Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-22
THE DUCHESS DILEMMA.

| surrounded them. The dukes property was Of
great extent aud value, and the duchess had
also inherited large fortune from her brother
Thus they were enabled to keep up a very
large establishment and live in q very stately
| fashion.
The duke was extremely handsome and dig
nified, and truth to tell. exceedingly dull He
had very few opinions of his own, but was al
ways ready to adopt those of his really clever
wife; and she. wisely, did her best to prevent
his appearing the nonentity he was. by con-
stantly quoting him as an authority; "The
duke says -" or, 'the duke is of the opin-
ion" or, 1.-The duke wishes. being
phrases that frequently fell from her lips
The duchess, beside being clever was a
wonderfully handsome woman, nearly as tall
as her husband, with queenly presence. and
! features that, though somewhat severely clas-
steal, were wonderfully beautiful She always
wore handsome clothes-rich velvets. satins
ana brocaces, priceless lace and magnificent
Jeweis-knowing tina. they became her right
well. She was terribly proud and never
ceased to deplore the state Of modern society.
The only child of this couple. the Marquis
OF Eliot, was. alas, sad disappointment to his
parents. lie was small, signihcant-looking,
and anything but clever. As child he had
been terribly delicate, and in consequence he
! had never been able to GO to school, but had a
tutor and masters at home. The one advan-
tage in this arrangement being, his mother
said: He would not make undesirable ac-
quaintances both Eton and Harrow are becom-
ing terribly mixed. The great aim Of vulgar.
pushing people is to send their sons to one of
these schools, SO as to effect an introduction 10
boys of a class superior to their own"
Perhaps owing to his never having been to
school, and his dalicscy having kept him much
in the background, Lord Eliot was extremely
shy and awkward; he seldom spoke, and made
no friends. AS he grew up, the duchess i'll
! despair about him-he showed absolutely no
taste for any particular lne-he was neither
| politician, scholar nor sportsman, and disliked
society. In fact, he was merely deadly dull
young man.
AS soon as his "coming-of-age" festivities
were over. the duchess began to look out for a
wife for her son. 1t was important he should
marry. The dukes next brothers eldest son
was fast and extravagant. and had married a
rapid little lady whose conduct scandalized her
husbands family terribly; and the thought
| that she should ever be duchess OF Skye
was intolerable. SO many eligible young
ladies whose birth and breeding was such
! as to make them suitable and desira-
BILE for SO high position, were invited
with their parents to visit the duke and
duchess. in hopes that Lord Eliot would fancy
| one OF them. That any well-brought-np girl
should think OF refusing so great an alliance
| never entered the duchess head. Alas! one
! after the other came and wexford Eliot
| made no sign-he avoided the svrens. one and
all, and, if forced to be in their company
| hardly spoke. For two years this had gone on:
the duchess had frequently said You ought
| to marry, Eliot" and he always replied meekly:
Yes, mamma by-and-by." still no progress
/ did he make 20 the desired end.
The winter OF lSS- was very severe. THE
marquis caught chill. and for some weeks his
health caused great anxiety. Then the doctors
said he must spend the spring in warmer
/ climate. Nice was chosen, and. as his parents
| were unable to leave home at that time the
duchess settled that her nephew, Lord George
| Chatheld. younger son of her brother, the
marquis OF Danecourt should accompany his
| cousin. -
Lord George was rather a favorite of his
aunts. He was an astute young gentleman.
knew how to play upon her weak points. and
had early found that as the very liberal allow
ance he received from his father could easily
be spent before the next years instament was
DUE an occasional tip" from the duchess
who was most generous to those she liked, was
| by no means unwelcome. SO he had with q
good grace endured the dullness Of Craigholme
castle. Panshere park, the Wilderness. and var
louS other abodes of the dukes. and the society
| OF his still duller cousin many time and oft:
knowing that when his visit drew to a close a
check for really substantial sum would find
Its way from his aunt's possession into his not
unwilling hand. g.
He really was of kindly nature. and. though
himself good shot and fearless rider did not
| openly show that he despised Lord Eliot and
considered him poor creature" because he
could do neither. Consequently, his cousin
had more liking for George than for any of the
| other relations, who never concealed their con-
tempt for a ''wretched weakling who has no
manlinsss about him." as they were wont to
think and say.
A visit to Nice at that time suited Lord
George admirably. He knew all expenses
would be paid with liberal hand and at the
moment he was specially hard up-"Very much
In Snort street. as he expressedit. So tempo
rary absence from home and too rmportunate
duns, IN bright and CHEEKY place like Nice,
and within reach Of Monte Carlo. was not at
all bad prospect. The preparations were
soon made, rooms in the best hotel taken and
| accompanied by courier, Wallets. and a whole
paraphernalia of travelling comforts provided
| by the duchess, the cousins left England and
fog for bright skies, clear air. and all the other
delights of the sunny south of France
Lord Eliot wrote home regularly His letters
| were like himself-not very interesting II
feel stronger, and George and have been on
several long drives. The weather is charm
| ing-so nice to go out without being nipped in
| two by an east wind. Hope you are both we'll {"
This was the sum and substance of all his let
tiers. and his parents, knowing their son, did
not expect more.
After two months at Nice Lord Eliot wrote
| that. feeling much better, his cousin had per-
| suaded him to dine at the table d'hote
| ''George thinks it will be more cheerful than
in our private apartment" he explained. AL
| together, the Nice trip seemed to be a success
| The duke and duchess were spending the
| spring months at Panshere Park. The post ar
rived at breakfast time, and one morning early
in April the duchess found pile of letters be-
side her plate.
Zone from Eliot" she said taking it up and
opening it; and, as usual, began to read it
| aloud
MY Dear Mamma: You have always urged rne To
marry 80 am sure you will be glad to hear Of my
pretty and says her waist is only seventeen inches
Your affectionate son, ELIOT
"Engaged?" exclaimed both parents. who
| can it be-why does he not write more fully
Maud? 1t must be one of the Fullarton girls
| / know they are at Nice. and they are the onIy
people he has mentioned in his letters" And
| the duchess hurriedly went to the library and
returned with large peerage, which she
| opened and turned to the entry, "Glaumere
| Duke of, and hastily glanced down the long
list Of children. 'Yes. it must be-" and she
read out: l." Lady Maud Geraldine Flora. the
| third daughter / knew Alice GIaumere
brought out girl this year. and she was
thought very pretty; they are all charminpIy
well-hred and accomplished; nothing could be
| better. We must write to the dear bow at
once"
| mo doubt, my love, you are right. So clever
| Of you to guess it, for Eliots letter is very
| vague"
| "Ah here's letter from Jane Cromley from
| Nice-perhaps this will tell US something-she
| knows the Glanmeres 30 WE'LL" And the
duchess hastily opened another letter in a thin
foreign envelope, and read aloud:
dearest Katharine: do not wish to be ofiicou.
and dsasreesbls, but do think i right You should