The Portland daily press., 1891-02-21
DInANA BLAKE's GOOD FORTUNE.
A Pretty Philadelphia shopRIr Who
Became a Peersss.
PHILADELPHIA Timss.1

Forty years ago Eighth street. from Mar
ket to Arch, was bordered with two-story
houses, most Of them contemporary with
1920 and given over to small notion stores.
the proprietors living In the second floors.
The business done was very limited, old
Mrs. Harbach making more money In her
little candy store than any merchant on the
street. Miss Rachel Lang kept dry goods
and trimming store in the .neighborhood Of
Eighth and Filbert. She was kindly old
Scotch lady, who would as soon;have had a
man behind her counter as a German band
before the door. So all her assistants were
girls. Gloves were the only mems wear sold
In this shop, and Miss Lang noted with sat
isfaction that her sales In this line were
rapidly increasing; butt never occurred to
her that this was. due to any other cause than
the excellence Of her goods. although In fact
her gentlemen customers cared very little for
the price and quality Of what they bought,
so long as they were waited on by Diana
Blake, who was generally admitted TO be the
loveliest girl within the city limits.
Long-n0sed, sallow-faced ladies, with un-
deniable social records and pockets full of
money often visited the store and wonder ed
by what caprice Of fortune common Irish
shop girl should haveihad such dover OF
beauty which In the fitness of things ought
to be the inheritance Of women having
Quaker ancestors and big bank accounts,
and one of them went so far as to suggest TO
Miss Lang that Miss Blake's good looks
were too apparent for her station lin life, but
went away much offended when the little
Scotch lady remarked "that IL every one
minded their own business we would all get
along better"
Diana was born In Galway, Ireland, but
had come to America when an infant. She
was type Of that Irish beauty as scarce In
fhAon Aawrd 1k..x 40 Vnk.
hens teeth. DARK blue eyes, like wells Of
living water. shaded by long, dark lashes,
olue-black hair, aud complexion that was
simply marvellous were added to a sweet
voice, graceful form, and manners at once
piquant and modest. Her father was day
street, above Race.
Although Diana fully appreciated the exl-
gencies Of her position, there was one temp
tation she could not forego, and that was
dancing. When only years old she had
taken lessons from Signor Julian, who had a
school at Tenth and Vine streets. The fact
that he was ap Irishman named McCaskey
did not make MIN less efficient as teacher.
and when his pupil was IL years old he Sc
cured her employment at the Walnut Street
Theatre In one OF those elaborate ballets
that so delighted our unsophisticated lgrand-
fathers. Her talent soon won recognition,
and the dollar she received for each perform
ance did much for the family income. No
whisper of this had reached her employer,
and 1t was not until she was IS that Manager
Il became necessary for her to quit Miss
Lang. That lady was a good Presbyterian,
and looked on the stage as the broad road to
destruction, but Diana justified herself
through the family necessities, and she now
went on the stage as ddnseuse premiere and
took the name of Sophia Lee.
Her success was pronounced from the first
and the jeunesSe doree represented In those
days by gawky young gentlemen In gorgeous
vests and clashes so tight that they looked
as IL skewered onto the wearer, paid the
pretty dancer many squeaky compliments, at
which she laughed good naturedly though
she discreetly Kept her admirers at dis.
tance.
About 1888 one Of the Barings, nephew
Of Lord AshburtOn, visited this country and
was welcomed by the best society with ef-
fusion. With him came a young English
man named Richard Hardy. He saw Miss
Lee at the theatre, was struck with her grace
beauty, and secured an introduction. He
was thorough gentleman, and addressed
her not as a professional but as a lady.
Diana fell in love with rapidity that start
led herself. After a months quiet attention
Hardy spoke out. He loved her and wished
TO make her his wife. She spoke to kindly
Billy Wood. the manager. He played the
part OF heavy father to perfection; pointed
cut the evanescent character Of success on
the stage, the hardships and perils Of pro-
fessiOnal life. and advised her not to neglect
an opportunity Of securing position at once
permanent and honorable, as he bad no
doubt that her Gvenir, as wife would be a
happy wife.
Diana accepted Hardy, and they were mar
ried at st. Joseph's by Father Barbelin. In
society 1t was regarded as distinct mesali.
ance; the bride poor, an Irish girl and a stage
dancer; but Hardy and his pretty wife cared
nothing for the opinions OF the broad rim:
m N nd dah he hak rNra laA kow a.
Philadelphia, and left at once for New York
Before the honeymoon was over the first
trouble came. Hardy's father warned hl:
son that such a marriage would end all inter
course with his family, but Richard had
means OF his own, and found no trouble In
getting employment.
In less than year old Hardy relented, and
his son and wife left for England to mud the
fathers wealth swept away by reVerses In
trade
Sir James Hardy was Richards uncle and
the head Of the family. lie was enormously
wealthy and had but one son. he also re-
sented the union his nephew had made and,
dying about this time left him out OF MS
will. Between the inheritance TO MS vast
Kentish property, and Richard Hardy were
the lives Of eight people, aud YET, py tne ca
price of fortune, all these vanished In two
wears. and Richard became a baronet and
his wife Lady Hardy,
and dignity that were her natural gifts, and
srew more beautiful as time went by. Her
first great sorrow was the death Of her hus-
hand. She was then 30, with one son. Two
wears after she married Count Egmont, a
Flemish nobleman Of distinction connected
with the Russian Embassy at Paris, and
when presented at the court Cf the EMPEROR
was regarded as one Of the most beautiful
women In Europe. She survived both her
last husband and son, dying In 1869 In Brus-
sells.