Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-20
CHAPTER v.

It must be owned that the news Of Polly
Antrobus' engagement not only spread
like wildfire throughout her native city Of
DlanGhampton, but it also created great
sensation wherever 1t penetrated
She was SO pretty. so gentle and dreamy.
aud she had been so singularly unfortu-
nate in her previous love affairs. Men had
gone for her ay. and had gone desperately
hard too-men Of high degree. with every
thing 10 recommend them.
First. she had been engaged to the Hon
orable Eliot Cardclla. but she had given
him up that she might fly at higher game
la the form Of his elder brother, Bat
after all. Lord Cardclla had not laid him
self anl his title ut her feet. though he
had eventually bestowed them upon far
less worthy person.
Then there had been an unfortunate
affair with one. Darcy was his name, If
| mistake not. who did not happen to
mention. when his regiment marched into
Biankhamptou, that his little wife had
gone abroad for the winter. OF course II
was very pleasant for u man deprived of
his wife for the time to be philandcring
after one of the prettiest girls in the
town. but it was little unfortunate
that Mrs Antrobns announced the en-
gagement in n scmi-utlicial manner, when
there was all the time that insurmounta
bic obstacle in the back ground.
And thcu there was Lord Charterhouse
the Mr. Walks" of the Black Horse
who had gone for Polly. too-goue, ay,
that was so, indeed ono over head and
ears. pas, and beyond all sense and honor
and yet he had taken himself away from
Blaukhnmptou without d word OF warning
aud had married his cousin, Lady Nell
Temple. after all
Assuredv the love affairs OF the de
lightful Polly had not so far been taken
at that food which leads to matrimonial
fame and fortune, and from one cause or
another the good people OF Blankhsmpton
took sort OF proprietary interest therein;
they wanted to see the end of Polly,
Was this indeed to he the end OF all her
dreams and hopes and wishes2 Was this
to be the end of her great expectations
1t was hard. very hard Three times
she had deemed herself within an ace OF
being my Lady" for tho rest Of her life:
three times had gay and gallant men Of
noble birth laid themselves down at her
feet and apparently - worshiped her.
And this was To be the end
She had borne with dignity and Ger
younger sister. To- To, who had married q
well to do but brietless barrister of hum
bic origin some time before. and she had
made up her mind that when she should
be Lady Charterhouse To- 0s husband.
Mr. llerrick Breutham, should have but
little intercourse with her or hers. But,
alas, alas Lord Charterhouse had failed
her and had etfectually cut off forever
NJ oil t,ur = oh of hntn NO
on his visiting list-for the Lady Charter
house of today would as soon have
though, of asking her husbands troopers
to dinner as Of asking him.
There had been a certain awkwardness
In the minds OF both Lord Charterhouse
and the Antrubus family rs to the best
course to pursue when the noble bride and
groom returned from their honeymoon tc
take up their quarters ut the Golden
Swan More than once Mr. Winks" had
hinted to his wife that be was sick and
tired of the service. ard would be best
pleased II he turned his back upon II.
More than once he really thought he
should send In his papers.
But Lady Charterhouse was the same
breezy. strong willed girl that she had
been as Lady Neil Temple, and but little
heed did she give TO her lord anu master S
hints and deprecating efforts to get out
Of going back to Blankhampton. She
had always had a strong fancy for trying
what life in the service was like. and she
had no idea Of being. as she put it. com
ple,ely done out OF it because Charter
house chooses to have a fit of laziness."
Thus she carried the day. and they wen,
to Blankhampton at the expiration OF his
leave. and took up their quarters at the
Golden Swan.
1t was very awkward for Nj. Winks -
He knew tina, he had behaved shame
fully bad to Polly from first to last He
told himself-uow that be was safely
married to some one else--that fond as he
was OF Nell. and convenient as his mar
riage had been for family reasons, Polly
was the one woman In the world who
would have suited him personally down
to the ground He told himself tina. he
had been 9 scoundrel. for he had made
Polly fond Of him. and so--from some
sense Of shame. or some feeling Of deli
cacy-he never said a single word about
her to his wife. but when he found that
his feeble efforts TO get out Of the diff
Guilty of meeting her by leaving the serv-
Ice had proved unavaiing. he went back
to BlanShanpton and let matters take
their own course.
On the other hand. Mrs. Antrobus
simply did not know what to do. She
never for one moment suspected that Lord
Charterheuse bad scrupulously avoided
mentioning the name Of Antrobus to his
wife. and she felt that it was incumbent
upon her to call upon Lady Char,erhouss
IS soon as possible after her arrival In
BlAnkhampton; but unfortunately Polly.
with that desperate courage which even .
shsep will show on certain occasions. ab-
soiutsly and without any circumlocutioa
whatever refused to 70 with her
But, Polly, 70 have been 50 intimate.
abs expostuiated; and THAT viii 1t look
hkss What viii people think
" don't eass what psopls think.