Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-06

THE GAZEIIE: /
| her distinguished friend, whom all the
world expected before long TO address as
| president of the United gates.
Come let us follow him Tn~-'".
! 1t stands on a velvety knol4 - one Of
| those dreamland parks which dot tGfe md
| scape with EdenS of sylvan beauty -
! lordly mansion of ancient lineage, for the
| original portion is hard to find among the
! iuttine wings and corner-towers each half
| century has crowded around the central hall.
! One front of il is of brick, whose rich red
tint Flows in exquisite harmony with the
| emerald lawn, and the backing of
| towering trees, and the CLASSY mere that
reflects the lovely picture. Some mod
| eln additions are of mellow red sandstone,
and these too. harmonic with the bright
hueS of the flower garden. You drive up
| to the door along winding carriage-way
| that gives you a succession Of the charm
| INCEST fairy peeps: and when you enter that
rare baronial hall, you experience a
| thrill of strange emotion. Not that
| OF vulgar wonder, much less OF
| seryile admiration; but a sense that
! you have by single step cleared the
| gap of centuries, and now breathe the ac-
tual atmosphere OF your forefathers. There
| they stare Al you from 4 hundred frames
| that hide the wall. That great open fire
| place glOws with the ghOstly light from
| many mighty blaze that lit up the laugh
ing features of Elizabcthau merry-makers.
! Above its mantel the skulls of troops of
| deer look down with empty sockets. rs their
wriggiing antlerS crawl upwards 70 the rot
ting timbered roof Blarnaby took IN far
more impressions in his first glance than
could be told in q chapter, and as ne was
taken from the hall to the antique library,
and from that TO The black oak wainscOtted
dining room, and thence to the modern
music room, with its noble organ IN the
! gallery, and glistening floor that could hold
no dancers, he was tinglinS with strange
fascination.
Such was his first view OF Cottonwood
court. It's mistress was the Countess of Os-
sulstone, widow of the late earl, a lady
whose expressive eyes were as beautiful IN
her mid-age Is they had been in her youth.
Lady 0sSUistone had all the dignity of her
rank, but never suffered It 10 degenerate
into pride. No oStentatiOn spoiled her wO-
manly grace. she was one of type OF
the Old aIistOcracy, less understood because
less seen in the circle in which Mr.. Bar
uabE had chiefly moved, i'll whom the truest
humility exists side by side with impressive
dignity. Another type, Of newer aristOc-
racy, proclaims its ignorance Of the true
nobility by the extravaganza Of its outside
imitation; and Of such are the dudclings
VINO mislead New York.
Lady OSSulstOne knew well the discipline
of sorrow. Her two sons. her only boys.
had been taken from her by what IS mock
iugly called the fortune of war. Rupert,
the heir, Il strapping fellow OF fiyc-and-
twenty, was killed while leading a little
knot OF comrades in one Of the
recent military operations" in Africa:
and Jack, who gave promise of
distinction in the field Of politics,
was fatally shot by 4 friend, of course acct
dcntally, while driving Il cOvcy of part
- !,
enough for lifetime, the estates in Ire
land, from which the principal portion of
the late earl'S income HAD been derived,
had from causes that need not be entered
into more fully, yielded less each year since
his deceaSe. Her needs We're greatest when
her supports were gone.
But Lady OsSulSione was by no means
one of Your imaginary good-for-noth inps
but to loil in lazy luxury and sheer ~ lyo-
men VINO work. She had been trained in
pract ical fashion; had a taste for manage
ment and took pride in her economical tri-
uuphs. And they were neither few nor
trifing. Since her winOwhOnd she had
turning the Irish property into cash. There
was a possibility Of the English estate. go
ing into the possession OF Il branch of the
family with whom the late earl and herself
mad not been on good terms. Hence Lady
Ossulstone'S anxiety TO secure every penny
ter, whose acquaintance we must row
make.
a girl lovablc b. all at first sight; grace
ful in figure. Sweetly di@nited IN mieu. a
face that beamed with good nature, and yet
had gravity in Teposc unusual IN one 50
young. for she was not yet twentv-tGree.
Lady Elsie she was fondlY called, her full
name being Elspeth MOntComerie Graeme.
When Mr.. Blarnaby visited Cathorwood
Court his fellow guest was Sir John Tyr
whit.
"Your ladyship must pardon my enthusi-
asm,n said Blarnaby at dinner one evening,
but place like this possesses charm to
the restless bdttler with the fcvcrish ex-
elements of New World life which You. in
this calm atmosphere, cannot possibly un-
derstaud."
"Ah," said Lady Ossulstone, with a
plaintive smile, then you don't think ve
can know anything Of loneliness VINO are
haunted b. the ghosts of SO long 4 string of
aucestOrs?n
$50 far from that, my lady, have found
myself wondering, as / look ut the count |
less rare portraits ! find wherever turn,
whether one may not feel lonclicr in
crowd, even of ones friends, than when
our heart finds COmpanionShip in its own
whispers in our solitude
How curious YOU should 50 exactly in !
terpret thought that is very often near !
me. ! wonder how you busy men find time !
10 think al all-eXcept about your millions
and pretty ripping smile carried the con |
versation into other channels.
Your ladyship IS too hard upon Us. Our |
very sOrddnesS-sO to confess it-exhausrs /
our faculties so completely that we have TO |
take 10 pOetics 10 restore the balance, Or |
take refuge III complete vacuity, and read |
Punch, perhaps"
Just rs l sometimes turn to American |
humor-l think il is labeied-when any |
Thing witty would be apt 70 keep NE wake !
full"
Il am delighted that our professional hui !
morists have some influence, il it only be |
that OF an opiate, for we pay them enor- |
mously-"
DO you really? Then I shall seriously !
think Of coming to your great country in |
search of a fortune, rs people generous |
enough 10 enrich punSters and StOry-tellerS |
are sure TO reward any wandering lady of |
title who could teach them to spell Eng
liSh"
20 yes, Mr.. Blarnaby,'. broke in Lady !
Elsie, merriy. I'm sure you might safely |
recommend mamma as 4 good humorist.''
My countrymen and women viii be |
charmed TO welcome SO unique benefactor. |
and seriously, Lady Ossulstone, hope we
shall have that pleasure before long?H
all I INN no