Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-30
LADY AYLMER'S TABLEAUx.
from the London World.

GrNnbndm lOOkeu up.
ats easy to see you have been in the
wilds of Australia, Vernon, when you
don't know Lady Aylmer."
"Whatl old Leslie Aylmer's wife?
What lucky dog he isl By jove! she
As lovelyp
"Yes, she's rather the rage justnow-
came out two years ago, and was mar
ried before the end of the season. See,
there is Leslie just coming in" he con-
tinued, indicating gentleman who had
come to the front of the box they were
observing-a tall, graye-looking man,
with deep set eyes and a kindly smile.
"As solemn as ever"
sand as much engrossed in the edu-
cation question. He is devoted to his
wife in his bearish sort of fashion"
sand Lady Aylmer?"
Grantham shrugged his shoulders
sis puzzling the town. That fair fell
low talking to her now is Karl Won
Althaus, an attache at tie German en-
bassy,"
Vernon gave him questioning
glance.
Gas said, society is exercised in its
mind"
The lady in question certainly
was very pretty, small and dainty
and mignonne; the only thing large
about her was her eyes-big, blue eyes,
with veil of dark lashes that CON
trasted we'll with her lily complexion,
and the golden brown hair that clus-
p tered round her tiny head.
"Are you coming to our ball on the
fifth ~ said Karl, leaning towards her.
Sat the embassy OF course. Lord
Aylmer is most anxious to be present"
and she glanced mischievously at her
husband, who sat absorbed in thought.
Won Althaus smiled trifle sarcas-
tically, and disregarding the raised act
drop continued his whispered CONVERSE
ton.
Lady Aylmer's carriage r shouted
the commissiouaire, some minutes later,
as they stood under the Lyceum portico.
"By the way, Herr Won Althaus, may
we count on you for those tableaux
viYants ?" asked Lady Aylmer as he
closed the door of the carriage.
81 am looking forward to them with
great pleasure" and to say this he had
to lean forward until his head almost
touched that Of his fair questioner,
As he lit his cigarette and strolled
toward Carlton Gardens, Herr Won
Althaus pondered and wrapped in her
cloudy peignoir with her maid brushing
out her long hair, Lady Aylmer pom
dered also.
Her life was very sweet and pleasant,
she thought, but there was an uncom-
Portable feeling in her heart that this
pretty lowered path might one day give
way beneath her feet and reveal quag-
mire. She was no longer a child, though
only Just out of her teens, and she knew
full well that fire has the property OF
burning, and that the scar it leaves
never entirely fades,
Freda Meredith had been little more
than child when she married, and her
winsome ways and pretty caprices had
charmed Lord Aylmer's heart; he
lavished on her all that fancy could sug.
gest, and she was utterly happy for a
whole year Leslie Aylmer's political
anxieties and educational schemes pos.
sessed not one iota Of interest for his
wife, but "every one has his crack as
she put it, and Leslie was just the
dearest old bear in creation
All things created serve some usefu
purpose, and no doubt there is somt
profound and cogent reason for thu
female marplot--the woman who, with
shrug and smile, accompanied by al
artistically eyasive remark, manages tt
turn a happy home into a metaphor
cally bowling wilderness.
Such a one was the Hon. Mrs. Hill
yard. Quite at the beginning of thi
season she had attacked Freda at an "a
home" during the performance of SOM
musical gymnastics upon groaninl
and painting pianoforte
"You see, my child, Lady Ferrars is
very accomplished woman, and wonder
fully well preserved !"
"But she must be nearly 40p gaspe,
Freda, piteously.
"Beware of la femme de quarante ans
my dear; besides, it is very old
friendship, shall we call it? Lor
Aylmer and Lady Ferrars have know
each other for many years; it was sol
of compact, ! believe, that he shoul
never marry; but who could be proc
against sweet II, when it possesses sue
eyes?" she added, glancing at Freda wit
smile.
"Do you mean that Lord Aylme
promised Lady Ferrars to remain I'll
married?n
$50 it was always believed; but n
doubt they had little misunderstood
ing, and then ~
"He married me out of piquen
"Ohl no; and very likely it was a
peoples fancy, FOR, you see, they are Il
best Of friends now" And she wave
her fan toward causeuse, where IL
two in question sat.
Freda tried to put this conversatic
out Of her mind, but thousand and Oh
little incidents served to impress it mo
tixedly on her mind and insensibly
changed her. She had loved gayety b
fore, now she possessed an Unsuitable a
petite for it, and poor Lord Aylmer fe
rather a tax on his affection to futill Il
daily and nightly heavy programme
engagements.
"You see, Herr Won Althaus, wa
these tableauX to be startling success
and | want you to be so awfully 60,
as to undertake the stage management
Won Althaus laughed softly. II sh;
be delighted" And long vista Of tel
a-tete consultations and delightful d
cussions stretched before him as
looked at Freda over his Dresden te
cup.
There is the list Of the people VI
have promised to act; don't you thii
we ought to do very well!n
Very said Karl, glancing down
the scrap Of pink paper she had hand
him
"Now, l leave the selection of t
tahleaux viyants entirely to you;
will all be obedience itselt.'
Your confidence is most fiatteril
Lam going to suggest one at once. \
must have Helen and Paris. You wol
make an pxuulsita Hplen y
Freda blushed. And the Paris?"