The morning call., 1891-07-04
A SOCIAL SHOCK.


party were only waiting her arrival to put
an end to the classic bad quarter of an hour.
''My dear" whispered Lady Kendall, Il
am going to send you down with the most
charming Young man, Algie Upham, cousin
of the Duchess of Liverpool; l think he's
quite one of the incest men In London, and
so artistic, don't yen know
Mrs. Mostyn raised her tortoise shell lOrg-
nette in the direction of the gentleman in
dictated, and was pleased to make an inspec-
ton and give an opinion in not more than
two seconds
Charmed, am sure. What cookbook
Ing Young man. An. see-race and intel
ligence."
ayes, both. But allow me to introduce
you," said Lady Kendall.
In another minute or so the women were
trailing their silken and velvet skirts down
stairs II tile dining-r0Om. Mrs. Washington
Mostyn belonged to the -four hundred" of
New ork, if not by birth. at any rate by
wealth. Her husband, who was content to
pursue operations in Wall street most of
the year round. was wont to leave the Gull
tivation of saciety TO mis- handsome wife.
TheiF bTOwn-Stone mansion on Fifth avenue
was as gorgeous as many OF their richer
nelghhoTs, and no one understood better the
art OF booming" an entertainment and
getting herself talked about than Mrs.
Washington Mostvn of New York. And
then her cottage at Newport was it not Gel
eorated in every paper throughout the
length and breadth of the continent? 1t
was there that she entertained lavIshly mi
gratory members OF the English aristocracy
In quest OF amusement, wives or sport,
thereby forming connections which she
meant to push vigorously now that she had
actually arrived IN London. Had not Lord
Birkenhead, the Duchess of LiyerpooPs
eldest son, been one OF these feted and fiat
tered youngsters? And was not the dear
DueheSs proporuonately grateful, and in
elined TO open the ducal arms in manner
she was wont To do with certain dear friends
and rivals from New York and Washing
tonP And as tn the society of which this
iastdlous lady was so distinguished an or
nament, was 1t not the most select and
Enlightened the transatlantic scribe
would Tut ito be found on the same con-
tinent?
But Mrs. Washington Mostyn had still
one unsatisied ambition, and that was to
become as much Londoner as her fair
friends and neighbOrs had cnntrived to make
themselves. To London, Of course, like
every other Seli-reSpectlug American, she
had been, but it was with the London of
hotels, parks AMI theaterS only that she was
ZANZIBAR. Into lis society she had never
penetrated. And so it came TO pass that
Mrs. MoStyn, leaving her husband to per-
form his avncatidn of bear" in Wall street,
caused several enormous trunks to be
packed. and, arminG herself with introduce
tons to some Of the best people in Londcn,
betOok herself, her maid aud her courier by
the next steamer 10 Liverpool, landing on
these shores by the beginning of May.
Lady Kendall. who loved above all things a
new face, had been one of the first hostesses
TO make much of her.
1t was rather an amusing table. though 1t
somewhat shocked Mrs. Mostyu's faStid-
GUS sense Of the social propreties. Looking
around, she was struck with the familiar
look OF the faces, and. as n matter Of fact
she could lave seen most of the persons
present by taking walk down Bond street
and alaucinE in the phUtogra pliers win
dOvS A. she went along.
Lady hendaPS parties were celebrated In
their way, for she was what an irreverent
modern journalist had not inaplly called a
tinker She would send down famous
poet with an embasSadreSs, a cabinet min
lSter with pretty actress, or consi.n a
great lady to fashionable singer. 1t was a
social salad, and people were pleased, once
in way, TO meet celebrities OF whom thew
had heard great deal.
Now Mrs. Mustyn, like others Of the
-four hundred" knew little, and approved
less, of linking" She would as soon have
asked Ii Sing, her Chinese laundryman, to
dinner, as some Of the actors and painters
whom Lady Kendall liked to see OCCASION
ally at her table. Tonight Tor instance,
across the banks Of mauYe and white
orchids. Mrs. MOstyn could catch the profile
OF her Grace of Liverpool smiling on a
handsome Polish tenor who had turned the
women's heads in half the opera houses in
Europe; while opposite her sat the cele-
brated biologist Professor Lyndall. who
was apparently delighted with his neigh
Dor. a little Nirginan beauty who had
written some rather erntie novels.
Why couldn't Lady Kendall have told
me what his line is?" thought Mrs. MoStyn.
glanclng at her partner as she settled herself
In her place. Il hate talking to a man l
know nothing about! Sport = art = the
Gaiety? What shall it be? L know-polo!
All Englishmen play polo or If they don't,
they like you to think they do"
But 1t was not, after ALL of polo that Mr..
Algernon Upham cOnversed. He had many
trical world in London, of great people in
Vienna, ef the atelIers in Paris.
You paint, then?" asked Mrs. Mostyn,
when the conversation turned on-the last
subject.
81 used to-" said Upham, modestly. 81
have almost given it up now; in fact, |
think 1t gave me up. ! snent five delightful
years working in the Paris studios, and al
the end of that time l came to the conclu-
sion that knew almost nothing about it."
All, that is your mOdesty. am sure
you do know all about il" replied the tady
sweetly; and then there was little pause,
during which the young man smiled and
hesitated, as II he were about to say more.
Mrs. Mostyn. feeling that she had touched
on personal matters, very adroitly turned
the talk into another channel. The Am~ti-
can was charmed with her neighbour He
was not only young, handsome aud anus
Ing. but he seemed mo slight virtus in the
eyes OF Mrs. Mostyn) to be connected with
various smart and imposing English fam
lies. With tile enterprise of her sex and
nation, she determined to annex Algie.
What charming young man." she thought.
10 take to the play, 10 squire one in the
PARK, and 60 hand cups of tea on ones at
home days" He had such perfect taste and
such an eye for color, for when the talk, as
" sometimes Will, turned on chffOns, Mrs
Mostyn was astonished to hear her neigh Dor
give an almost feminine opinion on the point
in dispute.
than do" decided the lady, laughing.
We'll, ought to, SUPPOSE"
MRS. Mostyn was so mystified that for n
perceptble instant she found absolutely
nothing to say. He evidently imagined that
she knew ali about him. With the tact of
her sex Mrs. Mostyn promptly turneI the
taik into generalities again, determining to
ask her hostess all about her fascinating
nelghoor as soon as the ladies reached the
drawing-room.
But the fateS were against her. LADY
kendall was monOpoized by an elderly ma
iron, VINO never let go her hostess until the
men appeared from the dining-room, and
when they did so 1t was Algie Upham who
slipped into the vacant chair by Mrs Mos
tyn's side. This was a maneuver that is
not In the nature of woman to Withstand.
Come and dine with me on Friday night. &"
she said when she at last rose 10 gu; 100
Lowdnes square. o'clock. Don't say You
can't; one or two nice people are coming"
u shall be more than charmed" replied
the young man, bending in his pretty, half
foreign way over the lady's hand; "Dut
you'll come 10 my place one day. wont you /?
Lady Kendall is coming Tomorrow
why, yes. think could 60 tomorrow.
settled.
On the following day Mrs. Washington
Mostyn, who had put on her most gorgeous
stlre,not having been long enough in Lon
don to know that here women do not bcdeck
themselves IN the acknowledged down
TO her little coupe, and directed the man to
10 drive 10 Lady kendaPs, altogether pleased
with herself and the world in general. She
was going to see the charming young man
OF The night before, and the charming
young man was going to dine with her on
FRIDAY MOraouar no had har h.