The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-25
CHAPTER V.
AND OF SHANGHAI.

II must be owned that the news Of Polly
Antrobus engagement not only spread
like wildfre throughout her native city OF
Blankhampton, but it also created great
sensation wherever it penetrated.
She was so pretty so gentle and dreamy
and she had been so singularly unfortu-
nate in her previous love affairs Men mad
gone for her. ay, and had gonedesperately
hard too-men Of high degree, with every
thing to recommend them.
First she had been engaged to the Hon
orable Eliot Cardclla; but she had given
him up that she might fly at higher game
in the form of his elder brother. Bu!
after all Lord Cardclla had not laid him
self and his title at her feet, though ne
had eventually bestowed them upon lar
less worthy person.
Then there had been an unfortunate
affair with one, Darcy was his name, II
I mistake not. who did not happen to
mention. when his regiment marched into
Bankhampton. that his little wife had
gone abroad for the winter. or course II
was very pleasant for man deprived Of
his wife for the time TO be philanderlng
after one of the prettiest girls in the
town: but it was a little unfortunate
that Mrs. Antrobus announced the en-
gagement In a semi official manner, when
there was all the time that insurmounta-
bic obstacle in the background
And then there was Lord Charterhouse
the MIR Winks" of the Black Horse
who had gone for Polly, t0o-gone, ay
that was so: indeed, one over head and
ears, past and beyond all sense and honor,
and vet he had taken himself away from
Blankhampton without word of warning,
and had married his cousin, Lady Nell
Temple, after all.
Assuredlv the love affairs of the de-
lightful Polly had not so far been taken
at that flood which leads to matrimonial
fame and fortune. and from one cause OF
another the good people of Blankhampton
took a sort of proprietary interest therein
they wanted to see the end of Polly.
Was this indeed to be the end Of all her
dreams and hopes and wishes Was this
TO be the end Of her great expectations
IL was hard. very hard. Three times
she had deemed herself within an ace of
being my lady" for the rest OF her life
three times had gay and gallant men OF
noble birth laid themselves down at her
feet and - apparently 49, worshlped her
And this was to bc the end!
She had borne with dignity and GER
tain suspicion of contempt the airs of her
Younger sister, Toto, who had married O
well TO do but brieiless barrister OF mum.
bic origin some time before, and she mao
made up her mind that when she should
be Lady Charterhouse To-To's husband
Mr.. Herrick Brentham, should have but
little intercourse with her or hers. But
alas. alasl Lord Charterhouse had failed
her. and had effectually cu- off forever
Mr.. Herrick Brenthams chance Of being
ON his visiting list-for the Lady Charter
house Of today would as soon have
thought of asking her husbands troopers
TO dinner as of asking him.
There had been certain awkwardnes'
in the minds Of both Lord Charterhous'
and tho Antrobus family as TO the bes
course 20 pursue when the noble bride anS
groom returned from their honeymoon Y
take up their quarters at the 0oldei
Swan. More than once Mr. Winks' ha'
limited to his wife that he was sick an'
tired of the service. and would be bes
pleased if he turned his back upon IT
More than once he really thought IN
should send in his papers.
But Lady Charterhouse was the sam
breezy, strong willed girl that she ha'
been as Lady Nell Temple, and but httl
heed did she give TO her lord and master
hints and deprecating efforts to get on
of going back to Blankhampton. Sh'
had always had Il strong fancy for tryini
what life in the service was like, and sh
had no idea of being. as she put 1t, com
pletely done out OF II because Charter
house chooses to have fit Of laziness.
Thus she carried the day, and they wen
TO Blankhampton at the expiration OF III
leave. and took up their quarters at III
Golden Swan.
1t was very awkward for "Mr. Winks
He knew that he had behaved shame
fully bad to Polly from first to last II
told himself-now that he was safel
married 10 some one else--tbat fond as IA
was Of Nell. and convenient as his mar
rage had been for family reasons, Poll
WAS the one woman in the world VIII
would have suited him personally dow
20 the ground He told himself that Il
had been a scoundrel, for he had mad
Polly fond of him. and so-from som
sense of shame, or some feeling OF dell
cacy-he never said single word abon
her to his wife: but when he found tina
his feeble efforts to get out OF the aim
Guilty o! meeting her by leaving the sery
ice had proved unavailing, he went bac
10 Blankhampton and let matters tax
their own course.
on tho oiher hand. Mrs. Antrobn