The record-union., 1897-04-11

one, and I shall forget that it ever was
written. Your sincere old friend,
JANE BELMONT
1t would be difficult to describe the
feelings with which young Arthur Nor
Vyn received this gently worded epis-
tie. 1t is no discredit to his manhood
to say that tears sprang to his eyes,
and that he was so unwontedIy stirred
up in that set of emotions which used
to be called honor and chivalry before
apathy and laissez faire took their
place, that he went straight off to Jane
and apologiZed for his indiscretion. And
the result of his frankness was strong
friendship for life, which was benefi-
cial to his young lordship in many
more ways than one.
And Jane herself returned to Ash
leigh-in- theDell a wiser woman, if not
a better one, for her London expert
ences. The mignonette had never
smelt SO sweet-the old china had never
looked SO brightly polished and home
like, as no the day when she re-entered
'Restful Harbor," never TO leave it
again. Satisfied with simple things for
herself, but doing great deeds Of gener-
osity for others. Jane has now become
! the blessing and honor of all the coun-
tryside-the helper of the afflicted. the
rescuer of the distressed, the gentle,
noble, never-failng friend Of all in
need. Her portrait appears no more in
THE Lady's Pictorial" and she has
never again visited court-but her kind,
bright face is the sunlight of many
an otherwise dark home, and it may be
that in the high court of Heaven her
name is not unknown. She lives her
life as the famous Disraeli would have
us all live it, lin peace with honor"
and the little social incident" connect
ed with her London career has been
gradually forgotten by all ex-
cept a few people with long
memories and keen wits, who
secretly regret the departure of Jane
from town, and wish there were a few
more like her. For in the appalling
vulgarity, serfshness and apathy Of
society nowadays, the lack of straight
forward principle is everywhere pain
fully manifest, and lesson or two in
honesty and courage might not be with
out wholesome effect. Half q dozen
James dotted about in various quar-
tiers during a London season might
WOih NOilUetS, anu SOCitIy TOOnQ
to the remembrance and recuitivation
of its lost graceS-such as courtesy.
simplicity, truth and dignity, which in
themselves constitute the whole. art Of
perfect breeding But of our Jane
the" Jane who received royalty and
dismissed it again without being pre-
sented to it, there is no more to be said
beyond that the whole village Of Ash
leigh-in-the-DelI seems to be perme-
ated in summer with the scent of the
mignonette that grows in the garden of
'Restful Harbor,' and that the con-
tented mistress of the little place in
dulges in her passion for old china to
such n lavish extent that her collection
is beginning to be known and envied by
the best connoisseurS. 1t may likewise
be added that Arthur Morvyn and his
wife are near neighbors of hers, and
that their small family of golden
haired. laughing children are perpetu-
ally to be seen romping about "Restful
Harbor," standing up to their little
bare knees in the mignonette and
shouting for certain "Auntie Jane"
So we may presume that Jane, after all,
is something of a social leader in her
own way, though she has no longer any
connection with the swagger set.-Ma-
RE Corelli in The Lady's Realm.