Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-20
CHAPTER VI.
THE AGONY OF MR.. wrSKa "


rage to Herrck Brentham, Blankhamp-
ton society had been pretty well kept
agog by the various reports which eman-
ated from the River house concerning the
great event Such q wonderful marriage
had never before taken place within the
memory OF man and the stream OF grand
ideas which was let loose on the world in
general by each and every member of the
Antrobus family. had been really so gor
geous, so grand so out OF the common,
that people began to think there was
something in this talk Of Russian bridal
tours. continental travel, Mediterranean
yachting. town houses. saddle horses.
riding habits aud the like.
But all their grand expectations had re
solved themselves into trip to London to
see the pantomimcs, and a joint stock
wedding present from the Brentham
family Of plated tea and coffee servicel
So now it was no longer the custom of the
Antrobuses to speak Of Mrs. Herrick
Brentham as a young lady who had made
great marriage. Mrs Antrot as, on the
contrary, invariably spoke Of her with
tender and gentle pitt Toto married
80 very young. poor child-and quite
love match"
Since Polly's engagement to Mr.. Man
and her spouse had shrunk into very small
potatoes indeed. OF truth. there never
was SO much money gathered together in
one heap before as that which constituted
Mr. Manlarins fortune-that is. il you in
any way went by what Mrs. Antrobus had
to say about It. And not only was Thel
ston house the most exquisite museum Of
art treasures ever gathered together In
any private house before but Polly would
have men servants and maid servants as
boots and shoes are bought for the outfit
or trousseau Of 4 royal princess-by the
gross; she would have carriages and
horses as other people have cups and
saucers, and Thelston house was so well
furnished with silver plate of every kind
and shane that Polly requested her friends
In general to be kind enough to make
their wedding presents personal and in
the shape of jcweiry-
And she was to have house In town.
to be near Toto in the season. which some
people who knew the sisters well thought
slightly necessary-judging by the dis
play Of affection between them. that is to
say.
And then people began to ask. just as
Beautiful Jim had done of Mrs Trafford,
what Mr.. Mandarin was like. Mrs. An
trobus skillfully fenced the question
oh. n perfect gentleman In every way
and dc vo ted to Polly Not tall'-as If
for man to be tall was as great disad-
vantage as for a London house to be big
but very athletic-quite an athlete, in
fact. Out every morning by 6 o'clock for
swim. winter aud summer, then has .
few miles run on his bicycle before break.
fast. lie hunts and shoots and belongs to
the ieomaury'- and really then Mrs
Antrobus was Obliged to stop short and
look at her hearcr as if to say, What
moro would you havef''
1t is surprising how accession to or con
tact with great wealth smooths our path,
For many weeks Mrs Antrobus had been
In a con- ''i p quandarv about Lord Char
terhou knowing whether 1t would
be best ta Upon his bride or leave 1t
alone. yet "ae afternoon when she was
calling upon Mrs Trs Cord and the Char
terhouses were announced. Mrs Antrobus
was more than equal TO the occasion.
which was certainly just rs well, for little
Mr.. Winks' turned as white as chalk.
and his knees fairly knocked together as
II he had met with his death blow
Polly was not there Mrs Antrobus sat
In a fat mass upon sofa. like . queen
upon throne. and received Lord Charter
blandest and most charitable smile in the
world
oh How do you do. Lord Charter
housel" she began Il am so charmed to
see you Pray introduce me to your
Wife
And then she apologized for not having
called upon Lady Charterhouse long b
fore.
| The fact is" she explained to Mrs
! Trafforis intense amusement. II have
been to stay with my daughter who lives
In town. Poor child. she is very young
and have to go and look after her now
and then ."
| Il hope she is we'll. said Mrs Trafford.
/ politely, while MIR Winks" gave a muir
muir, which he meant for an inquiry after
/ the Antrobus family in general.
! ''0h. quite we'll. thanks. Very much
delighted at her sisters engagement. Of
course. returned she. more blandly still
"Oh,-is Miss Antrobus began Lord
Char;erhouse. then stopped short and sat
staring at the stout lady on the sofa with
ell his soul in his eyes,
"Yes. Polly is going to be married i'm
mediately." replied Mrs. Antrubus, com
placeutly. as ii the match was entirely Of
her making and she had . right to be
proud Of it.
Indeed No-I-I-had not heard Of
It," returned the wretcbed Mr. Winks"
with q stammer which would have be-
trayed him to his wife had not ne Just at
that moment been talking to Mrs. Traf-
ford. who. by the bye. coutrived to keep
one eye and one ear open. so tsat nothing
passing between MIR Winks' and Mrs
AntrobIis might escape her.
Really. that is surprising" returned
Mrs. Antrobus. in quite a patroniziag air
Of Indulgence for his ignorance Il
thought every one knew it.
In truth it 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 to kick from horse. and this was
the first time he had bsen ont. 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 Autro-
bus in Lady Charterhouss's presence. OF
as they already called her among them
selves. Mira Winks."