The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-10-02

scorned the imputation, but they
would not believe me, and they were
still laughing when the door opened and
old Lord saintsbury peeped in.
VERY merry here. "
my friend Miss Linthrop declares
that she has seen a lady with primulas
in her hair-such a terrible decoration
seated in Baron Kurz box this even
ing" said Mrs. Waldo in her loud,
clear, penetrating voice, that carried
farther than any voice have ever heard.
1 noticed shade fit across Lord
Saintsbury's face He turned his head
sharply and glanced back. Then, step
ping quickly into tho box, he shut the
door behind him.
"Why SO mysterious?" asked Mrs.
Waldo, smiling.
"Kurz was just behind me. He must
have heard what you said. . And the old
gentleman looked genuinely distressed.
But why not? We We're only laugh
ing at my young friend here Are you
going, Mr. Venning?"
began to be afraid that l had made
q goose of myself. And Lord Saintsbury
was looking so solemn. Perhaps that
was because be was in The ministry.
Mrs. Waldo" he began, as soon as
Mr.. Venning had disappeared, don't
repeat that little story about-the-the
lady with the primulas. It.
"My dear Lord Saintsbury, why
mayn't I? love a little aneodote, and
this is such thrilling one. y
But you would not like to cause
pain, am sure. "
And you think Miss Linthrop SO very
thin skinned that she cannot take lit
tie chaff?"
g 1t is not ON her account that am
speaking. You may or may not have
heard that Miss Charlotte was not
Kurz's first wife No? Well, she was
not. His first wife was girl of the peo-
ple-some said nursemaid, some n
peasant. Itreally doesn t signify VIII ich.
At all events, she was neither "a lady by
birth nor person Of education. After a
time he grew tired of her His father
died, and no came into money. He be-
gan to go in for society. He met Miss
Charcote. One night--it was at the
L
for some time in Lady Jane Charcote's
box. His wife was alone in the loge OPP
posite. What she saw or thought don't
know, but when he returned to her she
complained Of feeling very tired, and he
suggested that they should go homo.
She tainted ON the staircase and was
carried into their brougham. That same
night she died. It was very sudden and
rather mysterious.
"Good gracious Did any ono suspect
the baron of having poisoned his wife2"
''Not that l know of, But they did
say that his neglect had broken her
heart. But to come to the point of my
story. The first baroness kurz-Rosine
was fair, blue eyed woman, with
passion for primulas. In Paris, where
she had no aequaintanees and was only
known by sight, and by many people
s,..s NOS supposed To DO kUrz's wife, she
always went by tho name Of the lady
with the primulas. That is why was
startled and upset by what you told me.
That was why was distressed that the
flower should have been mentioned in
Kurz's harrington hear l am sure he
did 4"
IL was my turn TO feel distressed
distressed, but at the Same time wildly
interested. Twas just going to ask Lord
Saintsbury whether he had ever known
Rosine personally, when Mr. Venning
reappeared, and at the same moment |
noticed that while we had been discuss
ing the first Baroness Kurz her successor
had disappeared from the opposite box
had left the house probably, | thought,
bored by tho dullness of act 1.
Such an awful thing has happened -
Mr. Venning's face was pale, and his
voice sounded low and hoarse. "Kurz
has fallen down dead, just outside the
omnibus box. -
"Good gracious, how dreadful But
very likely he has only tainted.
Mr.. Venning shook his head. "Cleve-
land met him looking ghastly-you
know he does sometimes. And he asked
him, Arc you i'll, Kurzf And the 9th
er just stared at him and muttered:
True, truel She has come for me, and
fell back dead.
1 started to my feet Mrs Waldo.
must go home Please let me. Don't
you como, butt
my dear child" and her voice
sounded a shade harder and louder than
usual, "don't make scene, please. f"
Our visitors had vanished at the bare
mention Of such a possibility, ever
dreaded and held in adherence by the
sterner sex.
''But / cannotstay. Didn't you hear?
He is dead. "
Mrs. Waldo stared at me with look
Of derision on her handsome stony face.
"But you did not know him. II is not
customary for Young ladies to make
scenes over the death Of a man they
never know Such things are not done. "
"Ah, but you don It understand. Isaw
her, y
"Her? Whom?'
"The lady with tho primulas--his
first wife. She came to fetch him. He
said so-you heard. 2"
my dear child, what nonsensel You
were dreaming, Of course. Hush We
must not talk any more now. We must
listen.
And the curtain rose upon act a.
81. James Budget.