The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-21


A swish Of silken skirts across the
rose-scented Mayfair drawing-room.
the absorption of a creamy chiHon
Nfrook In dark blue serge embrace, the
Juxtaposition Of two pretty heads, one
copper red and the other soft brown,
made up in Lord Tregenna's memory
the general effect of the meeting be-
tween Lady Christine Mainwaring ana
her daughter, Christabel. After "a mo-
iment the copper and the chiffon frock
resumed separate existence, ana
Lady Christine Mainwaring..
little flushed and disturbed from her
usual serenity turned TO the privi-
legged witness Of the scene.
Lord Tregenna, you must forgive
me, but l have not seen my daughter
'for- a very long time" She took the
young girls long. slender fingers in her
own small, white hand.
LET me present you. my little girl.
Miss Christabel Mainwaring deigned
his lordship the slightest and shyest OF
bows, and then turned to her pretty
mother. and holding her at arms
length. eried Little girl, Why dear.
I'm head and shoulders taller than YOU
are. and you're SO lovely and SO wee
you make me feel quite old"
Lady Christine raised her fingers and
patted her daughters cheek. Non
sense, YOU foolish child. Now run up
stairs. Henrietta will show you your
room and unpack for you. l will come
to you directly"
From her slender height the girl
dropped tender kiss upon her mothers
brow, then left the room.
What do you think of her." We're
Lady Chrstine's first words as the door
closed.
Lord Tregenna picked up his hat and
gloves before he answered.: She Is
very lovely"
She is not like me. eh?"
He LEI his eyes-big. gray. rather
cold eyes-wander over the mignonne
form before him. During all her fifteen
years undisputed position as a leading
beauty Lady Christine had never looked
so lovely as at that moment. with her
bosom throbbing benea th her perfumed
laces. her sweet, red lips apart. her
sapphire eyes agtow with excitement
and curiosity.
. Lord Tregenna looked a second time.
"No, Miss Mainwaring is not like you.
But must be going You will want to
go to your daughter
"Au revoir. then, till this evening.
You will come to the opera"
IF you will grant me hospitality for
the second act of Romeo shall be de-
lighted"
She waved him an airy acQuiescence
and moved to the door by his side. Yet.
after Lord Tregenna had left the house,
Lady Christine seemed to be in no
great hurry TO join her daughter. She
sank into a low chair and drew her
penciled brows together in an unac-
customed effort of serious thought
From her Goth birthday. when Marina
duke Mainwaring had left her a widow
the whole world had conspired to take
all need of thought or care from her
baby-dimpled hands and curly. auburn
hair. Relation quickly decided that
her only child could be we'll educated
IN foreign convent: and society. find
ing her beautiful. sweet-natured and
very wealthy. at once cast her for the
role OF beauty and feted her accord
ingly. Life ran on very well for Lady
Christine Mainwaring, and she did not
permit even her lovers to trouble her
Scores of men burnt incense at her
dainty shrine and swore ardent vows at
her arched feet. Some loved her for
her beauty, others desired her for her
wealth. But she had neither taste nor
sympathy for either one of them. A
thousand times she had protested that
neither her position nor fortune could
be bettered by second marriage, and
unlike most women under identical cir
cumstances. she had really meant what
she said,
But lately, after fifteen years Of adu-
old daughter wass looming in the hori-
zon of her career little Lady Christine
sometimes caught hercelf watching for
certain handsome face at the opera.
waiting for particular tall. square,
shouldered figure in the paork, longing
FOR the tones Of a deep voice at
routs and balls. She grew as capri
clous as spoilt baby. ridiculously
cheery one hour, absurdly depressed the
next She, would laugh at nothing. and
twice within the week that preceded
her daughters return She had caught
herself in tears.
A vague fear, an unfounded appre-
hension. was driving a tiny lump
into her white throat now, as she sat
musing over Lord Tregenna's words,
"She is very lovely; she is not like YOU. -
What did he mean? Christabel was
young and slender. and had great dove
like eyes. II wonder which of US he
will PREFER" Then she laid her cool
hands against her burning cheeks
what fool I am to even dream such
things. I've been spoilt. I think, every
man must be in love with me If he car
ries my prayer-book two Sundays rum
ming at church parade or comes to my
opera box once a, week Chris must
have her chance. and IL he
Then her thoughts trailed away into
vague imaginings till low voice MUIR
INJURED, Mother. may I come imp
e+si iOf course. dear. Ring for tea. Now
sit down here and tell me all about
everything till 1t comes time to dress
for dinner"
When Lord Tregenna went round to
Lady Christine Mainwarings opera
box that evening he found 1t crowded
with "a fiuttering mob Of moths, all
dying to slnge their wings in. the rays
OF the new star.
by Jove, Lady Chris! Introduce me,
please. Your daughter Is charming"
drawled Lord Sloshire, In stage wNhis-
per-. "The prince has already asked
who is with you, Lady Chris"
= And says he won't believe she is your
daughter
THAT Chicago girl. Amelia Potts
guesses she's real mad, and has just
reckoned the game Is up with her" snig-
gered Talbot Hurst. who delighted In
fostering social squables.
"Oh hush! hush" cried Lady Chris.
tine. II shan't bring my daughter here
again II you're. going to spoil her al
once. Why. she's only a little school.
girl. An! there goes the curtain. Now
come back again this evening""
= "ls Lady Chris going to ride Jealous
OF the girl, do you think?" asked Talbot
Hurst OF Lord S1oshire, as they strolled
down to the omnibus box.
Don't no, I'm sure, and don't care
either" growled his lordship. VINO hated
Talbot Hurst for a "mean little sneak. y
But Talbot Hurst's charitable suppo.
sitions were base1ess. For, in spite oi
countless defections from her banner
Lady Chfis-as the world would cal
2her--dd not ride Jealous of the new
beauty, as Christabel quickly became
And yet-and yet there were moment,
when she would have given a year ol
her 1oveliness, a half of her fortune tc