The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-06
Lady KiIlarney's Husband.

1t was fine afternoon in the beginning Of
July when Mr.. Thomas Sidcup, strolling
along Piccadilly, saw coming toward him
short way off his old friend and crony, Lord
Killarney. The Earl's clothes hung upon him
loosely; his hat was placed rather far back on
his head he had detected and neglected air,
as II he cared little now what happened to
him.
"Hullo, Killarney, you don't seem particu-
larly bright to-day" exclaimed Tom, as he
shook hands with his friend.
'Yes-eh? No. WE'LL dare say not )" re-
sponded the Earl, twisting his long gray
mustache as he spoke.
Anything happened?"
"Yes; something has happened" said his
Lordship with a sickly smile.
"Somebody threatening to make you bank
rupt?'
sNot exactly. They know 1t would be of
no use. Any little rent that comes in goes
into the pockets of the lawyers and the mort
gagees.'
"What is it then?"
''I'm going to be married."
Tom did not know whether congratulations
or condolences would be more suitable, 30 he
merely exclaimed:
"You don't say SOP"
"Yes. You see have racing debts as well,
and they had to be met. There was no way
out of it.''
"The lady has money, 1 supposes"
"Oh, yes. Plenty Mrs. Poole is widow
Her husbands firm was Jacobs 81 Poole, the
bankers. She has fine place in Yorkshire
and house in town."
"Then you're in luck old fellow, and l con-
graduate you" said Thomas Sidcup heartily.
"You'll find you'll shake down together after
bit Half year you'll do the magnate
down in Yorkshire; and we shall have some
capital shooting. Then for the season you
will be in London. What more can you de-
sire 9''
The Earl was not unwilling to be encour-
aged in his desperate enterprise, yet fore
boding filled his heart, as, bidding his friend
good-day, he walked away, meditating on the
face and form, the carriage and department
of Mrs Joseph Poole.
The wedding took place before the end of
the season, and 1t was not until March that
the Earl and his Countess came back to town.
One day in April Sidcup met him in the Hay
market.
elbow well you are looking!" was Toms
greeting.
II you call that looking we'll"
Anything wrong, then ?''
"Everything's wrong, Tom; give you my
word I'm the most miserable beggar on earth
| wish L were that crossing-sweeper. l wish
/ were dead ~
Don't, Killarney Don't give in like
that" said his friend In soothing tone.
"Her ladyship's out tonight, going to a big
missionary meeting" said the peer, as a sud-
den idea occurred to him. "Come and dine
with me and I'll tell you all about IL. She is
going to stay with some OF her friends-won't
be back till tomorrow
Tom accepted the invitation, and at 7:30 that
evening he entered Lady Killarney's house In
Park Lane. The dining-room, the dinuer
the host, and the servants were alike solemn
and dreary. Killarney, however, frightened
up under the influence OF few glasses of old
port, and when the servants had retired he
began to relate his trials and grievances.
'The fact is, old man, said he, 81 can't
money. She holds the reins, and gives me
sovereign now and again, as If / were a
school-boy.n
"Good gracious ~
81 would have asked you to dine at the club
instead of In this mausoleum of place, but
haven't been able to pay my subscription.
She has got to be very religious Of late, and
fills the house with low church parsons and
dissenting ministers, and they go on In way
that's enough to drive fellow mad. AS for
Sundays, they, are too horrible to speak of.
No dinner-only cold beef and tea, upon my
sacred word of honor No smoking allowed
indoors-oh, it doesn't matter for tonight.
The smell will be gone by tomorrow"
"Lady Killarney keeps very good table,"
said Sidcup, anxious to mention one alleViA-
ting circumstance.
"Ugh Eating and drinking isn't every
thing. And within the last few weeks her
ladyship has taken to-you won't guess p
teetotalism Isn't 1t awtulf"
A look of pain and disgust ovsrspread the
Earl's still handsome face, and was reflected
In that Of his friend. "She gives away tracts,
addresses meetings. and actually threatens TO
send all the wine to hospital or pour 1t
into the sink !''
''She must be mad" muttered Tom.
Sand that felloW,n continued the Aarl,
nodding his head toward the butler's pantry,