Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-06

why couldn't Lady Kendall have
told me what his line lisp" thought Mrs.
Mostyn, CHANGING at her partner as she
settled herself in her place. Il hate
talking to a man | know nothing
about! Sport-art-the Gaiety? What
shall it be? | know-polo! All En-
glishmen play polo and if they don't
they like you to think they do"
But it was not, after all, of polo that
Mr.. Algernon Upham conversed. He
had hundred amusing stories TO tell
stories of the theatrical world in
London, of great people in Vienna, of
the ateliers in Paris.
You paint, then?" asked Mrs.
Mostvn, when the talk turned Oh the
last subject.
Il used to- said Upham modestly
81 have almost given it up now; in
fact, l think it gave me up. l spent
five years working in the Paris studios,
and at the end of that time I came to
the conclusion that | knew almost
nothing about it."
'Ah, that is your modesty. I am
sure on do know all about it. replied
the lady sweetly; and then there was a
little pause, during which the young
man smiled and hesitated, as if he were
about to say more. Mrs. Mostyn, feel
ing that she had unwittingly touched
on personal matters, adroitly turned
the talk into another channel. The
American was charmed with her neigh
Dor. He was not only young. hand
some. aud amusing but he seemed Ono
slight virtue in the eyes Of Mrs. Mostyn)
to be connected with various smart
and imposing English families. With
the enterprise of her sex and nation
she determined to annex Algie. What
charming young man." she thought.
'to take to the play. to square one in
the park, and to had cups of tea on
ones at home daym He had such
perfect taste and such an eye for color,
for when the talk, as it sometimes will,
turned on chiffons, Mrs. Mostyn was
astonished to hear her neighbour give
an almost subtly feminine opinion on
some point in dispute.
"Why, | believe you know more
about it than | do" declared the lady,
laughing.
well. l ought to, I suppose"
Mrs. Mostyn was so mystified that,
for perceptible instant, she found alb
solutely nothing to say. He evidently
imagined that she knew all about him.
With the tact of her sex, Mrs. Mostyn
promptly turned the talk into gener-
alities again, determining to ask her
hostess all about her fascinating neigh
Dor as soon as the ladies reached the
drawing-room.
But the fates were against her. Lady
Kendall was monopolized by an elderly
matron, who never let 90 her hostess
till the men appeared from the dining
room, and when they did so it was
Algie Upham who slipped into the
vacant chair by Mrs. Mostyn's side.
This was maneuver that is not in the
nature of woman to withstand.
Come and dine with me on Friday
night" she said, as she at last rose to
go; 100 Lowndes square s o'clock.
Don't say you can't; one or two nice
people are coming.n
Il shall be more than charmed" re-
piled the young man, bending, in his
pretty, half-foreign way, over the
lady's hand; "but you'll come to my
place one day, won't you? Lady Ken
ual Is coming tomorrow.
why, yes, think [ could 90 to-
morrow" said Mrs. Mostyn; and so the
thing was settled.
On the following day Mrs. Washing
ton Mostyn. who had put on her most
gorgeous attire-not having been long
enough in London to know that here
women do not bedeck themselves in
the afternoon -tripped down to her
little coupe, and directed the man to
drive to Lady Kendals, thoroughly
pleased with herself and the world in
general She was going to see the
charming young man of the night be-
FORE and the charming young man was
going to dine with her on Friday.
Moreover, she had on her most becom-
ing bonnet.
The two ladies chatted costly as the
carriage bowled along.
Pm so glad YOU could come" said
Lady Kendall; I'm sure you'll think his
taste perfect. He has such lovely
things
Lovely things?" inquired Mrs.
Mostyn, with rising enthusiasm. She
was one of those women who like the
heroes of the moment to be set, as it
were. in framework of luxury
Yes; hrocailes, such as you can't
get for love or money He has them
specially manufactured from his own
designs"
He must be very rich" said the
American. That's the sort of thing
our millionaires do at home"
''Well, Algie must make $4,000 or
ST. 600 year, should think" reioined
Lady Kendall, thoughtfully. You
see, he's so well connected. All the
smartest women in London go to
Algie,"
If Mrs. Mostyn wondered for an in
slant how the society of smart women
justified such reckless extravaganza
she said nothing, having a horror of ap-
pearing ignorant of London or the ways
of London.
You get on capitally." continued
Lady Kendall; "Algie is so fond of
Americans. You see they don't mind
what they spend"
Mop" said Mrs. Mostyn. who was
now thoroughly mystiied; and just
then the carriage drew up at smart
looking house in Mayfair street, the
house all painted white, with yellow
silk curtains and blinds. and daisies
and spira in the window-boxes.
The door was opened by a man-ser-
want in livery, and the ladies were
shown upstairs into large room like
i studio. The walls were of golden
leather, with draperies and curtains of
dull gold silk, and here and there 4
/ .ouch of Turquoise blue or faint pink,
4 81, ,roIJ ,1I.>I