New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-16
THE DUCHESS DILEMMA.

ana aau,nns from her brother Thus they were
enabled to keep up very large es'aolisnnienC anu
live in very stately fashion handsome and die.
bad xerV few opinions Of his own, but was al
ready to xsey dd her best se to s
his Appearing the nonentity he was, by constantly
auotipg him as an authority: The Duke says"
Duke h Of the nb4ases that
1eT The Duchess, besides being clever was won
derfully handsome woman, nearly as tall asher as her
that though somewhat severely classical were
wonderfully beautiful Sic always wore hand
s pnceless lace and magnificent jewels-kno~tqs
that they became her right we'll She was terribly
proud, and never ceased TO deplore the state of
~9 Tss ong Child of this couple the Marquis
Eliot, was alas, sad disappointment TO his
parents. He was small, insignitcqntlookins' and
s ,syby delicate, and In Consequence he had never
hem able to 90 TO school, but had tutor and
masters at home. The one advantage IN this ar
rangement being, as his mother said ne would Is
and Harrow are becoming terribly mixed. Inc
great aim of vulgar. pushing people is to send
their sons TO one Of these schools. 50 as 70 enect
an introduction to boys Of o class superior to their
OWL"
Perhaps owing to his never having been to
hoS and his E hnNnS kept sbp IN
and awkward; he seldom spoke and made no 90
for any particular hne-he was neither politician.
scholar. nor sportsman, and disliked society. In
tact. be was merely deadly dull young man.
As soon as his coming -of-age" festivities were
for her SON. 1t was important he should marry.
The Dukes next brothers eldest son was fast
and .extrayagant and had married a
fsS family ssnfsy ana the thought
she should ever be Duchess OF Skye was intoler-
abb. So many eligible young ladies, whose birth
and breeding were such as to make them suitable
and desirable for SO high position. were invited
with their parents 70 visit the Duke and Duchess
In hopes that Lord Eliot would fancy one Of them
That any wen-brought,up girl should think OF re-
Duchess head. Alas! one after the other came
and went-Lord Eliot made no sign-he avoided
the syrcns and all. and il forced to be Ia their
hardly SPOKE Swo Ees ssa s se
ought to marry. Eliot; and he always replied
mcekly: Yes, mamma. by-and-b by" still nc
progress did he make to the desired end.
The winter Of S. was very severe. The Mar
caused great anxiety Then the doctors said he
must spend the spring in warmer climate Nice
was chosen. and, as his parents were unable &c
leave home at that time, the Duchess settled THAI
her nephew, Lord George Chatfeld. younger son
Of her brother, the Marquis Of Dsnecourt, should
accom- eny bis cousin.
Lord George was rather Q fhvorite Of hsauntS.
He was an astute young gentleman, knew how TO
play upon her weak points, and bad early found
his father could easily be spent before the next
years instsrnent was due, an occasional tip from
the Duchess, w1io was most generous TO those she
liked. was by no means unweleome. 30 ne had'
with q good grace. endured the dulness Of Craig:
holme Castle, Psnshere Park, the Wilderness and
various other abodes Of the Dukes, ana tAe
society Of his still duller cousin many time and
oft; knowing that when his visit drew TO close
u check for a really substantial sum would find It's
way from his aunt's possession into his not I'M
willing hand.
lie really was Of o kindly nature, and thou gb
himself q good shot and fearless rider. did not
olrnly show that he despised Lord Eliot and con;
sidercd him q poor creature" because he could
do neither. Consequently, his cousin had more
lions. who never concealed their contempt for q
w:ctched weakhng who has no manliness about
him. as they were won't TO think and say
visit to Nice at that time suited LORD George
with q. liberal hand, and at the moment be was
a He expressed rs.e T. So temporary absence from
'e cry place like Nice. and within reach Of Monte
c. rio. was not at al a bad prospect. The prepare.
tins were soon made, rooms In the best hotel
taken. and accompanied by courier, Wallets and a
whole paraphernaEs OF travelling comforts pro,
vidcd by the Duchess. the cousins left England
and fog for bright skies, clear air and all the othr
delights Of the sunny South of France.
L0ru Eu0t wrOIe nome regularly. Ills
were like himseh-not very interesting. fecl
stronger. and George and have been on several
long drives The weather Is charming-so nice TO
So uS out T Has ssns Sd RS II two Sy
sum and substance Of all his letters 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 dhotc. George
thinks il will be cheerful than in our private
apartment he explained. Altogether the Nice
The Duke and Duchess were spending the spriu9
months at Panshere Park. The post arrived ut
brealsfast-tme. and one morning early in April
the Duchess found pile Of letters beside her plate
lone from Eliot" she said. taking It. up and
opening 1t: and. MS usual. began 70 read it aloud
My Dear Mamma You have always urged me
Of nv engagement. I trust you will like Maud =
she Il very pretty. and says her waist is only
'e'eA''A l''''' ELIOT
Engagedi" exclaimed both parents. WHO
can it be-why does he not write more fully ?
Maudp II must be one Of the Fullarton girls, J
know they are at Nice. and they are the only people
he has mentioned In his letters And the Duchess
had went to the ora ana anS tnrnea W ~
entry, Glanmere. Duke Of" and hastily glanced
down the long list OF children Yes, i must be-
Hs third daughter 1 knew Alice Glanmsre
brought out q girl this year, and she was Thought
very pretty; they are oil charmingly we'll bred and
accomplished; nothing couiu pc Ue1~'' VIC m"''
vrte TO the dear boy at once"
NO doubt. my love, you are right. So clever
Il you to guess it for Eliots letter Is very vague
Ali here's a letter from Jane Croniey from ron,
the Gfanmeres so wells And the Duchess hastily
opened another letter in q thin fsreisn envelope
and read aloud:
Dearest Katharine: do not wish 70 De ON.
cious and tisagreeahe, but do think u rlght you
should know that Eliot is making himself very
sss.uuus here with family HslisS ISSiSon
. 1readfui name Dear Maud will soon stop
thatsj They are staying at his hotel. which Is Is
doubtless how he met them. ana tof me iase
fortnight, wherever they 20, Eliot ID an attend
suoe. They are as vulgar as their name. The
mother quite too impossible; the daughters pretty
2 hsshy, underbred style, and ridiculo'nns,y y
Alice Ghumere, who stayed ut the same hotel
va hcrtAed TO see Eliot In such comrany. She
@ nef charming girls have now gone to fiorfne
but he va "a iufatsa ia nth Miss Maud J0bson