St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-11-26
THE CONQUEST OF
MRS. VIVIAN.
By CHARLES KEhnETr euRRow.

Il BY CHARLES KEhnETT suRRow. 8
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THE BRISTOWE garden party was
i deadly dull affair. / tried 10
convince myself that I went from a
sense OF duty, but when rapid survey
ialied to reveal the slight figure and
dehclous irresponsibility of Jack Vivi-
an the sense of duty theory collapsed.
MRS. Vivian, thought. had been in
clined to treat me somewhat coldIy.
and wondered. rather angrily, how
she came to have such daughter as
Jack. There was a certain vague sem
biance between them, certainly, but
nothing could convince me that Mrs.
vivian had ever been slight, and my
imagination wss not strong enough
even to suggest that she had ever been
irresponsible.
There were not more than half a
dozen people whom I knew, and Of
them not more than two whom cared
TO talk to-. Nest of the men seemed
to have got together in the middle of
the tennis lawn, the ladies were Ian
gushing in the shade of the beeches;
only one or two couples seemed to be
engaged in occupation for which s-aIr-
dy, gardeE parties alone were invented.
Mrs. Bristowe, my hostess. seemed very
much depressed.
why don't things move faster, Mr..
Mildmay?" she asked, plaintively.
''Why don't those wretched men do
something?"
my dear LADY," said, ''they never
do at these affairs. / don't know why
It is: perhaps there's too much daylight
for them."
"But one must give garden parties" I"
she said.
II thank Providence have no gar
den," said. 81 might manage a little
dance, very little one. in my studio,
but bachelor can't do that kind of
thing, you know"
Hish you'd go and talk to Mrs.
Vivian" she said; shes sitting ali
alone there, and thinking of nasty
things to say afterward."
I wanted to talk to Mrs Vivian, so /
went. The fact is, knew that Jack
had q great talent for drawing and
wanted to cultivate it, and / had a
vague idea that / might induce Mrs.
Vivian to allow me to give her daugh-
ter lessons, particularly as it would
cost her nothing. 1t was wild mo-
tion, but worth trying, and Jack agreed
with me. I therefore strolled up to
Mrs. Vivian and sat down by her In a
casual way.
'sThe parties here are always 20 slow,
aren't they?" she asked.
Are they slower here than anywhere
else?a
II trust ours are not SO dull" she
snapped.
.Ah, but you have genius for social
oroanizat tion," I said. unblushingly;
s.and 50 few people have even TALENT
/ do not wish to depreciate Mrs. Vivian,
but her love of flattery was as great as
her capacity for small and totally un-
necessary lying. She condescended to
smile upon me. "People are SO diner
ent. !" she said.
ssYon would notice that all the more
after your stay in the country" | said.
sHow charming the coast is at PEN
quite, and what glorious sketchiIg
ground? l suppose Miss Vivian did
some work there?"
She ignored the last part OF my ques-
ton.
.Do YOU know that part Of the
world ?" she asked.
..)h. YES" said. perfectly.
ssTshat reminds me-" she said, smiling
>~.;n. .that met Col. Miidmay at
nv cousins house. It did not occur
q me that he might be relative OF
sours. Is he"
.He,s INV uncle, and dear old boy,
100. hut / don't see much of him now
Her manner instantly thawed; 1 be
Nv. .he had an idea that an artist
.nnet necessarily be the son OF a fraud
.,l.nt bankrupt Or fonrth-rate actor,
q .omething Of that sort. Then she
s,.,,dexcended to answer my previous
question ..,a
s,.-t II that wsy! Phoebe painted
-ood deal while she was there"
= 7 rondered. for = moment, who
phoebe was-I had called her Jack for
:ruite three months.
fe,t that I was getting on famous.y.
- WAS lust arranging in my mind
49, "a make the next step when MRS.
Vivian spoke again.
..yVh.t ! charming place Lord ST.
A,,.rn has 1t Polgarth." she said.
! syery,. I answered, eying her fur-
lively. ..,, :. l.
-. aid. 1--WE dried there twice.
aHe.s an old chum of mine" ! SAID;
49, were up at Oxford together
- her vince. and her manner re-
,s..a even further. felt profoundly
sorry for Jack.
.s1iow interesting" she SAID.
~ ace almost more of him than OF
- the old set" said. I'VE used
!. -.t into glorious scrapes together.
-. - never did any work
aAnd / suppose you did, sne sng-
Rested. .:...a
.<,h YOU young men," she laughed,
.nd v.eged her false old head.
h.re moi, 4as rule. been particu-
- l.cLr man, 5utcertainly that att
.n l.Is the fates were on my side As
5 8 .r-red to see what had become OF
: nr;.fowe / beheld the familiar