The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-03-29

| ~ LII (CEA the Countess of ker-
GTyS~s stoke. True, the sea-
| 81 Ell 49, son was long since over,
= hNfofI " and though the greater
GTASScI part of London society
cEN UI had migrated swallow
like to the south of Eu-
" Ky IT. rope in search of warm
AHC~ weather, still there were
enough people in town
| to Justify the lal being given, and a
number of celebrities were present.
Outside it was dali and chilly, with n
thick yellow fog pervading the atmos-
phere, but within the ballroom 1t was
like fairyland with the brilliant light of
| the lamps, the profusion OF bright lowers,
and the gay dresses worn by the ladies.
The orchestra. hidden behind a gorgeous
screen of tropical plants, was playing the
latest waltz, A Friend of Mine, and the
| SIGH and sob of the melody 1T stole
softly through the room seemed to in
| spire the dancers with voluptuous Ian
| guor as they glided over the polished
| floor. The soft frou-frou OF women
dresses mingled with the light laughter
of young girls and the whispered conf
dences of their partners, While over all
| dominated the hauntin ing melody with its
weird modulations and suggestions of
| sensuous passion.
Near the door Of the ballroom young
man of about thirty years of age was lean
| ing against the wall iii lazy attitude
| idly watching the dancers swinging past
| him; but Judging from the preoccupled
expression OF his face his thoughts were
| evidently far away. He was tall, dark
haired with o short cut, well-trlmmed
beard, piercing dark eyes, a firmly COM
pressed mouth, and, Judging from his
Ia. -lar-r
| tain crisp curl in his la +, he evidently
had some negro blood III his veins. sud
denly he was aroused frGm his medlta-
| tons by a touch on his shoulder. and on
glanc Nc up saw before him stout elder
" gentleman with white hair, ruddy
| face and rather Silenus cast of coua-
| tenance.
The one was Spenser Ellersby. only son
| of a wealthy West Indian planter, and
| the other Horace Marion. we'll known
society man generally called The Town
Crier, from the fact that he knew all the
current scandals and retailed them with
elaborate embellishments to his numerous
circle of friends.
Hey! Eliersby my hey, sad The Town
Crier, on the alert to acquire new lnfor
to England, home aud beauty hey? Been
TO publish Il book of travels, hey"
Not me, replied Eller>by, in the slow,
languid manner hqnitual to him; every
! one VINO goes a half Il dozen miles nova
days publishes a book Of travels under
some fantastic title. ! prefer to be re-
nowned for not having done so.
Broke no new ground hey"
No" inGiitferently. L haven't the in
stincts of Columbus, so the old ground
was good enough for me. I've done Afri-
ca i'll superficial manner, called on our
American cousins, passed the same COM
pliment to our Australian ditto, in fact
Done the usual thing with the usual re
suit
Hey! what's that"
a sense of being bored agree with
Noltaire TO a certain extent. this is the
best Of all possible worlds" but one does
| get a little tired of it-howeyer. | have
satisfied Your curiosity, now return the
compliment. I've been away from Eng
land for two !e.rs, so know nothing OF
life in town come, unfold-tell me all
scandals, deaths, marriages, divorces. in
| fact al the gossip Of the hour"
i his was an occupation after The Tow II
| Crier's own heat, 30 he launched out into
| lorg description OF folly and fashion,
| varied by sermons and scandal. which
being spiced with little NAL .ciousness.
proved quite an amusing discourse.
| Ellersby listened in silence with a quiet
smile Gu his lips, every Low and then
giving Vt mt TO an ejaculation as he heard
some special morsel OF news.
lou ought 10 write Your memoirs, Mar
| ton. he said, dryly: they would he as
gossiping as Pepys, IS scandalous as De
| Grammont, and as amusing as Ell her.
but 20 on anything more3 Who are the
new heautics:'
Hey, OH one was here tonight. Lady
| Balscombe."
What old Balscombc married" said
| Ellersby IN a surprised tone. | thought
| he loved no one but him elf so,-and
| who IS the lady
| That's what every one wants to know.
| replied Marion, eagerly; he picked her
| up down IN the country somewhere, but
| she : got no pedIgree-no money. no tai
| ents- nothing but personal beauty
| Which is worth all the rest put together
to a woman. interrupted Ellersby cvnic-
| ally. What Is she like"
| The Town rier Teeled of an auctioneer-
| like description of her ut once.
Tall, fair. blue eyes. beautiful COM
| plexlon, magnificent figure, and the devil 5
| own temper.
! Nice set of qualifications. especially
| the latter. murmured Ellershy. Balls
| combe fond of herr
Hey oh, YES maily' won't let her out
| OF his sight. but be had TO tonight, as
he of down to his place IN Berkshire on
| business tried 10 make her ladyshlp come
| too. bat she wouldn't because of this
| danye-good Ioxd- fancy a dance ct this
| time of year,-bUt kerstoke's wife was
| always slightly cracked
Does Lady Halscombe reciprocate her
| husbands alteration
| Not exactly, hey he replied. chuck
| ling. CalIi~tou i first favorite there
| EU, the donse | thought he was in
love with old BalScombes ward, Miss
| Penfold."
SO ne is but lie makes love to the
wife. Just to keep his hand IN. l wouIdn
be surprised if Ii ended III the divorce
| court"
Well, YOU are generally right in your
| surmises." retorted Ellersby: but what
would Miss Pentold say to that
Hey, oh, she d be glad, replied Mar
ton: bless you. she caleS more for Mvles
| Desmond title finger than She does fol
the whole body OF CalI}ston
! "Gh. | know Myles sad Ellersby,
promptly: IA rafting good fellow. was
with him nj Cambridge. b1lt We someh ON
never hit it of trying 10 make fortune
hy his en-. | hear.
Yes, and nasu made a penny yet. so
! lie acts as secretary 80 his cousin. Lord
Calliston. He's next heir 10 the title. vor
know, hey
Much chance he'll have of it, replied
El'ershy, coutemptuousiy. "Calliston'
sur % marry ana have heirs unless be
kills himself IN the meantime with drinl
but To revert 10 our former conversation
| the BalsCombe mtnage seems slightly
mixed"
Hey, rather 1t stands this way" e1,
planned Marion. eagerly: "Balscombe'
jealous Of his wife on account of Calls
ton. Lady Il Is jealous OF Calliston OF
account Of Miss Penfold. and that youns
lady does not care two straws for the
whole lot OF them IL comparis on 10 Msle.
! Desmond.
Sounds like tie second act OF .
French play, murm4red Ellersby. yawn.
ing Well. when | see LADY Balscomb,