New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25
LORD MERIVALE'S WOOING.

TO think we all knew him when he was out at
elbows exclaimed oil Mrs Ward.
Never exactly Out at elbows, corrected pretty
Mo. Vivian in her habitual soft tones;
well at all events. he had not a decent even
ilg sul,. we all know, put in Miss Jones VINO
WIS secretly believed to be the oldest woman III
Madame Larocnes establishment. :.
And he occupied little cabinet au tTolsleme,
continued Mrs. Ward land never drank anything
sat the vim compris of the table NJ. Dor
Yet nothing IS more sure thaR tlia TiN; MA D'i
Then it's to be hoped he Will pay Madame g
account,' cried Mss Jones; he's never been out
Of her debt since | can car remember elmo. +hot
have settled Madames account, since tnaI
interests you, said IL cold, quiet voice from DE-
hnd. .
If a shell had burst in our midst we could
scarcely hav> been more struck with conservation
1t was Lord Merivale himself who had spoken,
and not one OF Us had seen him enter the salon
not one Of us even knew that he was IN farlS
No, am wrong; one of us, as | atterward learned,
dia see Lord MerIValc enter, and for reasons best
known to herself, chose not to give hint Of the
gave the most charming and iniantile little scream
when his iOrdship spoke. The screams of the rest
oil the ladies Were neither infantile nor charming.
did not scream: il is not my habit, when startled,
10 exercise my vocal organ after that fashion but
dropped my tea-cup, and of course it broke, TO
flames in my weekly bill. Old Mr.. Frost, who
had been quietly playing cards in a distant warm
corner with the equally aged DR.. liauser, showed
no sign Whatever of having seen or heard any
thing, and caused an amusing diversion in the
naonent Of silence which followed the tapage
nv saying, in his usual Old-gentemanly tones
"Fif,teen-two. iftccn-four. and plir, SIN"
Really these two old gentlemen were about the
deafest NOR us it has ever been my lot to know.
Miss JOne" remarked 10 me irrevcrently that it
was her hirn opinion that when the last trump
sounded ,Nlr. Frost and DIR. IIauscr would remain
in their sirayes1for they would never hear it.
One wsould think we had enough surprises for
one sve ming, but sill another awaited u.s. s.
We had all laughed when Mr.. Frost had broken
ss"' little more at ease. Then Lord Mcrivale
apologized for startling us, with remarkable good
humor, considering what lie had Just heard and
addressing himself to Mrs. Ward said that he had
taken a box at the Porte St. Martin, and wanted
MS Oh Trends to join him in an evenings enjoy
ment-ah OF us, if we would far honor him
nave decent evening suit now" he added
with IA comical smile. Then he noticed me for
ne iirst time had been partly sheltered from
view by u large artificial palm whicil stood upon
the grand piano.
There is a lady here | have not the pleasure
81 ,d hIho"i M SSd Lord Merivale to Madame
ducr me- Madame
In a moment his lordehip was bowling before
me, and had The intense modification of hearing
myself described in Madame's voluble but nnf
"ver-corrcct English as" Mecs DELANEY. an Eng
hsh WTiter, NcT celebrate, who is here only one
Please do not believe anything of the kind.
Lord Meriyale," exclaimed, feeling my CHEEKS
erc% bot from annoyance. / am an English
scrL3bler, II yon like but not at all celebrated
49, II ! YOU had lived here as long as the rest OF
fDUnI hat
we are all celebrated who reside AT Madame
Laroches.' replied his loriship with a fine smile
now regarded him more fully, and saw that
he was stli a, Young man. lis expression was
particularly dcbonna;r His eyes were blue.
and his light brown hair waved on his bjob
white forehead. For the rest. he wore mus
smile pleasantly.
IL Is Just possible that the reader by this time
has formed an idea that ! am 10 he The heron"
Of my own story, and my Lord Nierivaie thr bcrn
lIS mil l,f,l, -. Ill.
shall figure in this narrative merely as an ONT.
siHef' ana shall as far as possible record exactly
Whdt heaFd ana saw Of romance in real life
during my sojourn at Madame l.arocbc,s hoard
ing-house. This house was, and is still. situated
~ thc Kuc -, which is near the Luxembourg
Gardens. and a very comfortable place il WIS oS
boarding. houses 20. This facl is sufficiently proved
ny the long residence Of the boardcIs Lord
Merivale had, il appeared made it a sort of head
quarters Tor over ten years Mr. Frost and DIR
uoHscr h1d bcen there for fifteen years while
MIS- Ward and Miss Jones had Joined the circle
seven years and three years ago respectively.
, got my first definite information about some of
thee h&bitues on this wise Oaly Miss Tones and
Mrs. Vivian seemed inclined 10 accept Lord Ncr
Na'cs oicr OF q seat in his box at the Porte st
Martin. Mrs. Ward pleaded a headache and | an
obligation I, correct some proofs. As regards the
proofs | soon made a resolve 10 SIT up late TO
complete them ia my own ROOM and thus get an
opporlunity 10 hear anything Mrs Ward had 10
tell before she retired
Mr.. Frost and Dr. IIauser went to bed early. 50
II was not long after the departure of Lord Ncri
vale and the two ladies that Mrs Ward and
were alone IN that red velvet salon. EVERYTHING
seemed 10 he red velvet in that room that wasn't
gilt or mirrors. The very tables were covered
Win TINS brilliant material, and the general effect
would have been quite oppressive but for the
aiIfcdccning white which appeared i'm tie win
dow-curtiins and that maligned article the anti
macasSar There was, however one prcemincntlv
redecming feature in this salon-namely an open
English lirc-a fact on which great stress was laid
IN Mad1me's advertisement
Near this fire Mrs. Ward and seated ourselves
whom We were left alone. and after | had paid
some triiing attentions to the old lady in the
shape OF fOotstOo and cushions, she began 10
give me the information my curiosity crayed
without any overture my part.
Lord Merivale, YOU know my dear =" she be-
gan Mrs: Ward called me my dear" more 10
annoy Miss Jones than for any other reason |
believe. Lord Merivale really was dreadfully
short OF money Till he came into the title and
estates, which no one here ever thought he would.
for there were two brothers between hin, and
such happiness as well father, whose vigorous
tenaeity OF life was only equaled by his vigorous
dislike OF his third son, the present Lord Mervala
| suspect he was too conscientious for them il
the truth were known for the Alerivales were
always reckless lot. except this one: the papers
limited that fact plainly enough. They added too
that the present lord was likely to despoil the
estate in his random generosity"
What made Lord Mervale take up his abode
here in the first place ?" interrupted
The cOmfOrt-at the price, replied Mrs Ward
briefly. with plying smile at the simplicity Of
my question. Do not all remain here he. |
cause for 30 francs week can live respcctablv |
get three entrees AT dinner, though, To he sure
one Of them consists of u biscuit with three |
raisins and two almonds, and figures also as |
dessert. We have also English tea served after |
dinner and an English fire to SIT by as soon as the
evenings draw in, and an English luncheon in the
middle OF the day. All these things Miss DELANEY
caused Lord Merivae to make this his home |
during the time when his father gave him 30
meagre an allowance"