Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-24

shared in his brief chat with t'the countess
in the music room.
What magnificent day we had when
| we enjoyed that coach drive from Gather
| wood court to Wimburton lake. Was it
sixty miles,
More than that, Mr. Blarnaby. We
always enjoy our friends enjoyment of
that"
Il tell my friends here. Lady Ossulstone,
that we have no roads so beautiful. no ruins
so interesting, no ancestral homes so grand
as yours; but, my lady, we have prosperity,
progress, and the liberty which makes them
possible
20 yes | observed that you keep Liberty
moOred good way off in the water Are
yOu afraid she might talnper with the
majority vote if You let her come Ashore
blaanaby's retort was drowned in the
merriment At the countess sally. but he
ended by conducting ner to au ottoman in a
quiet corner where they no doubt resumed
their lively political discussion
Mr. Hoge devoted himself Ia Lady Elsie
most Of the evening with rare self-denial
Her keen questions about things and ways
American. -and the cogent criticisms on
which she yentured. with the reckless
holiness Of simplicity. not only engaged his
wits. but charmed his fancy. 1t was so
fresh. 50 unlike his previous experiences
with the English miss. that he really gave
very little heed TO anyone else.
II m so r.ad. said Elsie Ito know some
body who can tell me AL about geography
and colleges and politics of his own coun-
Try Do YOU know. Mr.. Hogg, | have never
met AN Amcriran-l mean Young mum
who was able To tell me anything interest
ing that one didn't already know from the
books one reads. They al want to talk
about Paris, and only the old rigmaroe
about that. It's so disappointing
Mr. IIogg was tiattered, and perhaps he
gave back out of what he had received but
the sin did not sit heavily upon lis con-
science.
Il see Genie is putting Sir John through
his farings, he said sh.ftin the topic AT
last What Il capital fellow he is ~
Il fancy Miss Dabchic will be one TOO
many for him, as we say. if she expects
him TO be as encyclopedia as | find you are,
MIR. Hogg.'
Don't say that. Lady Elsie, for l assure
you 1t is your questions that elicit the very
imperfect Information | am so happy to give
you. In fact, you are doing me much good.
One needs the stimulus of crOSS-eXamina-
ton to keep from growing rusty. And
particularly Ii to discuss these things
with you just now"
DO you, Why, pray"
'BecauSe-well-lm going into this cleo
ton business ding dong, Lady Elsie
TO put Mr.. Blarnaby in, suppose"
'Hush-to keep him out, NUNS the
word; more tomorrow! What a charming
evening we have had -
Lovely; oh, ! am enjoying everybody's
goodness 10 me, You Americans are the
very warmest-nearted people i'll the world
Ah-hcre'S Miss Dabchic."
You naughty girl-Im Genie, and don't
you forget it! There I've given you Il les
son in the American slanguage, as | call
il -
The Jolly damsels collided with a kiss
that sent poor Hogg hungrily away to ex-
change condolences with Sir John.
Well, Genie, Mr.. Hogg is everything
that a benighted pilgrim could wish as u
guide, philosopher and friend. Won't
you kiss me again for telling you that
And Sir John is Just the precise pattern
of English nobleman we girls like to picture
but never see-he doesn't hang up his brains
in his hat, and he never says-'oh, indee-
ecd'!" making L dOleful drole as she MIN
licked the typical sleepy Britisher And so
the girls enjoy 4 minute or two of the lovely
condolences upon whatever may have been
the uppermoSt thoughts in their happy
minds.
Dr. Saywell has just left Mr. Blarnaby to
the good graces of the omnipresent hostess
when Mr.. Fotheringham buttonholed MIR.
Hogg for a passing question, TO which the
latter replied:
"Impossble The sheep are jumping
over the fence. I want to subscribe for
new Watchdog.
Mr. Sebag and Mr. Winslow had short,
earnest talk which ended by Mr. WinSlow
assuring his venerable friend that the
great body of intelligent, Independent citi-
zens, who are the backbone of the country,
were going to make short work of the
professional politicians this time. Blarna-
by'S undlsguised bid tsaid he) for the sup
port OF the newly naturalized Samoan i'm
migrants by promising their spokesman
the Bermuda consulate had raised the
gorge OF every Self-respecting native
American, and the coming election, he was
sure, would complete the revolution of last
century by liberating The country from the
more odiouS tyranny of foreignism and cor
ruption.
MIR. Sebag said he hoped his old age would
be solaced by the revival of patriotism and
the triumph Of pure government. AS for
himself and partners, not one cent We're
they going to contribute in response to the
party circular asking for ridiculous sum.
every dollar of which would simply go into
the pockets of men who live on politics and
degrade as well as rob the republic.
Blarnaby crossed the room at this point,
on his way TO where Mrs. FOthering-
ham was entertaining Il group of listeners
with an account of the splendid ball given
to the eject of the American colony in Lon
don by the Duke of Windsor ut which his
grace was pleased to compliment her upon
the tiara of diamonds which vas her hus-
bands birthday gift. The sOlemnized al
mirers gazed up At the jewel on her stately
head with new thrill of awe
And where was Blobbe, Just then. aud ;
for the last fifteen minutes or more. he was
deeply engaged with the countess. His
dapper form never showed to better advan-
tage than as ne leaned over the back of an
antique prie-dieu chair which concealed his
lower chest as effectively as would a bish-
ops apron. Her ladyship seemed peculiarly
entertained by his discourse.
YES. countess, that's just so. England
is 4 beautiful little country but | couldn't
breathe there. ] always felt was sitting
below the salt. There was the uncomforta-
bic feeling that ones nelghbor al table was
q bigger man than myself"
ION. but we don't carry what You call
our effete feudalism far as that. YOU
know We never confound caste with
character. ! nave many honored friends. |
am thankful TO say, whose gifts and merits
lift them all the higher, in my esteem. than
any accident of birth could have DONE
All, countess. YOU are the exception TO
the rule. If all your brother and sister
peers were like you, we Americans would
DE happy TO associate with you more freely,
for we are a generous people"
Il wish You would come over and preach
to US about our sins. I'm sure we have
ever 50 many. and the bracing prairie winds
Of free criticism would do US 4 world OF
good
Blobbe rolled himself from right to left
with undisguiSed self-satisfaction as he re-
Piled:
'Madam-excuse me, countess-it is not