New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-19

MISREPRESENTATION. Recommendations are more
often than is usually admitted the result OF an
honest incapacity to distinguish between fact
and fancy and IL may be that Lady Adlsham
herself the victim of that very common
form OF blindness when she pointed out the inn
portance. from Mr.. CoXwelis standpoint, or
maintaining little longer the fiction that he
about to espouse lady so distinguished as
herself.
him, and continue TO take an interest in him
Consequently. We will wait If you please until
be has put his opponents TO confusion and won
his way TO a position from which he may safely
stoop to select any bride he likes. You are sure
that he does not strike you as being rather-a
cur?'
Miss Sherwood flushed Indignantly ~ cur!
You know he is not!-you know he Is great
man"
HIM Suppose we say big man-which means
the same thing In one sense and not quite the
same in another For the matter Of that dare
say he Is no worse than his neghbors Ihey are /
all alike-or almost all Now you must dry your
eyes like a good girl. give me your address, and |
bide your time. Soon after Parliament meets
you shall hear from me. and soon after that,
unless much mistaken, you viii hear from
your repentant Robert
The above colloquy initiated in the vestibue
Of the Town Hall concluded beneath the
bare bOughs Of the trees in the adjoining Pubic
gardens whittier Lady Adisham had conducted
her newly found prOteg3e. IL was now nigh time
for her TO Tejoin her friends and hasten home
ward. b. means OF what subsequent strategy
she contrived TO stave off Mr.. COXwell's immi- |
nent proposal it Is needless relate, she would
have been much less able :actician than she |
had she experienced any diiiiculty in &C
complishing that much. She would likewise
have been quite abnOrHnally magnanimous If she
had not pluried herself good deal upon her
magDanimity and resolved - make her piebelan
suitor look. in the sequel, like the 1901 tAat ne
To the public eye Mr.. Coxwell looked anything
but a fool when it became known. Immediately
prior to the opening Of the session, that largely
increased naval expenditure had been decided
upon. and that the First Lord Of the Admiralty
dissenting from the view Of his colleagues had
resigned Office. The voice Of the people had
given forth uncertain sound Ministers were
submisslvely acquiescent. and, although the
news of Sir Arthur Middietons retirement was
received with a sort of regret d'estime IL was
generally felt that the country could do rather
better without him than with him The appoint
ment Of 50 young and inexperienced pOhtlclan
as MI CoXUen TO I'll his vacant place was pro-
nOunced sensational and some OF the eraVer
Newspapers doubted its eXpedieucy; yet knowing
persons. OF persons who wished TO be thousht
knowing expressed no surprise. CONWeli was
powerfully backed. they declared, and ne dld nor
owe his rapid advancement to his talents alone,
undeniable as they were. Lady Adlsh3In. at any
rate was to ne excused for assuming mat the
triumph in which she shared had been brought
about by her unceasinS eXertIons As
victory II was In truth dramatically complete
and how was she 10 know that her eXertlons
had really done rather more harm than gOou 10
her candidate? There are men ike SIT Arthur
Middleton who rise to high office by reason OF
their sterling qualities. and there are DINERS, uke
Mr. Coxwell who have Office-and comparative
observation-disclosures upon them because their un-
fettered eloquence Is so apt To embarrass Sheh
right honorable friends The Premier VINO was
much attached to the late First Lord OF the
Admiralty neither liked nor trusted his sue
ceseor; but the obstinacy Of the one and the
self assertion Of the other had produced results
which there was nothing for 1T but 10 accept
with shrug Of the shoulders
In any case Sir Arthur Middleton had been
pretty handsomely beaten. and. that being so
what could be more natural than that Lady
Adisham should invite him to dinner! l
haven't asked Mr.. Coxwell to meet you TINS
time" she considerably added in postscript
AS \ matter OF fact she had not asked any
body TO meet him for she looked forward to CON
lerring with him in private, and OF course she
was OF an age to be her own chaperOn On SIM
lar grounds she was free TO receive SIT Arlhut
supplanter Wnan and where she pleased. ana
that gentleman with whom she also looked for
ward TO holding a brief cOnference) obedientIy
presented himself in Park Lane on The afternoon
Of the day appointed for the tete-a-tete dinner'
Mr. Coxwen knew. or thought he knew, why
he had been summoned Perhaps that accounted
for the visible fact that his habitual self-pos-
session had deserted him, and explained the
confused il profuse, assurances oil Erattuue
which ne made haste to offer TO ms OeneiactIeSS'
Well. little difiidence was n3t uLpt =, .isI
under all the circumstances. although 1t would
have answered Lady Adishams purpose some
what better had he seen fit TO assume the air Oh
conquerOr
ooh that IS all right" she ended by inter-
rupting impauenty. Il am giad TO nave peen peer, VI
nv poor services Now, the question Is, what
practical acknowledgment are you prepared 10
make of them? You have been wise enough 10
take my advice hithertO will you continue 10 De
snided Inv H. and believe me when L tell you
mat the one thing still needed TO make your
social az well as your political, position sond IS
wife"
Mr.. Coxweli grinned nervously and wiped his