Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-09
CHAPTER L.

Short may therefore be taken as the excep-
tion which proves the rule. The acquaint-
ance between these two ladies was highly
beneficial to both of them; for Miss Short
got by Lady Bsgshot's means an introduc-
ton to the vely cream and flower of London
society, and Lady Bagshot had the pleasure
Of chaperoning a young lady who was very
good looking and vivacious, and was re-
ported 10 be enormously rich. and this diff
cult and delicate duty was intensely agree
able to her ladyship.
Miss Short was, in fact, so very attractive
that Lady Bagshot's own importance in So
ciety was immensely increased. Ubicunque
fuerit corpus, lille congregabuntur et
aquila. Heiresses are run after in these
days, and Lady Bagshot's drawing room
where the furniture was rather dingy and
tarnished-could now be filed whenever she
pleased with the choicest specimens of our
gilded youth. This was highly agreeable
to her ladyship, who used mentally to run
over a list of distinguished names with the
greatest satisfaction. There were the men
whose acquaintance with Miss Short had
deepened into an admiration prophetic OF
Enqlefeld Green, a prominent member OF
the Four-in-Hand Club and the best-dressed
man in London. Nobody could be run after
more than he was, and yet be found time to
ACCEPT all Lady Bagshot's invitations.
Again, there was the marquis Of Hammer
smith, who had recently succeeded to the
title, and who was the possessor OF the
famous Hammersmith diamonds. There
were a great many others. Miss Short was
the success of the season, and Lady Bagshot
was not a little proud of it, and her satlstac-
tion reached its highest pitch when she had
to chaperon her lair charge at certain
garden party, where the fair guest was dis
tinguished by the special regard of a per-
sonage.
'I suppose" she reflected, ''it's partly be-
cause she is an American. For 1 don't
think [ ever saw so many nlce-looklng girls
out as there are this season.
Lady Bagshot had made Miss Shorts &C.
ouaintance in this way. There had been in
the early part of the spring a party Of
American ladies staying at the Hotel Cos
nopolitan, and one of them had letter of
Introduction. On her second visit she
brought with her two other members of the
party, one of whom she introduced as Miss
Evangeline S. Short, of Gettysburgville.
"Gettysburgville is one of our Western
cities, said the young lady from Boston, as
if to apologize for any defects which might
be discernible in her friend.
But Lady Bagshot took a fancy to the
young lady from Gettysburgville, and this
on further acquaintance developed into an
affectiOnate admiration.
''She is extremely nice" her ladvship re-
marked to the baronet, her husband; 'very
good looking, and then she dresses we'll.
And she is SO unsophisticated, so unconven-
tional. 1 am really very fond of her in
deed"
Then came day near the end of April
when Miss Short came to say gOodby.
81 am very much obliged to you, Lady
Bagshot," said the girl. 'I'm real sorry
that I've got to 60. 1 suppose you're not
likely to be in the States?"
Lady Bagshot expressed the greatest dis
may at this news.
''You are going away" she said, 'just
when the season is about to begin. 1t is quite
ridiculous. You really ought to stop-you
must stop-tin Ascot at least.
"Weu, replied the young lady, 81 guess
I'd as soon stay. But don T see how can.
The rest of our partvis going to Italy to
look at pictures. Going to study the early
Italian masters, b'lieve. guess don't
want to study much. 1 want to have good
time, and not to 60 fooling round lot of
galleries.
''Then why do you gO?" asked her lady
ship.
'irm not going" Evangeline replied.
1--WE seen as many pictures in London as
want to see. / don't feel like pictures
every daY. I'm going back to the States.
Maybe, I'll come over again in the fall.
tBut then the season will be over, said
Lady Bagshot, her voice mounting almost
to q scream. London will be empty; there
won't be soul in town"
sis that so?" replied Miss Short. "Well,
I'm real sorry. But suppose can't stop
over here by myself, not even with maid.
They don't do that sort of thing in this
country, I'm told. might ask mamma to
come out, and maybe she would. But she
don't often care to voyage much"
Lady Bagshot took great resolution.
stop with me-" she said. "Why
shouldn't you? 1 shall be delighted to
have you, aud there's lots of room in the
house"
Miss Short jumped up and kissed Lady
Bagshot on both cheeks
This is so kind of YOU, Lady Bagshot,"
she said. "I'd Just love to stop, butt
might be in your way. you know"
Lady Bagshot protested vehemently
against this supposition.
"Well, then" said the fair Evangeline,
"I guess I'll stop. I'm just dying to see
London season. that's the fact And don't
think I'll want much room; I've only four
trunks"
Now 1t was Lady Bagshot's turn to ad-
minister salute to her young friend. She
did so with the appropriate enthusiasm, and
then begged her to commence her stay at
once.
"I'll come tomorrow" Evangeline said
and tell her what I'm going to do. I've
taken my berth In the Tuscany, but sup
pose can let that Slide
And so it happened that Miss Short came
to live with Lady Bagshot, and under her
protection made her debut on the stage of
society.
During the first day or two of her stav
Lady Bagshot asked herself with a little
uneasiness whether she had not been little
rash in taking up so very decidedly a girl
of whom she really knew so little, but these
misgivings did not last long. She never
doubted that Miss Short was very rich, and
that was great thing. And then she liked
her, which was perhaps nearly as much.
One morning, however, during the early
days of Miss Shorts residence, her ladyship
did undergo a certain amount of alarm.
About IL o'clock it occurred to her that
she haQD7 I seen ner young cnarge 10r some
time, and was told that Miss Short had gone
out
with Sir HenrY?" she inquired, in the
tone of one who was sure of the answer.
''No, nv lady," replied the footman who
had given the information; Miss Short went
out alone. 1t was more than a hour
ago." be added solemnly.
LADY BagshOt's dismay didn't last very
long. for lust as she was sending the tidings
to her husband at his club, Evangeline
drove ND in a hanson, bright and beaming.
FWelI, YOU see, she said in explanation,
81 wanted some candy, and thought there
must be q candy store on Oxford street. 1