Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-18
HER COMPLEXION.

HER COMPLEXION.
Mrs. Redmayne was decidedly pretty.
She dressed well and was very careful
in wearing only the colors that suited
her. She was q fragile, delicate looking
little woman and affected half lights,
like q rare fern; the strong sunlight with
Its fierce glare did not suit her. Her
little drawing room-''my little nest"
ms she used to call twas shaded by
heavy lace curtains; stained glass, jap
unese screens and thousand and one
pretty things, each interesting and beau
iiful In its way, were crammed into It;
but not one Of the pretty tribes was half
20 interesting and beautiful as pretty
little Mrs. Redmayne herself.
She was a pathetic creature, too. dou-
bly, fascinating, doubly dangerous. when
narrating the troubles and trials she had
experienced during her married life, and
with her troubles and trials she was ac-
customed to entertain her numerous
aiorers in the drawing room OF her little
bijou residence In Blank street, Mayfair.
There was something almost intoxicat.
iny In the heavy odor Of sandalwood
and potpourri mixed which pervaded
the apartment.
Mrs. Redmayne herself, like most emf
nent consulting physicians. never re-
ceiyed more than one patient at time.
Her visitors were all men-not that there
was anything shady about Mrs. Red
mayne, but she did not encourage lady
callers. She invited few female In
Inmates to dinner, but she took very
good care that those ladies whom she
distinguished by her friendship should be
good takers and at all events plain
enough to act Us foils.
The real fact Is that Mrs. Redmayne
had married the justice because he was
reputed to be q very wealthy man, and
Cissy Redmayne herself, as q girl, had
known all the real bitterness Of poverty,
being poor curate's daughter. Justice
Redmayne's income was very large when
ne married the pauper curate's only child.
Though he was GO, and an experienced
man Of the world. 1t was purely love
match on his side. Till she was II Miss
Cissy had dreamed Of pretty frocks and
d pretty house. Of good living. OF an end
less succession Of balls and entertain
inents and of the public recognition OF
her own beauty.
In marrying Justice Redmayne she
secured all these things and escaped
from cold mutton and penury. But the
Justice, though he fondly loved his pock-
ct Venus Of a wife, loved old port wine
still better, and after 10 years OF hap
piness the justice fell victim to his
favorite poison and left Cissy E5,O0O In
hard cash and the freehold Of the little
house in Mayfair. And then Mrs. Red.
,nayne made the following simple calcu.
lation. II can live at the rate Of f3.OO0
a year for three years, somebody worth
having will marry me In that time, and
II | fail to find the somebody ] must
throw mp the game and go back to papa
and cold mutton"
From this 1t will be seen that pretty
Mrs. Redmayne was practical minded
little woman. She had been quite right.
Several somebodies and good many mo-
bodies had paid her q great deal OF at
tention, but not one Of the somebodies
got half so much encouragement a.
Lieutenant and Captain Strongithearm
of her majesty's Carpet Warriors. To be
q Carpet Warrior nowadays needs q con-
siderable deal Of money, blood or inter-
est: Jack Strongithearm had money and
interest too.
He was fool, but the mere fact Of his
being q fool by no means disqualified
him for the Carpet Warriors. They have
their own special club, where they drink
lnagnums Of costly dark and peculiarly
dry champagne for lunch; they play
whist there on an afternoon and bac-
carat. nap and marmora until the small
hours of the morning. and good deal Of
money changes hands. As q rule, sayo
tor the wealthy, three years rs u Carpet
Warrior Is seldom exceeded-a man
sither narries, exchanges into o cheaper
regiment or bursts mp. II is short life
Ind a merry one. and It is a very great
privilege indeed to be Carpet Warrior
1t all.
Now, Lieutenant and Captain Strongi-
,hearm. being wealthy. was quite vet
eran among the Warriors; he had been 10
years In the regiment, and he was de-
servedly looked mp to by his brother Of
llcers as connoisseur and Judge OF
beauty. He was very critical and terri
bly, hard to please. He II was who had
blasted the chances Of Lady Dorothy
kitz.Urse when he gave her the nick
name Of "Dolly the Dairymaid" and
likened her lovely pink and white COM
ilexion to strawberries and cream.
iany had been the nets laid by willy
mothers for that too wary bird, Captain
but no one, till he met
Mrs. Redmayne, had succeeded In put
ling salt upon his tail. But Strongithe-
arm was very far gone indeed upon the
widow.
Twice during the Justices lifetime had
be solemnly entreated her to hy with
him. On the first occasion she had Sim
ply replied. "K you were not % terribly
tall. I'd box your ears" The second time
he had been shown the door and Justice
Retlmayne's wife had cut him for Q
whole month. Nothing increases mans
affection like q real good snubbing. and
Captain Strongithearm, now she was q
widow. not only fervently loved Mrs.
Redmayne-he actually reverenced her.
He assiduously paid her court. He VA
never tired Of dancing attendance upon
the little widow, and he praised her till
his brother officers were dck Of her very
name. And now he was her accepted
lover. and although their marriage va
not announced It was tacitly understood.
Strongithearm had but ono falling; be
smoked morning, noon and night II
was q real grievance 10 him that ths
queens regulations did not allow him 70
smoke on parade. Now. Nn. Redmayna
hated tobacco. and svsr dnce his court
ship Strongithearm had become . nan
smoker for her dear saks. Il was . -
vsrs psuan0s 70 him. but h boreits sHp