New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-15
".

On the anniversary of dear Uncle Geof's
| decease l would have been glad had he never
left me his horses, or, having done so, that |
had had the wisdom to sell them ALL Then L
should have been several hundred POUNDS TO ttn
| good, whereas now, so far as | could see this
confounded Skittes would cost me all her late
stablecOmpanions had made, while did not
believe she would ever win me q race. Other
matters also combined to worry me- Ny cousin,
Richard Dalxyn, who now lived at StOckwOOd,
which he had done up and made into quite q
nice little place, was making love to Ella, and
being possessed of comfortable means, OF course
her parents encouraged his efforts to cut me out.
| was not afraid of Ella, though she seemed to
like him well enough; but / knew it was not
fair TO keep nice girl waiting indefinitely for
a man who might after all never he able to
marry her. 1 would have done this at once
the five thousand; but this was exactly what he
would not do Said he would not think of 1T
until / could put into settlement at least twice
that amount, which irritatcd me exceedingly;
for really loved Ella, and thoroughly abhorred
the idea Of making my marriage with her
mere matter of pounds, shllings and pence
Still it was coming to that, whether | would
or no. OF course | could not marry on my cap
tains pay ours was not expensive regiment,
and | got on well enough on that and on the
interest three thousand pounds, which was
all my father had to leave me after providing
for my mother and sister. But marriage was
another matter. There was one thing could
do: join the staff Corps and exchange into
regiment of Indian cavalry, which would give
me better pay and a life that | should by no
means dislike: but Elias mother made such an
cutlery when this was proposed that we had to
abandon it. She did not, however, endeavor
TO induce her husband to give way, but on thu
contrary, did all in her power TO supplant me
in her daughters affections with Dal<yn, who GER
tainy was, according TO FER method OF gaugng
men, more suitable match.
While | was celebrating upon these things
I received most disagreeable letter from the
Reverend Cholmondely stating that he had been
informed of my having become an owner OF race
horses and therefore, as he entertained the strong
est disapprOval of evcryt thing connected WIN the
turf and as besides, | WAS in no position 10
marry his daughter, he must request me to resign
all pretenslOn 10 her hand as well as TO discontinue
"A correspondence which he learned had Decn
maintained without his knowledge or approval.
He further limited in the most delicate way that
Ella was contemplating an engagement with
gentleman of suitable means and position, and
that under the circumstances, | should have the
good sense TO see ETC. etc. But / was much too
angry to see anything except that he had Sug-
grstcd q falsehood. In my wrath lit my nicer
schaum with the obnoxious letter, hut it left p
sting behind it, inasmuch as it chimed in with
what my own conscience told me; only it is
one thing to be told ones duty by ones CON
science and another to have it dictated by
pompOus, purse proud-but, gently, l must not
abuse my lady-lOves father. He actually inter
ceptcd my next letter to Ella ana returned IL
unopened, / felt sure without her knowledge.
Well, / should see her at the Sherburton Hunt
ball. when resolved L would offer her her free
dom if she chose to accept It,
Shortly after receiving the aforementioned let
ter my luck in racing took turn, for SklttleS
won the first race she ran in the new year. ana
inspired me with the hope that she might do some
thing after all her trainer reporting 6 6hat sne was s
Four Oaks, but | was greatly elated, as may DC
imagined. | gave Geraldine her present, ana haa
her down to stay with me tor the pan "hch Coon
Mace at the end of the hunting season party
of us drove over from the barracks III the reBi-
mental drag, and Natty, who had just Deen riding
in their pont-to-pont races was TO be there, 700,
IIp took me aside as soon as we met, ana tOu me
that, as | had placed the mare In his hands, ne
had with Pcarces concurrence, entered ner LOT thc
CITY and Suburban-as the sporting reader Will De
aware. one of the chief spring handicaps, and
GREAT betting race-intelligence which L received
with lack Of interest that surprised my friend
Why, what's the matter, old chapP ne ex-
claimed: one would think the mare had gone
emiss or the fair Ella Tilted you Where did you
dine? You seem cup too low; It's rather early
to attack the champagne, but ., .o,a M.
Nonsense!" interposed, ana then | toIa MAJ
about the returned letter, and what had been said
~ Like his cheek" said Nat but the girl had
nothing to say to that, you bet"
Until tonight had thought the same, but now
hardly knew, for the cause OF my despondency
was this | did not enter the ballroom until late,
having sat over the caret at the Dlgby Grand
Hotel where we had dined, hearing about the red
coat race and being congratulated upon my own
success, and when dld so Ella was dancing win
Richard Dallyn. / waited until the music ceased,
and then went to ask her for the next valse; but
She codly said she was engaged long way on.
Thought she was annoyed at my want OF gallantry
IN being late but soon saw it something more
than that. Heavens could IT be that she was IN
concprt with her father, as he had limited in his
letter? | saw that she danced good deal with
Dal<vn and the suspicion increased until 1t became
unbearable. / hardly knew what to do WIN my
Self. was not sullIlng; II was nothing else uCin
sheer sorrow of heart Never till that moment
had I realized what it would cost me TO lose LILA
had come to the ball in the full resolve to offer
ber her freedom for her own advantage, but with
No Thought that she already prepared to take
the initiative At least / thought, almost with
tears in my eyes, she might be kinder over IL. L
could not dance with any one else in such state
nj mind / sought out Geraldine, who was stand
ing with Nat in an alcove OF curtains enjoying an
interval: but she could tell me nothing. Ella
had nodded TO her as they passed in the Dance and
that was all.
But. my dear boy" Jill said poking at me with
her fan, don't look like that; go and dance with
all the prettiest girls in the room; that Is the
quickest way to bring her round if she's cross with
And Mats counsel was the same in effect, if
more spOrtingly expressed.
Don't pull at her, old man: give her her head,
and she'll come 20 hand presently
Then they whirled off, leaving me goOmng in
their a,cove until another youthful couple plunged
i'm out of the circling throng, the lad glazing at
me with such evident disgust at finding the sweet
retreat already occupied that moved off in con-
fusion.
Oh. that ball, how sick l WAS of it! Never shall
forget those dreary hours with the giddy dancers
iostlng me hither and thther, and the band din
ming its endless valses and pokas into my weary
earsl Nowhere could l find refuge; every cor
ner was occupied by amatOry, merely firtatiOus,
couples sitting out" who resented my approach
with indignant scowls Capital ball y said every
man knew. =" Not dancing, old fellow? let me
introduce YOU" etc. At last, when medi-
tating a retreat to the hotel smoIng-room until
il should be over, before / could escape, the
NJ F. II. accosted me: Here Martindale, you
are doing nothing; take in Mrs Tuckington to
supper; there's good fellow (; l had TO give
nv arm TO a ponderous matron Just as Ella glided
by me in the arms OF DalSyn He whispered to
st,ot a.. 10 Hntett
course | thought, and she answered with a smile,
without even glance in my direction How lovely
she looked, all radiant with the exercise, and her
perfect form swaying 20 the rapturous strains of
Parfait Amour" They were dancing well.
81" What beautiful girl that Miss Davenport
is remarked my companion; Is il true she is