Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-11-21

commence, when slight stir was oc-
casioned at the further end of the
room by the entrance of late arrivals.
by Jover' suddenly exclaimed one
of the loungers, stranger 10 Garth,
his gaze riYeted upon the younger of
the two late guests, what truly mag
!. nificent womani Who is she? Pray
enlighten me, some of you"
Young Darlington, who was Just
sauntering up to these friends OF his.
Joined the group in time to answer
the question.
'.1hat lady" said he, hall pettishly.
halt in banter. lis Miss Penrith. of
Oldfriars The invincible, the cold
hearted Miss Penrith some men call
her: and, by Heaven, they are not far
out"
Darlington. like many another fell
low, has tried il on there, perhaps, and
found 1t no go" Iisped a third.
Darlington ignored the observation,
merely Struggling his shoulders as he
continued.
"If you are eager for more informal.
ton. you can have it," he said, in the
same, light, sarcastic way; and then,
should you be anxious to go in and
try your luck, | doubt not that | can
get you an introduction. Yes? Miss
Penrith, you must know then. is as
rich as she is beautiful. 1t is her
within to live at Oldfriars alone-that
is, with a very privileged old house,
keeper and other servants, all of
whom, | believe. adore her, and no
wonder. When she appears in society
which Is not often-Mrs. Septimus
acts as her dragon Mrs. Septimus is
the wife of the vicar Of Garth, and
Mrs Septimus accompanies her friend
tonight. Half the county are wild
about Alicia Penrith-the men,
mean Come along, or her program
will be full. More presently"
Young Darlington, linking bis arm
within that of the first speaker, led
him. nothing loath, down the crowded
ballroom TO where another group OF
men, gathered round about the fau-
teuil occupied by pale and beautiful
dark-haired, dark-eye woman in
cleaning white satin and fearful
pearls were all but striving openly
for the possession Of her little card
and pencil
Meanwhile Miss Penrith's appear
ance at the Honorable Mrs Caring
tons brilliant late winter assembly
was provoking comments elsewhere.
Two wall flowers" on a sofa in re-
cess. were speaking of Alicia Penrith.
"Isn't ii odd, dear, that she doesn't
marry, with all her money and every
thing? And she is handsome, too,
after a certain sty1e-at least SO peo-
pie say
EYES," was the reply 80 people
say; though, for my own part, / can
see nothing in that pale face of hers,
and those great theatrical-looking
eyes, l consider her most strange
looking myself
Eyes, dear; but then you must recol-
lect that there is no accounting for
mems taste, and it is the men who
rave over Alicia Penrith BY the bye,
it is nearly three years ago, is 1t not,
since that Marvellous story was made
public by Mr.. Merryweather, and
Garth heard for the first time that
there was no murder done at 0ldfriars
after all? Everybody used to say, you
know, that Lady Penrith killed Alicia
Leigh How time fliesr'
"Ah! indeed was the reply. Il
was at Malvern when the mistake was
cleared up, fancy, staying with the
Rockies. However, / perfectly remem-
Der my sister writing and telling me
all about it, and that old Lady Penrith
had died at Genoa. It was an ugly
story altogether. It's a great mercy
she's dead and gone"
"A very great mercy as you say
especially for Miss Penrith herself.
But have always thought it remark
ably strange in Herman Marryweather
that as soon as he had brought Miss
Penrith back to Oldfriars, he should
have left his business entirely to the
care and management of that confl-
Dental old clerk of his and himself
gone off abroad again. to travel, good
ness knows whither-Egypt Syria,
anywhere. they said at the time.
Talking of Mr.. Merryweathcr, do you
know that | was told he would be
here tonight. Can it be possible?"
"Oh. yes, believe so, He has re-
turned from his peregrination rather
Unexpectedly, and young Darlington,
meeting him yesterday in Stilhorough,
made him promise that he would come
to the ball Gracious! There he is, |
declare, talking with Richard Blount!
Well, three years have certainly
wrought change in him; he is fine
looking fellow still, is he not?'
Supper was over: the after-supper
dances were in full force. The revel
was at its height; its wane was nigh
at hand.
Miss Penrith, so weary of it all
having eluded the jealous vigilance of
her numerous admirers, had come UNI