Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-09-05
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin. IS
BARREN HONORS
BY ELISA NJ. MOORE.

have you ever known poverty, ", uy
reader l have, the saddest poverty Of
all, which tries to keep up appearances.
My mother was left early widow, with
Eve children, all girls. We inherited
nothing from cur weli-born ancestors,
save well-formed noses, white hands,
and low, cultivated voices. Ny mother
was a proud and courageous woman,
and if in the following pages ] am forced
s impute blame to her. let the reader
never imagine that [ am ungrateiul for
the love and care which she gave to my
childhood, or unmindful of the terrible
& temptation which assailed her. So
scarce was money with us that we early
learned to rise from a daintily-served
dinner cruelty hungry, and darn, and
re-darn our spOtlessly clean, though
simple dresses. Poor mother, hers was
a stern rule, but 1 think of the long
hours during which she played the part
of housekeeper, governess and seam
stress; and marvel at her strength of
mind and body.
We lived IN country village, for any
city residence would have been beyond
our purse, and Notwithstanding our
poverty had the entree of every great
house in the country. If mamma sell
dom awaited herself of such privileges
it was that no decent clothes were forth
coming wherewith she might clothe
herself and us.
When I was II | was invited to spend
a few months with our fathers cousin,
q Mrs. Beaumont, who lived in great
style in London. She was that most
selfish of beings. hypochcndriac, but
to drive in Hyde Park, or even Regent
Park, was bliss to me, and when | had
settled my face into an expression
meant to be deeply sympathetic felt
free to turn but an inattentive ear to
my companions long list of sinking
sensations" and sudden spasms," with
which, according to her own account,
she was constantly and mysteriously
seized. That 1 might do her some
credit, Mrs. Beaumont ordered suitable
outfit for me. and fine clothes and good
food soon transformed me from pale,
stoo ping, dark.eyed strip of girl, into
tail, upright, handsome young woman.
She was too hopelessly sunk in self to
observe the change, and it was not until
her favorite nephew came on his annual
visit that the admiration which his
young face too plainly showed, opened
her eyes to the fact that [ was that
dangerous specimen of humanity-a
penniless beauty.
4 scene was troublesome, there
fore my hostess contented herself
with declaring herself very much
verse. and ordering her doctor to
prescribe sea-air. Jack Beaumont
was requested to accompany her
TO the Isle of Wight, and ! was packed
Oft home. [ shall never forget my
mothers start of surprise when she saw
the change In my appearance. All that
evening she remained very thoughtful,
and L began TO fear that my unexpected
return was hardly welcome, until two
days later, when, with her sweetest
smile, she informed me that [ was to
put on one of my most becoming
dresses. and behave my prettiest as she
expected an old friend to luncheon.
Ny younger sisters were ordered off to
partake of cold dinner in the school
room, while all things completed, with
view TO impress our guest with the idea
that we Jared sumptuously every day,
my mother and | awaited Lord Silurian
IN the drawing room. | knew him to be
one OF the oldest, as to title, of England's
peers, and had heard whisper that
mamma might have been his countess
had her youthful beauty been made
more attractive by the hundred thou
sands OF pounds sterling which the lady
that he eventually married had brought
MIN.
He came, grim-faced, stiff old
gentleman, who put up a double eye
glass and scanned me closely. A glance
of mutual intelligence passed between
mamma and his lordship, which did not
tend to put me at my ease. However,
| smiled and talked as well as l could,
with beating heart. After luncheon L
was ordered off for a walk with the
Others, and that evening my mother
kissed me, saving: lord Silurian will
bring his son, Lord Trenton, to call on
Wednesday," There was something
in her look and tone that sent me to my
bed with a sudden sinking" of heart
much more real than any of poor Cousin
BeaumOnt's.
What need to dwell on the wretched
details of the next few weeks. LORD
Trenton came, saw, and, as it eventually
proved, conquered. [ thought him a
most vacant youth, but my mother ex-
planned that he was much struck with
me, and ''such dear, simple shy boy,
Notwithstanding his great wealth and
high position"
[ made a brave fight, for was no
Iphigenia, but mothers stern reminder
of all [ owed her, of the wretched
future which opened before my four
young sisters, of the long struggle with
the sum total of her life, finally wore
out my desperate opposition, and l
burned the half dozen dried flowers
JacS Beaumont had given me, and re-
-ceived the congratulatlon of the county
on my elevation to the rank of future
countess. Mother, triumphant, wrote
announcing my speedy marriage to Mrs.
Beaumont, and still Jack made no sign.
The wedding day came, and had
seen my bridegroom but twice. On
these occasions his father and mamma
had been in the room. Lady Silurian |
had not seen at all; her husband
brought me magnificent tiara, neck
lace, earrings and bracelets of dia-
monds-the SiIurian diamonds were
famed-and regretted that his wife was
too great an invalid to present them in
person. ~
have small recollection of the GER