Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-05-23
eales xu1 Sketfhes.
Iwsnlys ENTERPRISE.

Rest dressed women IN the WOTlQ. Ouuly
enough. her love of display and tasteful
extravaganza did not manifest themselves
until she became a widow. The late Col.
\ Dulcimer had lost fortune at cards, and
the only provision he was able to make
for her was by insuriug his life for few
thousand pounds And vet Lady Blanche
had no sooner cast of her widows weeds
than she blossomed into a leader of fash
ion. and excited the wonder and admira-
ton of her friends by her costly toilets.
How she did it nobody could imagine. for
her father was bankrupt peer and none
of her relatives were in position 10 assist
her. Her gowns alone must nave alb
sorbed the whole Of her modest income at
the most moderate estimate, and these
were not the only expensive items of per-
sonal adornment which she INDUCED in.
II is true that she lived quietly and did not
attempt to entertain; but even little pill
box of house in Park street cannot be
kept up on nothing. and she certainly
went a good deal into society. Lady
Blanche was not given to speaking of her
private affairs, but she had been known to
say to an inguisitive friend:
my dear, it is Leb9uf who does it all.
1t is astonishing how little woman re-
siding alone can live upon with the exer-
else Of judicious economy. am an excel
lent manager. though perhaps l ought not
to say so. But could not make both ends
meet if it were not for Lebeuf. She was
my maid years ago. you know, and she
lets me have my dresses at half price. OF
course it is very good advertisement for
| her, for as 90 about good deal have
| got her no end OF customers. But she is
a good, grateful soul and strictly entire
nous owe her more money at the pres
ent moment than. can ever hope to pay.
1t is her way, my dear, of returning my
| former kindness
/ But this explanation was not considered
satisfactory. Nine. Lebeuf was fash
ionable dressmaker, who, during the last
four years, had attained some celebri-
/ ty Those who had dealings with her
/ unanimously agreed that she was the last
person in the world to show considera-
ton to any one. She was shrewd and
grasping, her prices were enormous. and
she had too keen an eye for business to be
capable of magnanimity in the direction
indicated by Lady Blanche. Her profess
sional skill, however, insured her num-
erous and increasing clientele. and as
money lending at usurious interest formed
an important branch of her business, she
was generally supposed to be making
/ fortune.
| But even assuming Lady Blanche had
got her gowns for nothing, together with
commissions on the purchases made by
customers she introduced, she must have
been very good manager indeed to keep
up the appearance she did. OF course,
people will talk, and the income of ones
neighbors is fruitful topic for idle gossip.
1t was pretty we'll known that she was not
in debt-at least to trades people, and it
was easy to calculate that she was spend
ing $4,000 year. if a penny.
Where the deuce does she get it from?"
inquired the old women of the male sex,
talking confidentially among themselves
at their clubs. perhaps Leytonstone
could tell US something if he liked"
1t was certainly the fact that Lord Ley
tonstone was paying the widow good
deal of attention in cautious way, but no
one seriously believed the implied scandal
/ To begin with Lady Blanche had an un-
blemished reputation, and was by no
means addicted to Irritation. She confessed
to forty-a very damaging admission
and, though decidedly handsome. she could
hardly be called fascinating. Her manner
was much too brusque to be agreeable,
and she was generally regarded as a
| clever woman whom it was wise to keep
on good terms with. Lord Leytonstone.
too, was not the sort of man to COM
promise himself with the opposite sex.
He was an elderly peer who had been fast
in his youth, but had sobered down into a
model Of propriety. 1t was generally
supposed that he was on the lookout for
a rich wife, his own fortune being in a
very impoverished state.
The real truth was that his lordship was
quite as much mvstified as the rest of the
world. His matrimonial aspirations had
induced him to make careful inquiries re-
garding the circumstances of Lady
Blanche. He soon ascertained the extent
of the income she derived from her late
hush md, and satisfied himself that she
had no other visible means of subsistence
His experience caused him to disbelieve
utterly in the alleged benevolence of Nine
/ Leb9uf. He was, therefore, even more
puzzled than other people to account for
Lady Blanche's apparent affluence. When
he called at her home he noted with a
watchful eye the signs of comfort and lax
ury by which she was surrounded. A
man who is nursing heavily mortgaged
estate by practiclng the most rigid econ
omy can quickly perceive and appreciate
lavish expenditure. As he sat slipping tea
in the widows cosy drawing-room, he
came to the conclusion that her prosperity
was real and substantial and resolved that
it might be worth while to cultivate her
acquaintance.
In accordance with this determination,
Lord Leytonstone became a pretty fire.
quent visitor to Park street. Keeping his
eyes and ears open. but taking good care
not to commit himself. The widow was evi.
IDENTIFY flattered bv his attentions. but on
her part she was hardly less cautious.
/ Not word or a hint did she let drop
which might give him clew to the secret
he wished to fathom and enable him to
decide whether it would be prudent to
make her an offer of marriage. One
morning he called upon her unexpectedly
with the offer of friends box at the
opera. As he entered he met a small,
plump. brisk little person, at whom he
cast an inquisitive glance as she passed
! him in the hall. Her veil was down, but
Lord Leytonstone caught glympse of
pair of dark eyes which seemed familiar.