The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-25

Inirobus was obliged to stop short ana
look Of her bearcr Is II TO say nat
more would you have!'
II Is surprising how accession to or con
tact with great wealth smooths our path.
For many weeks Mrs. Antrobus had been
ia a complete quandary about Lord Char.
terhouse, not knowing whether u wouio
he hest 10 call upon his bride orleave u
alone; vet one afternoon when she was
co,3ng n, N Mrs. Traford and the Char
terbonses were announced. Mrs hntrobus
was more than equal To the occasion
which was certainly just az weii' '"r iiiuie
mr.. Winks" turned as white as chaiR'
and his knees fairly knocked together as
n he had met with his death blow.
polly was not there. Mrs. An'robus sat
;, n fat mass upon sofa, like queen
mon a throne. and received Lord Charter
houses deprecating greeting with the
hlandest and most charitable smile IN the
world.
"Ohl How do you do. Lord Charter
bouseY" she began. Il am so charmed 70
see Won. Pray introduce me to your
wife
And then she apologized for not having
called upon Lady Charterhouse long be-
fore. ,,
THE fa-ct is" she explained to Mrs
Trafford's intense amusement. Il have
been 70 stay with my daughter who lives
In town. Poor child, she is very young
and have to go and look after her no"
Il hope she is well, said Mrs. Traffcrd,
nolitelv' while Mr.. Winks' gave muir
inur. which he meant for an inquiry after
the Antrobus family in general:
ooh quite well, thanks. Very much
| delighted ut her sisters engagement, OF
course" returned she, more blsndly still;
| "Oh,-is Miss Antrobus began LORD
| Char,erhouse. then stopped short and sat
staring at the stout lady on the sofa with
all lis soul in his eyes
Yes. Polly is going TO be married inn
mediately, replied Mrs. Antrobus, com.
| nlacentlv. as If the match was entirely OF
her making and she had right to be
| proud Of il.
Indeed No-I-I-had not heard of
IL " returned the wretched Mr.. Winks
| with q stammer which would have be
traved him 10 his wife had not she just at
| that moment been talking to Mrs. Traf-
ford, who, by the bye, contrived to keep
one eye and one ear open. SO that nothing
passing between Mr.. Winks" and Mrs.
Antrobus might escape her.
Really, that is surprising, returned
| Mrs. Antrobus, in quite patronizing air
| Of indulgence for his ignorance Il
| thought every one knew il.
In truth il was not at all surprising
| that he had not heard of it, for he had
| been on the sick list for ten days past ow-
| ing 10 kick from horse, and this was
| the first time he had been out. True,
| several officers of his own and the Blank
| shire regiment had been TO see him since
| he had been laid by, but not one OF them
had quite liked TO mention Polly Antro-
bns in Lady Charterhouse's presence, or
as they already called her among them
selves, MRS. Winks.'
NO had not heard. have been laid
no. I-I-got kicked by a horse the other
day. And Miss Antrobus is going to be
marriedl | hope she will be very happy.
| He looked at the stout and complacent
| old lady with wistfulness which would
| have touched the heart of any woman less
| taken up with her own worldly impor
lance. Mrs Trafford saw it, and pitied
| the little lord profoundly; but Mrs. An.
trobus perceived nothing, and b&bbled
blandly on.
"0h, yes-yes-it is quite an idea
| marriage in every way"
| Little Mr. Winks' fairly writhed. II
he could only have got away; but as they
had Just come in he could not in decency
signal TO his wife that he wanted 10 be
moving on. Even had they come before
Mrs. Antrobus, he did not know that sig
mailing 10 Nell would have the very
smallest effect. He had tried it several
| times, but without success for Nell. with
her gay, bright, breezy manner, and hei
! outspoken unconventional spirit. had not
noticed his signals Of distress.
Meantime, Mrs. Antrobus had changed
her seat, and to Mr.. Winks' horror
and disrnay had established herself on The
very sofa upon which Lady Charterhouse
was sitting.
lie watched the two IL an agony OF
dread, 10 less, for he knew Mrs. AItrobus