Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-02-15
A!JlIRUL JIM.
By JOHN STANCE WINTER.
Cr;APTER VI.


nSSe TO Herr.ck Brentham, Blankhamp
Ton society had been pretty well KEEP.
agog by the various reports which eman
ated from the River house concerning til.
great event. Such wonderful marriac,
had never before taken place within tn,
memory of man. and the stream of CRANE
ideas which was let loose on the world il
general by each and every member Of III,
Antrobus family. had been really so gor
;-eous. so grand, So out of the common
that people began to think there Wa.
something in this talk of Russian brda
tours, continental travel, Mediterranean
yachting. town houses, saddle horses
riding habits and the like.
But all their grand expectations had re
solved themselves into q trip to London tt
see the pantomimes, and a joint stool
wedding present from the Brenthan
family of 4 plated tea and coffee service
80 no'- It was no longer the custom of :ht
AA.robuses to speak Of Mrs. Herricl
l;rentham as young lady who had made
= great marriage Mrs. Antrobus. on IL.
contrary, invariably spike of her with f
tender and gentle pity. Toto marie,
so very young. poor child-and quite t
love match"
Since Polly's engagement to Mr.. Man
DARN, Of Liverpool and Shanghai. To 'rt
and her spouse had shrunk into very small
potatoes indeed. OF a truth. there never
was SO much money gathered together il
one heap before rs that which constituted
Mr. Mandarin's fortune-that is, if you i,
any way went by what Mrs Antrobus la,
to say about it. And not only was Thcl
ston house the most exquisite museum OF
art treasures ever gathered together H.
any private house before, but Polly would
have men servants and maid servants az
boots and shoes are bought for the outfit
or trousseau of o royal princess-by I'll.
gross; she would have carriages and
horses as other people have cups and
furnished with silver plate of every kind
and shape that Polly requested her friends
in general to be kind enough to make
their wedding presents personal and il,
the shape of jewelry.
And she was to have q house il torn
to be near Toto in the season. which scme
people who knew the sisters well though
slightly unnecessa-y-judging by the d.,
play Of affection between them, that is t.
say.
And then people began to ask. just AZ
Beautiful Jim had done of Mrs. Trafford
what Mr.. Mandarin was like. Mrs. An
trobus skillfully fenced the question.
"Oh. a perfect gentleman In every way.
and de ted to Polly. Not tall"-as il
for man to be tall was as great disad
vantage as for London house to be big
but very athletic-Quite IN athlete, in
fact. Out every morning by 6 o'clock for
swim, winter and summer; then has a
few miles run on his bicycle before break
fast. He hunts and shoots and belongs &c
the Yeomanry"- and really then Mrs
Antrobus was obliged to stop short and
look at her nearer as If to say. "What
nore would you haveY"
1t is surprising how accession to or con
tai with great wealth smooths our path
For many weeks Mrs. Antrobus had beer
in a complete quandary about Lord Char
terhouse. not knowing whether it woul,
be best to call upon his bride or leave j
alonc. yet ono afternoon when she W:
railing upon Mrs. Trafford and the Char
te-houses were announced. Mrs. Antrobus
was more than equal to the occasion,
which was certainly just as well. for little
Mr.. Winks" turned Is white a. chalk.
aud his knees fairly knocked together as
II he had met with his death blow
Polly was not there. Mrs. Antrobus sat
In fat mass upon . sofa. like . queen
upon throne. and received Lord Charter.
houses deprecating greeting with the
blandest and most charitable smile In the
world
"Ohi How do you do. Lord Charter.
housef" she began. II am 30 charmed to
see you. Pray introduce me to your
wife" Ys
And then she apologized for not having
called upon Lady Charterhouse long be.
fore.
The fact ID. (" she explained to Mrs.
Trafford's intense amusement, Il have
been to stay with my daughter who lives
in town. Poor child, abe Is very young.
and | have to 60 and look after her now
and then"
Il hope shs is well. T" said Mrs. Tranord,
politely, while 'Mr. Winks" gave q muir
inur. which he meant for IN inquiry after
the Antrobus family in general
''Oh, quite well, thanks. Very much
delighted at her sisters engagement. Of
course. returned she. moro blandly still
''Ohl-is Miss Antrobus"- Lord
Charterhouse. then stopped short and sat
staring ct the stout lady on the sofa with
all his soul In his eyes.
mediately," replied Mrs. AntrObus, com.
placently, - II the match was entirely Of
her making and she had . right to b
proud Of it.
indeed No-I-I-had not heard Of
it." returned the wretched Mr.. Winks"
with q stammer which would have b.
trayed him to his wife had not she Just at
that moment been talking to Mrs. Traf.
Cord. who. BY the bye. contrived to keep
one eye and one ear open. 20 that nothing
passing between Mr.. Winks'' and Mrs..
Antrobus might escape her.
Really. that 10 surprising" returned
Ars. Antrobus, in quite . petrouixing air
Of indulgence for his ignorance. Il
thought every one knew It.
In truth It was not ct Ill surprising
that he had mot heard Of Il, 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 been out. True,
several officers Of his own and the Blank.
shire regiment had been to SEQ him since
he had been laid BY, but not ono Of them
had quite liked 70 mention Polly Antro-
bus in Lady Charterhouse's presence. or
q they already called her among them
selves. "Ars. Winks."
mo: had not heard have been laid
up. L-got kicked by horse the other
day. And Miss Antrobus Il going to be
married. l hope she viii Be very happy"
He looked 1t the stout and complacent
old lady with wistfulness which would
have touched the heart Of any woman less
tance. Mira Trafford saw It, and pitied
the little lord profoundly; but Mrs. An
trobus perceived nothing, and babbled
blandly on.
"Oh. yes-yes-it Is quite m ideal
marriage In every way"
Little "Mr. Winks" fairly writhed. II
he could only have got away; but a. they
had Just come in he could mot in decency
signal to his wife that he wanted to be
moving on. Even had they come before
Mrs. Antrobus, he did not know that sig.
mailing to 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 her
outspoken unconventional spirit, had not
noticed his signals Of distress.
Meantime. Mrs. Antrobus had changed
her seat, and to Mr.. Winks'" horror
and dimay had established herself ON the |
very sofa upon which Lady Charterhouse |
was sitting.
BE watched the two in IN agony of |
dread. no less, for he knew Mrs. Antrobus |
" 4 !, |