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

cross and snappish Tor "A whole morning "a.
was not however cross with Mr.. CoxwelI. ~
the contrary. SIC be- anne. II possible mo-.
gracious than ever toward one ~ no. was bel,sys,
to stand already very well indeed With her y.
course. he was going 10 propose 10 her Ever
body, including Lady Adisham herself kns,
that, and everybody, except Lady Adishan
thought it rather a pity that she should hsg.
given him so much encouragement. When !.
old friend went the length Of telling her a,
much she innocently inquired
Where does the pity come in2 DO you me-.
that my accepting him or my refusing hs
would be a matter for regreH Either perhaps,
Well | am sorry to distress you. but an
afraid it looks if should have To- do the On,
or the other"
She was really in some doubt as to which a.
tentative she meant 10 choose. She was a.,
suredly not in love with the man, nor was 4.
quite gentleman, did his present Sci,i
position correspond in any way with that u IA,
last Lady Adisham. on the other hand he "a,
almost sure OF climbing to the top Of the tree
would be absolutely sure Of doing so she IA,
tered herself as her husband and be- "A,
touchingly devoted 10 her Moreover ther,
would be a certain satisfaction IN proving %
Arthur Middleton that the rival whom he 20
oStentatiously disdalned was capable ~ cutting
him out all round II Is not at all unlikely ths,
the fortunate Mr.. Coxweli would have added
titled bride To his other advantage had he 10,
in an evil hour for him, been commanded 10 a..
company Her Ladyshp 10 lars. neighb0rns
town, Whele She hau 'ohS'hleu 10 open 4
bazaar.
He did his best, it is true, 10 g,t Of joining
that particular party, for the town IN Question
happened to he his birthplace and among 10
inhabitants We're several persons whom he vas
by no means anxious TO meet But Lady All.
sham was not fond Of being th~arted or Dis.
obeyed; so he was fain to bow to her peremptOry
assertion that change Of scene would be the
best thing in the world for the headache which
he pleaded. Thus II came 10 pass that In the
course of the day he found himself unable 10
avoid an interview which was not less painful
to him than TO the extremely pretty young
woman who demanded it.
Lady Assistants observant eyes took note q
that young woman, to whom she sold some
rubbish or other. and who gazed AT her with
sort Of distressed fascination. took note also q
the circumstance that Immediately after her
appearance i'm front Of the central stall NJ
Coxwells headache became So bad that he VA
compelled to excuse himself hurriedly and max.
for the railway station. perceived hnally t@la
the aid of pair of opera glasses mat her IN
disposed guest and the unknown who had FL
changed no signs Of recognition. leit together
the large hall in which the bazaar being
held-so close together, indeed. that one Of then
seemed 10 be whispering INTO the "thers "a.
Clearly, this was a case winch demanded IL
Vestigation. Her LadyShip lost n" time IA leay'
ing to her cOadjutOrs the care Of the stall oyei
which she was presiding. threaded her way
through the crowd with as little delay as the
greetings Of numerous acquaintance whom Sd.
enc ountercd on her passage would admIt ana
so emerged At length into gloomy "ellnlsa
deserted vesthulc Upon bench in rs darkest
corner she detected at a glance thu gIriish figure
of which she was in quest while the simultane-
Gus futter Of Mr. CoXwells departing codt-tals
through the SWing-doors which opened upon the
street seemed 10 explain the uncOnceal"G emo
ton Of his late companion. whose race VA
buried in her pocket-handkerchiei
Lady Adisham was not jealous. por. 10 tell II.
truth was she much shocked. She held opinions
grounded upon experience. with regard TO ns
habtual ways Of men, ana really she 'arei W
tie whether Mr. Coxwell resembled tn, majority
of his genus in certain respects OF not Never
theess there are complications OF class via
which il is sometimes just as well t. be ac'
ouainted: SO she did not hesitate to approaei
the Niobe on the wooden bench.
II am afraid you are not Well she sald gea
tly. "Can do anything for YOU
The girl dropped her hands. recognized hS
questioner with A startled cry ~ constern%
ton. and made az though she WOULD NY Weclp,
lately But firm little hand ciasl'i her "r''
a smelling bottle was thrust under her nos-
and a voice which could be- as soft and persue
sive as any i'm the three Kingdoms murmGrea.
Tell me all about it, | am sure you ought !"
tell somebody. and ! am quite safe
There are philosophic students Of human "a.
ure who aver that no woman Is quite saie !a''
as a Hebrew psalmist declared. once upon
justly or unjusty. rested under the impu'ato'
OF being a liar ever since. Perhaps Lady Az
sham was not worthy OF the unreseryed eonn'
dence which she solicited. but she was, al any
rate, an adept in the art Of obtaining "ha' so'
desired Annie Sherwood Ghis. II appeared Wv
the young ladys name. and she was me GAUGE,
ter of a respectable local attorney regure;
some pressing. yet ended by yielding 10 app1N.
pressure and narratng her sad and simple s'oV
from start to finish. 1t was not exactly the s0',
IA Ttr. nat
been prepared: but that did not render h any ING
less affecting Robert COXWell, Who had "V0ss
and won her years ago. and at whom. ID uos
days Of his poverty and obscurty her pruue.'
provincial parents had refused To look. vas nv
strictly speaking. liable to an acton TOT "'a
of promise Since he had been turned avg
from her fathers door and forbidden % regss
himself as engaged to her father daugh~L
was in no way bound 10 renew an oiier VIM.
would, OF course, have been welcomed IN ""