St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-05
HOW A MATCH WAS MADE
OR
MRS. WILMINGTON'S GARDEN PARTY.
BY G. I. t. WEYMAN.
Author of King Pepin, Sweet eli, Etc.
Written for the Sunday Globe.

1ne July sun, unaDaSneu ny Tic 1io"n VI
the rector of Linthorpe's face, at other times
cheerful, pleasant handsome face enough,
shone full upon that open paved space at the
back of Linthorpe church which goes by the
name of the Church Kalends; and so shin
ing flung its radiance upon three figures.
1t shone upon the frowning rector as he
walked away, his lips closed and his fingers
grasping the handle of his umbrella with I'M
w0nted tghtness; upon the portly person of
Mrs. Adam Wilmington standing where he
left her; and-oh singular benefcence! AS
brightly upon third figure receding into the
distance, the figure of the new curate. The
rector and Mrs. Adam $50 she was often
called in Linthorpe) had just been discuss
ing him, and even now the lady stood looking
at him, her head slightly thrown back that
she might level her eyeglasses with greater
ease. 1t was favorite pose of Mrs. Adam
Wilmington, and one, therefore, it is need
less to state, rich in a certain conscious i'm
portauce and dignity.
The colloquy just ended had gone on in
this wise. Gle seems a very decent young
man. Mrs Adam had said; and the rector
had said ''Umphr' ''What is his name o.
Mrs. Adam had asked; and the rector had
said Zones" Then the lady had said ''He
is married, think!" and the rector had an
swered ''Yes." And so far the discussion,
though somewhat one-sided, had been SUI
fciently pleasant one. But then Mrs. Adam
had said Il trust she is a sensible person
and well brought up!" and Mr. Hablot had
replied ''They come from Cornwall" Simply,
t'They come from Cornwall" and this with
shadow of a smile as if there were some
Joke in it. If there were it was a far-fetched
Dne. Mrs. Adam at any rate saw none, and
only considered that the rector might have
been more explicit. 81 think l shall ask
hem to my party on the 21st," she
vent on to say, and this time the gentleman
Iaid nothing, which Mrs. Adam thought
more irrelevant than before. And so she
bridled up with, 'Now. rector, it is a long
way you know to go for a curate to Cornwall;
trust thai you had good references, and
from respectable people!' She said it in
her grandest manner. Yet Mr.. Hablot-
who can gauge a mans humors?-only an
swered 1.-The best the best!'' and fastened
off quite abruptly down the High street with
that frown upon his pleasant face which we
have noted-such a frown as even the
tradesmen's salaams failed to remove.
1t was the old story of two kings in Brent
ford. Mrs. Adam Wilmington of the Tower
house, Linthorpe, had once been the wife of
Mr.. Adam Wilmington; and Mr.. Adam
Wilmington had once very long time ago
signed himself as of l7Broad street. Linthorpe
wholesale wine and spirit merchant. A very
long time ago this latter once; so long that
many people in the town had forgotten it,
and many others, TO whom Mrs. Adams
horses and brougham and silks and seal
skins, her daughter, her niece, her maid and
herself, were everyday objects, had never
been aware of it, but regarded all these
things as notable factors in the scheme of
Providence locally and partially unfolded at
Linthorpe. Nay, indeed, the once in ques-
ton was 50 long ago, and Mrs. Adam was
50 happily constituted woman, that / YER
lily believe this TO have been the view she
took of it herself.
She was n woman Of large mind ENJOYING
therein that even balance of mind and body
which makes up the perfect creature. She
was in truth of so managing turn that the
superintendence of her house and the lead in
the society of the little town were not enough
opening into the county circle, which she
had effected vi ct opibus, failed to amuse her
after time; it was so long in leading to
anything. And so upon a sudden she dis
covered vast interest in parish doings, and
from aiding the rector passed easily to inter
fering with him; arriving in time at such 4
pitch Of patronage and superintendent that
the Old street labUrers dubbed the rector the
"deputy gauger," and poor Mr.. Hablot
himself, who, with an invalid wife, a large
income, and three curatcs, should have been
the most enviable Of men, walked down his
own High street of Linthorpe with q frown
on his face.
TO return to Mrs. Wilmington After
watching the curate as long as he remained
in sight, she resolved TO call upon his wife
and confer the invitation at once; and acted
upon the thought without loss of time The
housemaid who announced her was Lin
thorpe bred and did it with an awful relish,
approaching to the full the rustling of silk
and scattering of perfumes which attended
my lady into Mrs. Jones' drawing room. 1t
was not large room at its best; now it
seemed 10 grow smacr,as used the court of
eXchequer and its paling judges on each 9th
of November when The city sword-bearer in
furry cap and scarlet coat walked in. The
Iudan china (which could not be real could
It! $50 pounds yearD seemed to loose its
briliance-the bric-a-brac (pretty, but cheap,
celia VA sans dire to grow tawdry. Indeed
the only thing not entirely overcome by the
grandeur Of the visitor was the little lady
who was mistress of china, and bric-a-brac,
and all. And she was so self-possessed that
Mrs. Adam felt mysteriously compelled to Il
poteness rs complete as it was possible for
her to assume in such an establishment.
"You are very sensible to take so small
house." she said looking round her with
much complaceucy, aud considering what
effect the double drawiug-roOm at the Tower
house would have upon her hostess. Il al
ways approve of young people commencing
as they must go on, and according to their
sphere. or course you viii let the gar
deur'
Il think not" Mrs. Jones replied sweetlv
al have passion for flowers. and in town
a garden is almost 4 necessity, Mrs VIII
miugtou.n
'Ohi' with surprise; well Of course that
Is all right If YOU can afford it. But the gar
den here is far too large tor your husbands
iuc-house Why it is quite half the size of
the gardens At the Tower house"
'ludeedl have heard that they are very
fine"
"V V'NSl AauN was muCu moLllutu. lou
shall Judge for Yourself" she said, II hope
10 see you and Mr.. Jones st an archery party
on Tuesday next. | am glad you have ar
rived in time, for think it viii he the affair
OF the season. You will make the scquaiu-
lance of my daughter who was unable to call
this afternoon, and will meet besides some
very desirable people. The Asheys Of the
Moor-he was member of the county in the
last parliament but oue-and the Ferueys,
Lord Sydenham'S second cousius-very nice
people indeei-and the archdeacon and his
wife"