The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-09-26


terprise of her sex and nation. she de-
termined to annex Algie. "What a
charming young man, she thought, ito
take to the play, to squire one in the
park, and to hand cups of tea on ones
'at-home' dayr' He had such perfect
taste, and such an eye for color, for
when the talk, as it sometimes =. i'll,
turned on chiffons, Mrs. Mostyn was
astonished to hear her neighbor give an
almost subtly feminine opinion on some
point in dispute.
"Why, believe you know more about
it than do" declared the lady, laugh
ing.
well, ought to, 1 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 generali-
ties again, determining to ask her host
ess all about her fascinating neigh Dor
as soon as the ladies reached the draw
ing-room.
But the Fates were against her.
Lady Kendall was monopolized by an
elderly matron, who never let go 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 a woman to withstand.
"Come and dine with me on Friday
night" she said, when she at last rose
to go; 100 Lowndes square, eight
o'clock. Don't say you can't; one or two
nico people are coming"
Il shall be more than charmed" re-
piled the young man, bending, in his
pretty half-foreign way, over the ladys
hand; "but you'll come to my place one
day, won't you? Lady Kendall is COM
ing tomorrow"
why yes; l think 1 could go to-mor-
row." 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
acknowledged down to hor little
coupe and directed the man to drive to
Lady Kendal's, thoroughly pleased with
herself and the world in general She
was going to see the charming young
man of the night before, and the charm
ing young man was going to dine with
her on Friday. Moreover, she had on
her most becoming bonnet
The two ladies chatted costly as the
carriage bowled along.
I'm so glad you could come" said
Lady Kendall; "rm sure you'll think
his taste perfect He has such lovely
things"
Lovely things?" inquired Mrs. Mos
tyn, with rising enthusiasm. She was
one of those women who like their
heroes OF the moment to be set, as it
were, in q framework of luxury.
Yes; brocades sucn as you can't get
Tor love or money. He has them special
ly manufactured from his own designs"
''Ile must be very RICH" said tho
American. That's the sort of thing our
millionaircs do at home"
well, Algie must make three or four
thousand a year, should think" re-
joined Lady Kendall, thoughtfully.
you see, he's so we'll connected. All
the smartest women in London go to
Algic."
If Mrs. Mostyn wondered for an in
slant how the society of smart women
justified such reckless extravaganza,
she said nothing, having horror of APP
pearing ignorant of London or tho ways
of London.
you got ON capitally," continued
Lady Kendall; "Algic is so fond of
Americans. You see, they don't mind
what they spend"
MOP" said Mrs. Mostyn. who was
now thoroughly mystifed; and just
then the carriage drew up at smart
looking house in 4 Mayfair strcct-a
house all painted white, with yellow
silk curtains and blinds, and daisies
and spiraea in the window boxes.
The door was opeEcd by man
servant in livery, and the ladies were
shown upstairs into q large room like i
studio. The walls wero of golden
leather, with draperics and curtains of
dull gold silk, and here and thcro a
touch of turquoise-bluo or faint pink in
wrought with gold added another note
to the harmonious picture, in which the
white wood mantel-piecc, the soft Per-
sian carpet and tho exquisite old mezzo-
tints on the walls each played their
part Ono or two Chippendale cabinets
displayed specimens of rare Nanlin,
the easy-chairs and lounges invited you
to chat, and on every table and in every
nook stood flowers and palms.
His master was engaged for tho mo-
mcnt the man announced, but woulG
be with the ladies in few minutes
What perfectly charming studio"
cried Mrs. Mostyn, pecring round in
her pretty, short-sightcd way: ''only I
don't sec any canvases or tho usual
artistic mess"
''Canvases-why should there be, my
dear?'
well, but isn't Mr.. Upham an art
ist?"
"Artist!' cried Lady Kendall, ''what an
idea! Why, don't you know?--l thought
everybody knew-Mr Upham is the
fashionable dress-maker.' His profess
sional name is Eugene, but we all call
him Algie. Why, Pm going to try on
my new Court bodice directly, and the
dear bow will toll me exactly what's the