The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-22

The bronze Cupid on the purple ped
estal in ady Saumarez' drawing
room seems to leer forth like sooffer
on the scene of gaudy luxury spread
| about him, the world of degenerates
over which he here presides; the god of
love has turned cynic. The arrows of
the decadent deity are poisoned, dipped
in the venom of ignoble passions.
A talent for mockery in witty cpl
grams, a polished, sneering sarcasm at
purity as the mask Of hypocrisy, are
here cultivated as the high virtues.
Under the eye of the bronze Cupid
two women are seated on divan.
Their bare shoulders CLEAN in the
light of the chandelier above. 1t is
evening. The day Of the degenerates
is just beginning. Others are expected.
These two are early risers in this blase
world. One is Lady Saumarez. The
other is the Hon. Mrs. Bennett. They
are talking of the bond of matrimony.
IF my married life were unhappy
should elope," Lady SaumareZ says.
"But why elope?' asks Mrs. Bennett
simpering. It's SO. unnecessary. Why
should a woman sacrifice her settle
ments and abandon all decent society,
when with a little tact she can do ex-
actly the same thing and all decent So
ciety will help to cover 1t up?"
"Oh, can't understand that, replied
Lady Saumarez, but l can understand
a woman's wanting to set all society at
defiance as the cause of her trouble"
An austere butler announces the ar
rival of other guests Among them the
Duke Of Orme and Isidore de Lorano.
With them enters Sir William Sauna
rez After salutationS the party
divides into groups. In one Lady
Saumaraz, Mrs. Bennett and the duke.
Lady Saumarez-You are still search
ing the world for a woman?
! Duke of Orme-Yes, and have not
| found one.
Mrs. Bennett-What sort of woman,
| blonde or brunette?
Duke of Orme-Neither one nor the
other,
Lady Saumarez-Of spotless reputa-
ton? That goes without saying.
! Duke of Orme-In that case she
would not be a woman.
Mrs. ISennett-You don't mind spots?
Duke Of Orme-If the sun had no
spots perhaps we would have no sun. l
don't mind spots
Mrs. Bennett-Mrs. Trevalion (Mrs.
Langtry) is coming this evening, duke,
OF course you remember her?
Duke of Orme-Rather! What's she
| been uo to lately?
Mrs. Bennett-Oh, anything to make
herself notorious, The stage, the turf,
the tandem club, occultism, the card
table, tne stock exchange and the di-
vorce court
Lady Saumarez-There' your wife
ready fer you, if you have such par
TALLY for spots.
Mrs. Bennett-Oh, yes; she's on the
market after living apart from IRE
WALTON all these years, but how she got
a divorce is a mystery.
Duke of Orme-Qn the attitude of a
defender)- Bennett, 1 happen to
know Mrs. Trevalion's side of the case.
Mrs. Trevalion (Mrs. Langtry) is an
nounced at this very moment. All turn
as she sweeps into the room with the
confident air of one who knows the
power Of the sorceress-beauty The
fairness of the other women seems to
wither in her presence, and the men are
drawn toward her like so many moths
-dazzled.
After greetings, Mrs. Trevalion Mrs.
Langtry) spying the duke, advances to
him, graspa him by both hands and ex-
| claims:
"Oh, Bobby, I'm so glad to see you
| again! Where have you been all these
i