becomes:
and considering that healthily constituted
young women seldom, il ever, give any en-
enlargement to young men, the persistency
OF these latter in the face of alarming difl-
culties is a matter on which all OF us may
heartily congratulate ourselves, Indeed, but
for the persistency who knows whether the
world would go roundi
It was tho height of the London season, and
Lydia Lirripip went with her father one
evening to a great ball at the countess Of
Earnahvfe EyarvhnIu thara-ayat.v-
body, 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 most
OF her partners she was only engaged for n
single valse or polka. but, for old acquaint-
ance's sake. or for some other reason, she al
lowed three gentlemen 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 permitted
old Sir P.rtinax Popinjay, who. MS every one
knew, wac far too stiff and equity to move
nbout properly, to put down his
name for the only two sets Of Ian
GERS Sir Pertinax was effusively grateful
and smiled his sweetest upon her as he
returned her programme, and Lydia, instead
of regretting her kindness, felt thoroughly
rewarded by seeing that she was giving pleas
ure to the grny-haired baronet, who, thirty
years before, had been a noted dandy, but
who now struck her as being simply a prosy
old fellow, whom very few girls would be
likely TO dance with. Lydia's other favored
partners were Mr.. Horace Freake-a young
artist who had that year for the first time
exhibited at the Royal a~cademy-and Mr..
Merton Muriey, a man who had no profession
ind nc occupation, and who, II he had n
private income, derived it from n source not
generally known even to his friends
In this world many strange condolences
happen Two chemists have been known to
make exactly the same discovery on the same
day; and two astronomers have claimed to
catch sight of a new comet at almost the same
moment. 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 even
ing her father was going to take tho chair at
the annual meeting of the Society for the
Encouragement of Cold-water Bathing on
the Continent; that she was not going, but
would be alone at home; that she wished that
girls were able like men TO amuso themselves
and that she enyied her partners their clubs,
their theatres, and their socinble smoking
concerts. Nor is it incredible that, having
heard this, Sir Pertinax Popinjay, Mr.. Hor-
ace Freake, and Mr. Merton Murley all made
up their minds to call upon Miss Lirripip
uponth the following evening, and to mako to
her certain ayowals, which, although they
had long meditatod them, they now felt i'm.
PEELED to make as soon as possible, and with
out any unnecessary delay. What these
Avowals were may be guessed; but why the
three gentlemen all determined at the same
time TO make them is n question which can
not be explained, although the fact that
Lydin that evening looked even prettier than
usunl may possibly have been one Of the
causes OF the extraordinary coincidence.
Lydia little dreamed, when in the small
hours Of the morning she dropped OF 70
SLEEP. Of what was hanging over her. Sir
Pertinar had made no sign; Mr.. Murley had
not been more attentive than had for SOME
time been his wont; and Mr.. Freake had beer
actually more dull aud uninteresting thar
Miss Lirripip had ever seen him. She there
fore slept soundly, and was undisturbed by
fears of the coming evening and its visitors
The following day was wet The general
who had lived for many years In India, and
had a liver which caused him to be somewhat
irascible, shut himself up in his library and
Ravagely studied the statistics OF Cold-water
Bathing; and Lydia, who could not 20 out
painted in her boudoir. The Lirripips dinet
at $3.50, to enable the general TO get 10 tn,
meeting at $50; and as he had taken
no exercise during the day, and hac
been quite unable to master nll tho informa
ton he required relative TO the average OF
cleanliness upon the continent, Lydiai
father was not in the best Of tempers. "Si
up for me, " he said; ~ shall be in by II 30.
These were his last words, as, the carriagl
having been announced, he hurried away
from the table, stopping for an instant al
Lydia's side 70 kiss her hastily on the top o.
the head And Miss LirIipip was left alonl
in solitary grandeur, sitting at one end OF tn,
dining-room. She did not stay there long
but went TO the drawing-room, whittier sh
bade the servant bring two candles, which
but dimly lighted the large apartment. Then
taking her seat at the piano, Lydia began L
play and sing alternately.
Tha drnwing-room at Bruton street wa
like many other London ~drawing-rooms. /
occupied the whole Of the first floor OF tn
house. save where in one corner the ~staircas
assembled: and it was therefore L-shaped, th
longer arm Of the L having three window
looking out into the street, and the shurte
arm one window looking out over some new
In the rear. Heavy curtains of tapestr
hung between the back and front portions @
the room, but were usually Topped up; an
In the back room was the piano at which
within tie halo Of the two candles, Lydi
Lirripip played and sang.
She had considerable knowledge of musi
and a me voice, ana, wrapped up IN her OF
cupetion. she started when the door OF til
trout room opened and a servant, who wa
TO her Invisible, announced Mr.. Horac
Freake.
Lydia rose and received her visitor, mear
time ordering the gas TO he lighted. It wa
$50. Why had he called at that hour
Why Ind lie not come in the daytime, Will
she was so dull, rather than just when she WI
kingingt But, upon the whole. she was gla
To see Horace, who, no doubt, simply desire
TO inquire how she wax after the dance of ii