The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-01-24
THE DOUBLE IRIS.
BY COMPTON READB.
PROLOGUE.

TROLOGUE.
the senior cOmmoner OF a charming college, where
one LACED and dreamed dreams, studied Chopin and
frepdsbps. ana forget ali about Aristotle and the
Thirty mine Articles My belief is that the ex-
aminers ploughed US, simply out OF compliment to
the result was the same. A testamur at times be.
| came so rich and rare a treasure as to deserve a
frame to itself in the Junior Common Room.
sunshine and the champagne.cup seemed to har-
monize go perfectly, feel rather ashamed at my
neglect of the stern business of academical life.
When went up from school 1t was generally sup
posed that was good for second at least; YET
somehow. after nearly Ave years residence, had
was turned twenty-three, and ought to have been
hard at work, for my position at that crisis was
an eye would have sworr that my sole chance lin in
this world was crystalized In individual exertlon.
Not to beat about the bush, happened to be the
owner of an estate, and something more. My sire,
Gyles Beaumanoir of Beaumanoir, was the fifteenth
herltor of his lands and home and he trained me to
cestrai trees the sioping .awns and all the glories
adored Beaumanolr, and all the more ardently be.
cause my tenure was that of thin thread that
seemed ready to snap at any moment
This is how 1t came about My father could not
He entertained nebulous ambitions, among others
coronet; and in the pursuit of shadows jeopardized
all the substance he possessed. In word, he de-
scended to the level of the city, Joined in specula-
tons more or less insane. and arrived within ace
of bankruptcy the bailis being actually in possess
sion of Beaumanor Court. had Just come OF age,
break the entail, mortgage the estate up to the hit
and save the family credit. Had l remained firm 1
AS 1t was, when my poor father succumbed under
the weight of worry, found myself only the nominal
owner.
MY agent did his utmost for me. He let Beau
manolr to a cotton man, who covered the old panels
with gaudy papers, and would have painted the ex-
terior a garnsh white had not put my foot down.
Agricultural
depression; and when 1t came to ths-and the de-
scent to Avernus was both sudden and rapid-that
the rents had to be reduced, was left positively
minus.
''Yon'd better SELL" was the verdict
That was sound advice, for could have netted
ten thousand pounds, after paying the mortgages
and my oxford debts; but 1t was unpalatable. NV
right hand should lose its cunning were guilty Of
"What do you mean to do 2r inquired my mother,
drearily, after had been ploughed for the third
sect through. Take holy orders, and the family
liying-and hope" was my response.
Ny mother sighed. rather fancy she would have
preferred for me to take the ten thousand pounds
and abandon the sacred soil of Beaumanoir. Hap
PLY, however, 1t never came to that.
yon believe mel was ploughed for the fourth time
requested to retire from the college, aud served with
six writs, the aggregate amounting to twelve hun
dred pounds.
l wrote to my agent to request him to adopt any
eXpedient, fell stock timber, borrow of the local
or even sell the Living h which was to be
The mortgages would not consent to a stick being
cut, the bank would not lend and it would take six
he recommended q journey abroad to avoid further
writs, offering, In very handsome spirit, to guar
ahtee the payment of the twelve hundred pounds In
six months II would accept his advice.
closed with his Observation-Disclosures was
preparing to start for say, anywhere, when letter
arrived which, metaphorically, took my breath away
It came like the Deus ec n,achfnd Of the Greek
Tragedies, and venture to think that the salvation
| lV thn
superuous severity Of those oo-exacting examiners
The letter IN question-not to keep you on tenter-
hooks-was this. give an exact copy:
from Mcssrs. Rgby & Co., Leadenchurch Cham
To Gyles Beaumanor, Esq.
DEAR SIR: AS the London agents of the firm of
Messrs. Sas r. Toffany & Co., of New York, we are
instructed to forward you preois Of the will of your
cousin, lately deceased, Mr.. Ezra A. Beaumanolr,
and childless, and boastiug his descent from Sir
Gyles De Beaumanoir, Knight, of Beaumanor Court,
Charles the First, was DESTROYS that the American
and English branches of the ancient house OF Beau
MANOR should be united; and it was project Of
Miss Iris A. Boone, on q tour through Europe, and
TO endeavor to effect matrimonial alliance between
% yoarse We H II nes
frustrated this project; but he has demised his es.
tateamounting. II realized, to rather over million
"First, to his niece the aforesaid Iris A. Boone, In
the event OF her becoming the lawful wife of Mr.
M e said 81 1ea
making to the said Iris A. Boone an offer of mar
rage, and being by her rejected to the said Gyles
making the said Iris A. Boone no such offer within
six months of the death of the estaer, TO the said
Iris A. Boonen We may add that, should you marry
Miss Boone, the money Is directed to he laid out
partly In the Improvement, or enfranchisement II
necessary, Of the mansion and estateo Beaumanor,
wife and the heirs OF her body lawfully begotten.
Any further Information we shall be happy TO give
Sy w %ssr %
T. s.-We open car letter to add that Miss Iris A.
Boone, with q travelling companion, Ia at the Hotel
De pEurope. BRUSSELS. and we venture to suggest
the proprety of an early interview inasmuch six
weeks have elapsed since the death OF Mr.. Ezra A.
Beaumanor.-R. Co.
ton, while my mother fatered obviously, "a million
dollars. ] don't know how much that is, but 1t
thoughts were 1t IL not for mo to divine; all re-
marked WAS that she brushed away tear, which
all the ridiculous her part, as there GER
ainly appeared nothing to cry about. My own cogl-
tati0ns were, confess. little mixed. Up to that
instant could not accuse myself of being marry
ing man. Fancy wife all calculations, guesses,
and do-tells! Fancy an eternity OF "Why certnlys ~
These thoughts were enough surely, to make a
strong man quail. I'd great mind to make her an
offer to go halves, or to compromise any reason
able terms; hut on reflection decided that this
would be the reverse OF complimentary. After all,
she might be pgssabe, and-oh happy thought-she
might refuse me, and then should absorb the dol
lars without the wife.
"You'd better TO go to Brussels" remarked my
mother significantly.
1t Just occurred TO me, also, that the fair blrt!
might nit; and suppose could not catch her, how
could propose? Enough; was of by the night
mail.
EPIseDEI.
! arrived In Brussels rather sleepy and begrimed
after my journey, and, having ascertained that Miss
Iris A. Boone was actually in the flesh at the Hotel
de pEurope, and not likely to leave, betook myself
to n hosiery suited TO pauper gentleman's purse,
and situated In back street. IL Is styled Sinkin's
Hotel, and enjoys q worldwide reputation--accord-
cookery, rather equv0cal recommendation. Hav-
Ing INDUCED In q sesta and the necessary ahlutOn-
AIRY exercises, descended 10 the salon and ordered
outlet. En- attendant, had just taken up Gdii0-
tleman, whose appearance savofed unpeasantly of
Mephistopheles.
sPardon you Englees?"
"All right said !, with British brusqueness.
"What can do for you?
"Oh. noddng. Bud, you see, ! am lone. You ave
outlet? also. VIII you shar bottle vine vid me?'
The smile which accompanied this offer was an
gec, rather than the contrary; indeed quite out OF
keeping with the iaper-like mustachois and the
stietto-ke imperial. SO was treasured, and oh
served bluntly, ~ didn't mind.n
"My carte, at your service. lie Marquis DE Bon
boil"
In response, pulled out my eipar-case, In which
generally preserve stock OF visiting cards, and
offered him one, whereon was imprinted my name
He applied 1t TO his eye, as though II had been a
plaster, and Ia trce started back, pressed his hand
70 his wasicoat, and grinaeed as though he meant
| didn't half like this What was there In my
proud ancestral name to make faces about? How
ever, he suddenly changed from the butterfly 10 the
grno-from gay TO grave and, holding out his hand,