Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-11-27

Schneider, not having the fa1ntest idea
duchess was allnded to or what
the unfortunate business was, wagged
his head and looked solemn.
ssOf course" Lady Balvoir went on,
''you think she has only herself to blame.
That is what men alwayst think, but it is
very unfair and very untrue. The fact
is that you scarcely ever hear the truth.
Take the case of Lady -, for instance.
l know you won't allow that there can
be any excuse for her, and l admit that
she has made q fool Of herself, yet in
reality she has been a great deal more
sinned against than SHINING"
She went on for some time in this way,
discussing the frailties Of high person
ages and the scandals connected with
their names. Schneider did not know
at all what she was talking about, but
he was beyond measure pleased by her
taking it for granted that he was con-
versant with all the little tattle of her
set, and he did not disclaim the severely
critical attitude with which she chose to
credit him.
sReally," she said at length, 1--WE are
not so black as we are painted. Why
won't you" she continued. in almost
pleading accents, ''try to judge of us for
yourself, instead of believing all you
hear about usr"
"But I assure you I don't believe all I
hear protested Schneider eagerly, and
he thought he might venture to add, sat
any rate, l shan't believe what I hear
about you in future, Lady Belvoir."
ooh, you don't expect to hear much
good them" she returned, laughing.
'You haven't heard any from Lord
Cruise, at all events; I'm quite sure Of
that"
As an honest and ingenious man
Schneider felt quite unable to say that
he had; but he remarked with engaging
gracefulness that he should always be
deeply indebted to Lord Guise for the
introduction with which he had been
| honored that evening, and he joyfully
| accepted Lady Belvoir's invitation to
| call upon her any Sunday afternoon
| when he had nothing better to do.
This simple tale is only in part con
cerned with the subjugation of Schnei-
| der, which, from that moment, was a
| foregone conclusion, and Of which the
details We're perhaps more amusing to
Lady Belvoir than they would be to the
general reader. Of course he called
upon her, and of course he dined with
her when she asked him, and equally of
course he became her abject slave. She
had succeeded with much more recall
citrant victims than he, and what the
secret Of her success was the present
narrator would never divu1ge If he
knew it, because the PRONUNCIATION Of
such secrets cannot tend to the public
advantage. To Dorothy Leslie, who
thought Mr.. Schneider vulgar, familia,
and generally Objectionable, Lady Bel
voir would vouchsafe to say neither how
nor why she had added his scalp to hel
previous trophies.
"You are a great deal too particular
she declared. eff n only made ones
self agreeable to nice men n would
live in a desert. Poor little Schneider i
no worse than his neighbors."
81 should have thought that he vas
great deal worse than some Of them,
Dorothy would reply, and indeed sh
could never be induced to show ordinar,
courtesy to this unfortunate gentleman
who, for his part, did his best to concil
ate her.
81 can't make that girl out" Schnei
der complained n day to Eustac
Moreton, whom he occasionally met i
Carlton House terrace. "She come
down upon me like a sack Of Goals g,
cry time that I open my lips, and if
} meet her out anywhere she won't Sc
me. Who is she to give herself sue
airs, I wonderY'
| Mr.. Moreton didn't know, and Nigh
add that he didn't care. He agreed, how
ever, that she had a very d~isagreeabl
manner. "She seems to make a point
being rude to Lady Belvoir's friends" b
observed.
+, Miss Leslie it is true was apt to los
patience with those whom Lady Belvoi
treated as friends, as well as with Lad
Belvoir herself for so treating them, an
this impotence of hers was a source {
much amusement to the more exper
}, enced woman.
"You pay me a poor compliment b
calling them fortune hunters" the la
Z ter would say. Il believe them or tt
contrary to be sincere and disintereste
lovers-and I ought to know"
q Whatever they may have been 81
0 took an immensely of pains to keep the
in a state Of servitude and good hume
. and considering how numerous the
were it was no small proof of her abili1
that she managed to prevent their vsi
. from clashing. As for Schneider, no
q withstanding his natural modesty, IL
conviction forced itself upon him that
beautiful, wealthy and nobly born lac
was in q fair way to become enamort
Of him. No wonder the poor little ms
d lost his head, and during the great
Q part of his waking hours hardly kne
l. whether he was standing upon 1t
upon his heels.