Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-02-19

many months, even years-although there
had been no engagement between us, though
/ had never even openly declared my atfec-
tion for her, still l had reason to believe
that she understood my feelings, and at least
partly reciprocated them; and I could not
but grieve bitterly over what fancied had
lost. Perhaps, however, I made mistake
after all-and certainly noac have no cause
to grieve. How little did Ibid either OF
us-dream what the end oft all would be! ~
At the time of Lord Dartmoor's arrival in
London, many of the principal families
were out of town, and after a sOjOurn of a
few days, he too left with his young wife
for one of his country retreats. 1t thus hap
round, Maud found herself still unacquaint.
ed with the greater number of the Earl's
friends, although some few had called to
pay their respects.
II tell you what we will do, Maud" said
her husband. eve will have grand re-
ception, and ask everybody, more or less
and you'll find yourself all at once in the
midst of the fashionable vortex"
ooh, Manuel, you frighten me! l can
never 20 through such an ordeal"
"Does the idea of the fashionable vortex
alarm you? fused the expression jestingly,
dear; you shall never be one bit gayer or
more dissipated than you like. [ am too
elderly now to want butterfly wife, fitting
continually hither and thither-but still,
my little one, people must subscribe to les
commences, and it won't do for us to keep
quite aloof. This reception think we must
have; but it won't be anything very dread.
full. You will only have to go through great
many introductions, and say few pretty
words to each person. AS to your looking
pretty, that goes without saying, as the
French have it. You see, Maud, 1 have a
special reason for not keeping you in retire
ment. There are all sorts of speculations
af1oat concerning you, and / want to con-
vince the world by ocular demonstration,
that you are neither an Indian Queen,
nor one of Bret Harte's heroines. 1 should
not wonder if some people believed | had
actually dug you up out OF the mines."
Maud's color rose; she unconsciously as
sumed certain lofty air, which he had
never seen her wear before, and said in
tone of quiet resolution
every well, Manuel; will do exactly
as you wish"
"And now 1 want to tell you fancy OF
mine, that I would like you to crafty.
Will you have a dress made as much like
that in the portrait as possible?" The
fashion does not seem to me to differ ma
any rate, your dress-maker can manage the
resemblance without committing herself.
Match the color exactly, if you can't is
just the shade that will become you most
and trim it with the same sort of lace"
"And what is to be done with this dress,
Manuel:"
"You are to wear it on the evening of our
reception; and we are to receive in the
room where the picture is hung"
"Ah, ndE I begin to understand! Must
1 wear my hair high also?"
eff it is becOming-yes."
II never tried it, but think it will do.
And am I to have rose in my dress-'only
this and nothing more?'"
EXACTLY! Now see you have entered
into the spirit of my idea. 1 can leave it
with you in safety to be developed"
The invitations for the reception were
sent out. The appointed evening came,
and soon Lord Dartmoor's brilliant rooms
began to be thronged with representatives
of the creme de la creme, all urged by mo-
tives of interest and curiosity, eager to be
presented to the American wife, who, if the
truth must be told, was associated in the
minds Of many with the thought of Mig
giles, minus the bear. Lord Dartmoor had
earned the reputation of being very eccen-
trio, partly because he had chosen to follow
the profession of an artist, partly because he
had been blind to the many chances thrown
in his way Of an advantageous marriage
this latter failing, especially, being clear
evidence of eccentricity, in the judgment OF
the anxious mothers who admired him,
his title and his fortune.
Maud had followed her husbands wish
in regard to her dress; it was made as near.
ly as possible like that in the picture, and
for the first time she wore her beautiful
hair drawn from her forehead, high on her
head. The effect, as she stood beside the
Earl, little in front of the portrait, on
which a brilliant light was thrown, was
really marvellous. 1t was as though the
living embodiment of the painted form had
suddenly taken shape, the substance beside
the shadow.
"Did you ever see such "a remarkable like
ness?" was the question frequently asked
throughout the evening. Lord Dartmoor
was conscious of the little mystery, and
thoroughly enjoyed the success of his plan.
No one present had ever before seen the
portrait, or known of its being in his pos
session. AT last lady, overcome by curios-
ity, ventured to approach him with direct
inquiry
''Pardon me, my lord, but there is a dis
puted point must entreat you to settle-is
that magnificent picture likeness of Lady
Dartmoor, or not?"
"It is not likeness of Lady Dartmoor,"
replied the Earl, "but of Lady Dartmoor's
mother. You have surely not forgotten the
beautiful Miss Barnett, who was a reigning
beauty and belle Of society twenty years
ago?"
'NIiss Barnett-Sir Gregory's daughter! !
Is it possible that she was the mother of
Lady Dartmoor
"The resemblance alone would satisfy any
doubt on that point, if there happened to be
a doubt" said Lord Dartmoor. GAS you
said moment ago, the portrait might east
ly be mistaken for that of the cOuntess-and
it is a resemblance which naturally affords
her pleasure. l am glad that it has been so
remarked"
He did not think it necessary to add that
he was the artist.
myself saw the portrait, just as it has
been described, hanging in one of the par
lors of the Earl's London house. Lady
Dartmoor had then been married to him
about five years but she still looked as
youthful as the "counterteit presentment"
other beautiful mother, which sheas strong
ly as ever resembled. Being struck by the
likeness, which / naturally mistook for her
own, offered some comments on it, and
was in consequence made acquainted with
its true history.
The question generally propounded, "Who
was Maud Miller?" on the first announce
ment Of Lord Dartmoor's engagement, and
of the name of his betrothed, was no longer
a conundrum. 1t needed but a glance from
the living face to the one on the canvas, to
assure the inquisitive, and perhaps still
skeptical beholder, who the "Maud Miller''
of the mines really was; and to this day,
though she is no longer in the bloom of her
blance to the portrait, that those who see
the latter for the first time, invariably sup
pose it to be her own likeness, instead of