Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-10

t-Ulls lti Us ibllON nm lHtGN.
1t stands on a velvety knoll in one Of
those dreamland parks which dot the land
scape with Edens of sylvan beauty. y
lordly mansion of ancient lineage, for the
original portion is hard to find among the
juttine wings and corner-tOwers each half
century has crowded around the central hall
One front of it is of brick, whose rich red
tint CLOVIS in exquisite harmony with the
emerald lawn, and the backing of
towering trees. and the CLASSY mere that
reflects the lovely picture. Some mod
ern 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 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
servile admiration; but Il sense that
you have by single step cleared the
gap of centuries, and now breathe the &C
tual atmosphere of your forefathers. There
they stare at you from a 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 Elizabethan merry-makers.
Above its mantel the skulls of troops of
deer look down with empty sockets, as their
wriggling antlerS crawl upwards to the rot
more impressions in his first glance than
could be told in a chapter, and as he was;
taken from the hall to the antique library {
and from that to the black oak wainscotted
dining room. ana thence TO the moderH
music room, with its noble organ in the
gallery. and glistening floor that could hold
200 dancers, he was tingling with i strange
fascination.
Such was his first view of Catherwood
court. Its mistress was the Countess of Os-
sulstone, widow of the late earl, Il lady
whose expressive eyes were as beautiful III
her mid-age as they had been in her youth.
Lady Ossulstone had all the dignity of her
rank but never suffered it to degenerate
into pride. No ostentation spoiled her wo-
manly grace. She was one of type of
the old aristocracy, less understood because
less seen in the circle in which Mr.. Blar-
naby had chiefly moved in whom the truest
humility exists side by side with impressive
dignity. Another type, of u newer ariStOc-
racy, proclaims its ignorance of the true
nobility by the extravaganza of its outside
imitation and of such are the duGelingS
who nisead 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
ingly called the fortune of war Rupert,
the heir u Stlapping fellow of tive-and-
twenty. was killed while leading a little
recent military operations" in Africa;
and Jack, who gave promise OF
distinction in the field of politics.
was fatally shot by Il friend, of course acct
dentally, while driving covey of part
ridges. As if these We're not troubles
enough for a 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 were greatest when
her supports were gone.
But Lady OSSulStone was by no means
one of your imaginary good-for-nothings
but to loll in lazy luxury and sneer at wo-
men who work. She had been trained in
practical fashion; had a taste for manage
ment and took pride in her economical tri-
umphs. And they We're neither few nor
trifilng. Since her winowhOod she had
given her chief thought to the best way of
turning the Irish property into cash. There
was Il possibility of the English estate GO
ing into the possession of q branch of the
family with whom the late earl and herself
had not been on good terms. Hence Lady
OSSulStOne's anxiety TO secure every penny
available for the benefit of her only daugh-
ter, whose acquaintance We must now
make.
A girl lovable by all at first sight; grace
full in figure. sweetly dignified in mien, a
y
had gravity in repose unusual in one so
young, fer she was not yet twenty-three.
Lady Elsie she was fondly called, her full
name being Elspeth Montgomere Graeme.
When Mr.. Blarnaby visited Catherwood
Court his fellow guest was Sir John Tyr
whit.
Your ladyship must pardon my enthusi-
asm," said Blarnaby at dinner one evening,
but place like this possesses a charm to
the restless battler with the feveriSh eX-
elements of New World life which you. i'll
this calm atmosphere, cannot possibly I'M
derstand.'
sAh,, said Lady Ossulstone, with
plaintive smile, then you don't think we
can know anything Of loneliness VINO are
haunted by the ghosts OF so long string OF
ancestorS?'
so far from that. my lady, have found
myself wondering. as look at the count
less rare portraits | find wherever | turn.
whether one may not feel lonelier in a
crowd, even of ones friends, than when
our heart finds companionship in its own
whispers in our solitude
How curious you should so exactly in
terpret thought that is very often near
me. l wonder how you busy men find time
To think at all-eXcept about your Millions
and pretty ripping smile carried the con-
into other channels.
Your ladyship is too hard upon us. Our
very sordidness-so to confess it--exhausts |
our faculties so completely that we have to
take 10 poeticS to restore the balance. or |
take refuge in complete vacuity, and read |
Punch. perhaps
just | sometimes turn to American |
lumor'-l think it is labeled-when any |
thing witty would be apt 10 keep me wake |
ful. -
Il am delighted that our professional hui |
noriSts have some influence, if it only be |
hat OF an oplate, for we pay them enor |
nOuSly-"
DO you really? Then | shall seriously |
hink Of coming to your great country in |
search of fortune, as i people generous |
enough to enrich punsterS and story-tellers
ire sure To reward any wandering lady of |
title who could teach them TO spell Eng
iSh''
20 yes, MIR. Blarnaby.' broke in Lady |
Elsie, merrily, I'm sure you might safely |
recommend mamma as good humoriSt.'
My countrymen and women will be
charmed 10 welcome so uniquea benefactor,
md seriously. Lady Ossulstone, hope we
hall have that pleasure before long?;
We'll, | have known so many improba-
,ilities turn into facts that l Won say posi-
lively no.
This sudden turn was only j renewal of
what he had already several times yentured
o press upon her ladyship. In the course
" their daily conversation for the past
WE'VE days, Mr.. Blarnaby had learnt from
lady Ossulstone's own lips the diminished
income the Irish property was produc-
ng, and her desire 10 economic.
She had sounded him upon the
tate of American securities, having been