Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-16

cross IN Ink.
Lady Charlotte read: ''The Prince OF
Wales honored the BataiIIe des Fleura
with his presence. H r. H. looked very
well, and apparently enjoyed extremely
good health He paid considerable at
tention to Miss boilers, the latest Ameri-
can beauty, who, it is rumored, viii
take place among the reigning bellies
in English society during the coming
season. l have it on very good authority
that H. r. II. threw bunch of gardenias
said to have been grown in the San
dringham hothouses-into Miss boilers
victoria as it passed the royal equipage.
''Do you know Miss boilers, Lady
| Charlotte:"
| mo, she is not in my set"
"Well, then, just you look here You
get to know Miss boilers, you bring her
here and let her give me a good order
and I'll dress you for the rest of the sea-
| son-that's bargain. I'll make you
dress for Ascot or for birmingham or for
wherever you are likely to meet her,
and then if you bring her here I'll dress
you for the rest of the season. You
shall be measured today, and directly
you send me the card Of invitation or
the engagement, whatever it may be,
the dress shall be put in hand directly.
Nothing for nothing in business, you
know. Now, are you agreeable to
that"
Lady Charlotte would have liked to be
naughty, but her doubtful position as
party to SUCH an arrangement disarmed
all haughtiness on her side and she was
fain to agree to the tailor's stipulations.
Mr.. Crump, of Crump & Crushit, was
very pleased to pay off, in part at least,
on the person of Lady Charlotte Grad
dock the score of all former grudges in
the shape of aristocratic rudeness that
he owed to her class in general.
Lady Chartotte's resources were at
very low ebb; with the exception of the
rent of her house and servants wages,
she contrived to live entirely upon
credit. What little ready money she
possessed en- outre her jointure
which did not go very far in the
style of living she affected, was obtained
by writing paragraphs for fashion maya
zines and borrowing. She felt very low
spirited as she drove away from Messrs.
Crump & Crushit's after her interview
with the head Of the firm. She had
gained her end, but at what price! She
would have to unearth this American
girl, who was probably vulgar, take her
up for some little time at least, and then
perhaps she would not be easy to drop.
But, first of all, there might be some
difficulty in the uDearthing.
Lady Charlotte ordered some tea and
a luncheon tray to be taken to her
boudoir, a much be-wadded and be-
draped stained glass Widowed cupboard,
squeezed into a corner of the staircase.
Here she sat down to mediate upon her
situation. The result of her meditation
was that she ordered her carriage for 4
o'clock, and resolved to call upon a per-
son whom she denominated her favor
tie pal" As single, motherless girl,
Lady Cardington had been Lady Char
lotte's bosom friend and confdante in
India before she had achieved the great
match which had made her a peeress.
This friend was at home, and Lady
Charlotte was shown into an equally be-
wadded and be-draped though much
larger boudoir than the one she had Just
left.
After the usual feminine embraces had
been exchanged. Lady Charlotte stated
her case with slight notifications: ''She
was very anxious to meet Miss boilers,
the new American beauty. Some one
had told her that she was such a sweet
creature, and Lady Charlotte felt quite
drawn to her, and was determined to
know her. Could Edith help herr
"Well, my dear, I'll try. wonder if
his lordship is in London; he may know
her, or some Of her friends"
Lady Cardington rang the bell. "WIl
you inquire if his lordship dimes at home
today"
The footman, with well bred impertur-
liability, answered that Ibis lordship had
been at Newmarket since the day before
yesterday, and was not to be expected
until late next day, his lordship had told
Harris.
Then you don't get on with his lord
ship very well, my dear, / AN afraid"
said Lady Charlotte, who really liked
her dearest friend
"Oh, yes, dear, do always do my
duty TO him. l look pretty and order
dinner, and he con6des in his butler and
not in me, which is rather an advantage,
as | am afraid | should find his conf
dences rather vapid, with a tendency to
be decidedly more horsey than | should
consider quite interesting. But now,
what is 20 be done about this American?
Do you belong TO the. Primrose league?"
"Oh, yes, am dame, harbinger, or /
queens councillor, or something or
other, with a brooch.
Very well then, Miss boilers is
srJe to be one too. Al Ameri- /
cans and parvenus who want to
get into society begin with the !
Primrose league. You write to her
and say you want to confer with her /
upon the subject of election work. Find |
her address il the subscription lists and |
write to her."
Thanks for the hint I'll do that. !
Good-by. Thanks awfully. Are you
dining alone?"
''No; Capt. Vanbrugh is coming to |
dinner, and am going to take him with |
ME to Lady Dorkess. BY the by, do you |
know that Capt. Brackenbury is on his |
way homer"
mo; is hes" asked Lady Charlotte, |
with well feigned surprise, which might |
have deceived any one except confden- !
tial female friend.
Evidently she has not forgotten him." !
tT,o,vopbt 7 adv Car7irgflr,