Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-26
LADY ADELAIDEs DERBY DAY.

Lady Adelaide Montrevor was a
somt what faded beauty Of fve-and-
thirty, or thereabouts, though no tor
ture would have dragged from her
the admission that she was more than
six and-twenty. Seventeen seasons
had PLAYED considerable havoc with
Lady Adelaide's charms. Her once
brilliant complexion had sadly de
Perforated under the influence OF late
hours and constant use of cosmetics.
Her face had become thin and an
gular, her teeth had begun to show an
unpleasant tendency to project and
her figure had lost It's once seductive
roundness. But Lady Adelaide was
a woman of determination and pluck,
and she had long ago made up her
mind that what was wanting in nat
ure should be supplied by art.
Without entering further into par
ticuars il may be enough to say that
her ladyships toilet was a very dill
cult and lengthy process, and that
one Of her most essential requirements
was perfectly discreet and conddeu-
tial maid. Good servants, however,
are hard TO end and when Brown,
who had been ia Lady Adelaide's ser
vice for nearly ten years took IL into
her head to marry prosperous young
publican Lady Adelaide was at her
wits end how to replace her At
last, after she had tried "a dozen maids
In six months, and was ON the verge
of despair, friend recommended to
her notice a certain Miss Prudence
Burton who seemed IN every way
fitted for the delicate position. Miss
Burton was the daughter of Non
conformist clerGymep, who had left
her practically penniless, She was, ac-
cording to her lntroducer, quick, neat
handed, and clever, and what she
wanted in experience she more than
made up for ia ndescretion..
II only hope she Will suit, sighed
Lady Adelaide's mother the countess
of Fixton; it's perfectly dreadful to
put up with the creatures you have
had lately, That wretch Jones, the
other day, made your eyebrows quite
different lengths, and / ann almost
certain Sir Thomas noticed it.
Sir Thomas it may be said was an
Australian millionaire who had come
over to England 10 look Cor am aristo-
cratic wife lie was a somewhat vul-
gar old gentleman, with a tase for
jewelry and large patterned clothes,
who talked very loud, and ate and
drank somewhat more than was good
for him. But Lady Adelaide could
not be particular, and Sir Thomas was
at present the IDOL of her dreams
After a lengthy interview with
Lady Adelaide, Miss Burton was duly
engaged, and she speedily justified
the good character that her mistress
had received with her. At first, in
deed, it was q little trying to her lady
ships feeling to be obliged to point
out the precise use Of the various bot.
ties and pots which were TO be kept
carefully locked up in cupboard IN
her bedroom, but The new maid accept
ed every revelation with such a de
hghtful matter 0f-fact air that the
task soon became a positive pleasure.
Poor thing sighed Lady AIDE
laide, sympatAetcally "a little know
ledge of this sort may be very useful
to her Somc day. Her face might be
made positively good-looking, though
heaven forbid that she should think
SO, and try and get married, like
Brown w
Miss Burton never forgot what she
had once been told, aud she speedily
became am adept I'M themysrcious art
OF making up her mistress. Hertasc
IN dress was. moreover SURPRISINGLY
g ~
her efforts thai people began to re-
mark that IN a suudued light, temper
ed by rose-colored lamp globes, Lady
Adelaide occasionally looked quite
young and pretty.
When Miss Burton had occupied
her situation about a month the OBJ
lect of Lady Adelaide's ambition was
accomplished. Sir Thomas Jenkins
was so overcome 10y the combined eff
fects Of the EiXtou Champagne, am
unusually successful toilet, and the
sentimental euhuences engendered IN
the conservatory of the FiNtou man.
SION, that he made an offer of has hand
and heart to Lady Adelaide, and
after proper amount Of maidenly
hesitation on her part, was accepted
The course OF true love promised, IN
their case, to run exceedingly smooth
and for week or two all was har
mony in the mansion in Grosveuol
square.
Sir Thomas Jenkins was quite as at
tentive as a gentleman of his age auC
habits could reasonably be expected
to be- and his presents were numer0u,
and costly.
Lady Adelalde's looks and temper
both improved under the softeuius
influence, and Miss Burton found hel
situation much less d,sagreeable thar
1t had been
One day, when Lady Adelaide re
turned from drive in the park sh,
found her mother crying ia subdue,
and ladylike fashion over an ope,
telegram.
Good gracious, mamma dear
what is the natter cried Lady AIDE
laide. Anyone dead3 III