New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
A MATTER OF TASTE.
A CABINET STUDY.
BY i. ANSTEY.

particular alliance is generally the very last thau
anybody ever expected what maae nh, ho novld
see in him" are declared lnsoluble problems ~
is confidently predicted that the engagement VIII
never come to anything; or that, II such a mar
rage ever does take place. it is most unlikely 10
prove success. Sometimes i'll the case OF lenae
friends this tone is even percepllDc uhuci .irn ,
warncst fluctuations. and through the SHINING
mask vi con,PlinrnS ,nS. '' ;rr;tatng quality so
glad, SO delighted but why-why didn't you COLI
suit me ?"-this complicated expression mlght pe
rendered. could have saved you from ths-l
was so pleased TO hear of 1t. ;.,
And vet i'm the majority of cases. these unions
are not found to turn out SO very oady u'ci ,c an,
and the misguided couple seem really 10 nave
gagged their hearts. and their posslplntics U!
happiness together. more accurately IMAM lle HosO
clear-sighted of their acquaintanSeS, u,.,,or had
The announcement that Miss Ella HNltOh III"
accented Mr. George Chapman provoked the Gus
tomary sensation and surprise in their respective
SETS and perhaps with rather more JuS'ihc"'on
Miss Hylton had undcniably beauty OF spirit
nal and rather eXalte type. and was generauS uii-
derstood to be highly cultivated She mao a Sper,V
a year at Somervilc, though she had gone down
without irving for place in either Mods OF
"Greats." thereby preserving, II not lnGieasii 9S
her reputation for superiority. She had nNcu All
her life among cultured people she was devoted TO
music and regularly attended the Rlchter concerts,
though she could seldom be induced 10 pay III
public: she had feeling for art. though she
neither painted nor drew; love for hteiatuIc
strong enough TO deter her from all amateur
efforts in that direction. In art music ana htci-
atune she was inpatient OF medlOcflly' ANU "iniV
She was as fond as most girls of the pleasures when
upper midde-cass society can offer. she rcVerchceu
intellect and preferred the conversation OF lile
plainest celebrity to the platitudes of the mere
dancinp-man, no matter how handsome oil feature
and perfect of step he might be.
George Chapman was certanS m"' c"nsnicn- nicr
tious than dream-like and he was only toleraoy
good-loolSing On the other hand: he was ho1
celebrated in any way. ana even ms molher "nu IIa
raA
had been educated at Rugby. and Trinity. cam
bridge, where he rowed fairly good oar; on prln,
ciple, and took middle second IN the Moral Nora
Science Tripos. Now he was in a solicitors Once
where he was receiving Il good salary ana WAS
valued as steady. sensible young felioW. VINO
could be thoroughly depended upon: lie was
fond of his profession. and had acquired con
siderable knowledge Of its details apart from IL
he had no very decided tastes; he lived a quict'
regular life and dined out ana went TO uaiccS III III
moderation; his manner. though ne was hedIN
twenty-six was stiIl rather bovishly blunt
What there was in him that had found favor
in Ella HyltOns fastidious eyes me narrator -
not rash enough to attempt TO partlcularze bnt
il NAV be suggested that the most unlikely pcopie
NAV possess their fairy rose ana ring, "iilcn
render them irresistible TO at least one hear,, II
they ONLY have faith to believe In, and luck 10
perceive their power.
So. early in the year. George had plucked up
courare TO propose TO Miss Uylton. after meeting
and secretly adoring her for some months past;
and she TO the general astonishment, had accepted
him.
He had a private 1ncome-hOt d IIsc ollc.oi
his own and had saved out OF II. Sne was en-
titled lnder her grandmOthcrs VIII, TO sum
which made her an helress In modest way anu
thus there was no reason why tnc en9dSchichS
should be long one; and though no date nad
been definitely fixed for the marriage, IL was
understood that it should take place at some time
before the end of the summer; ,.,
Soon after the engagement however, an lnNaHo
aunt with whom Ella had always been great
favorite was ordered 10 the South OF France, ana
implored her 10 90 with her. TO which Ella, who
Ia loffo for relative. Il
strong sense of duty, had consented
This was misfortune in one Of two ways: II
either curtaied that most necessary ana nlcs' l'r
delightful period during which iianccs discover one
anothers idiosyncrases and weaknesses, or II madc
it necessary to postpone the marriage 49, .Ao
George nStHra ally Bn Ee letters s from
began to hint more and more Piany al az qeiaS ,T
Her aunt might remain on the Continent all the
summer, and she could not pGsslP be re,rn % iSa
cOuld not be done in a hnrTy-they had not even
begun to furnish the pretty little house on lamp
den Hill that was to be thelr new noe IL wo"'0
The mere idea was alarming TO George, ana ht
demonstrated as far as he dared but Ella re
NAMED firm, and he grew desperate; ;,o +rouhlo
He might have spared himself 1he HpupI'
About the middle of June, Ella aunt, VINO o.
course had had to leave the Riviera, grew tlrc9 o.
travelling: and Ella, to Georges intense satslac
ton returned TO her mothers home IN Llhuci
Gardens, Noting Hill
And now, when our story opens 'eofee' WIN
had managed 10 get away from orl'' N"4N wv
hours before his usual time. was hurIyin@ 'owar'
Linden Gardens as fast a hanson ccnld tak'
him. to see his betrptied for the inst time aitc
their long separation. ,., -
Wonld Ella still persist in her wish for deiay y
would he be able TO persuade her that there were
obstacles in the %ay lie ls, 1e here nU was t
real seat of his anxiety-if only her obJectlon
were not raised from some other motive. on
might nase ard ofH then Well he concluded with ii
customary good sense, no meeting troubl
Railway: in five minutes / shall know for ccI
tain"
At the same moment Mrs. IIylton and he
daughter Flossie. n vivacious girl in the transition
AIRY sixteen-ycar-old stage were III .ie u,a;in'r ;,
double drawirg-room of a London house, bl
cvervtbinc in il was beautiful and harmonious
the owe was vaguely rested by the delicate an
smidned color of walls and hangines: cabinets
antique Persian pottery, rare BITS 0l CHINA, u
occupied the precise place in which their decora'
i've value was mos, iet nnd AZ Ti rg " ''
Fiossie was standing at the VI indow, from whlc
n glimpse could just be caught OF fresh gree
foliage and the E .ne SISe Sa P Tn
was writing at Flemish bureau In the cornc
Il suppose" said Flossie, meditatively, as sh
fingered piece OF old stained glass that was nam
INC in the window, "we shall have George her
Mrs Hylton raised her head. She had stril
ip0 tinted clear OllNc Wllu HI.H N"'
~ silver hair crowning the forehead: her ey
brows were dark. and SO were the brilliant eyes
the nose was aquiline and the thn well,c'
mouth a little hard; She was woman VINO VINO II; IN
been much admired in her time. and who sti
retained a certain attraction, though some wei
ant to find her somewhat cold and nnsympathetl
Her daughter Ella. for example was always 8
Ill, a little in awe Of her mother. who had
.arrnys for oudacious, outspoken Flos>c.
If he comes. Flossiee, he will be very we we
co,ne She said "bat / hardly expect him ye
Cnnrse is NOT likely 10 neglect his duties even fC
Ella" .,.u,.
oh George is immaculate" she murmure
III he was it would hardly be reproach
sa;d ber mother catching the word: " but; at n
events. George has thoroughly good principles, az
is sure to succeed in the world. l have ever
reason to be pleased. .,,o,s.d
Every rcason-ah, but are, You pleased
Mother dear you know he as dull as dull
ELLA does not find him so-and. flossie'
don't like TO hear you say such 'hihSs' even