New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-16
".
OLD LADY MAPLESToN.

Mrs. Fcrrcrss set was not exactly that OF the
connections of Cecil Farquhar III the niue
house in Vale Place, Pont-St, he met, on the
whole rather a bohemian lot, actors and artistS
and the wives of both, and young authols anu
composers, and though these people were e,, R 9
the name of Lion that magic WORD winch ul-
locks higher doors. 1890 Gil
Hence it was some little time before Cecu
Farduhar's fine friends got TO know OF his grow
inc intimacy with the handsome Mrs. ferrers.
True. they had begun TO remark that he was
lawfully unavailable this season, always Ell
paQcd. but, in London, this being such coHl-
mon complaint, il never struck any one 20 ne
SUSPICIOUS IL CHANGED, however, that Mrs Mud;
coming out of Mrs. Ferrers's house, met one o.. OF
her Bath friends driving in the direction oil Une
Park The lady stopped her hanson =, ia,
Ny dear Mrs Mud! In town? How nlce
Where are You going? Can l be OF any use
an If yonId be really kind" said Mrs Mud, If
Won are going anywhere in the direction OF PC
cadiIly.' ola o,,. uo,Ios,or
in Albcrmarc-st. So | can put you down where
'O Lady LADY Mapcson ?" said scrlnsa, with the con;
eciousness OF coincidence being at Work, ana
wondering where She had just heard the name.
n dawncd upon her presently, and she not
unuaturally made some tniiIng remark about
cecil Farguhar After that the conversation
rolled of 10 other matters But seed had oeen
dropucd. and when Mrs Mud had been put DOM
M The corner Of Clargcs-st, Mrs. Duncan, the
Bath friend carried tie little seed INTO AIDE,
maric-st. and sowcd it very innocently in old
Lady Maplcston's drawing-room.
Some old women shrivel as they age and some
call in the aid Of art TO try and conceal me
ravaccs Of time and nature Some grow bulky
and shapccSS. and some scraggy and INN
Very different to any of these was thc Do"aScI
Ga agc iIcalizcd. She was like some dainty
Dresden figure some grand old arstocrat Of
hy.onc dny-a wcll-choscn specimen OF an En2hSh
rcntlcwonau. with her whitc-gray hair, her black
nm, dress and little lace shawl ucd gracefully
over her shoulders 4 dear old lady. TOO, with
everything about her as neat and well ordered
In G,urc she was tall aud stately. her back
inst rounded by the weight Of her eighty years.
hut her head was held proudly as m hvgone days.
and her blue eyes, 50 Ike her grandson 5. were
BRIGHT rs ever Her hands were white ana
delicate. not too thin, rs She herself would nave
tod Won. had beautiful hands, she often Sald
and smiled ~ she sighed. but am getting old.
GO You laye now. people said 10 her gently, Tor
instiuctivcy ones voice must soften as It adj
dressed her.
Every ono loved her Her manner had an
irfuii. charm She numbered her friends bY
hundreds. for no one who had had the good
FORTUNE could ever forget her sweet face. Nhcr-
ctcr she went She carried a subtle atmosphere
81 cheerful content. aud all things went happily
for hrr
Her drawing. room was little centre. and daily
her friend, dropped i'm and dropped ont Then
she Dad vrr, often Young people staying with
lcr. and she took much interest m their society.
Indv Noplc,ion's Bible and her papers and her
books were very constant companions 10 her, ana
ir truth She was never dull. She took a keen
and lively interest I'm politics and IN all that busy
London lif. outside which, and Yet in whose
midst ,h" lived.
Mrs Duncan sowcd her little seed very limo
Gently
At Mrs Ferrcr>'" said old Lady Maplcston.
WHO Is Mrs Fcrrers?"
NV friend Ms Mud's sister said Mrs. Dun
can.
Mud that is not n pretty name said the old
lady
40 said Mrs Duncan. indeed no! Her
husband is an American
Mrs Fcrrcrss husband ~ asked Lady Maple
ston
ooh. no. Mrs Fcrrcrs is a widow. | meant
NJ Mud was 1n American
~Oh scc.7 Said tie Dowager
the 4rcd would have died had not the name
Tcrrcrs cropped mp again the next day in that
ol-flshioucd drawing room IN Albcmarlc-St