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


ticipated glee the scene in which Mr.. Coxwell af-
ter willingly swearing to espouse the bride whom
she should select for him. was TO be informed that
her choice had fallen, not upon herself but upon
a lar less distinguished person And now
here was this ridiculous snob trembling and
apologizing because. notwithstanding his snob-
business, ne could not quite bring himself to
obey her! a more irritating anticlimax could
scarcely have been conceived yet she managed
to keep her countenance
You allude Of course" said she. ito Miss
Mr.. Coxwell started and gasped: Eyes; but
how in the world DO you come to know anything
about her?"
"Oh. know great many thlngs Well you
nave anticipated me. ] was just about to tell
you that Cabinet Minister should If possible
be n married man. and that the only suitable
Wlfe TOT you, in my opinion, Is the girl who
has been rather more faithful to you than you
have been to her. l don't blame you for having
waited until you had reached the top of the
tree before gratifying your romantic inclina-
tons. That shows your worldly wisdom. and
dare say you had incentives not known to
me. only hope that you have not seriously
committed yourself in the exalted quarter Of
which you spoke just now
Mr.. CoXwell in some bewilderment and con-
fusion, replied that he had not He was dis
posed to believe that he might have been mis-
in question.
Il should think that was not unlikely" OBJ
served Lady Adisham musingly, You see. Mr..
COXWeN, there are plenty Of people, myself
am one Of thcm-WhO are attracted by promising
young members Of Parliament, and Interested
in their career But class distinctions do exist.
don't they? And, taxing an interest in a man.
or even making friend Of him, is such a very
different thing from marrying him"
The administering of that small snub was. *
may be hoped. some consolation to her II was
Likewise consolation to reflect that. although
ne would inevitably be made the recipient OF
Annie Shcrwoods full confession. he would
, never learn how nearly he had approached sue
cess in peculiarly audacious project
"The fact Of your having taken so prepos-
ferrous q notion into your head only shows that
the ceverest men are often astoundincly stupid. ''
Lady Adisham remarked, some hours later. to
the solitary guest who permitted himself to
inquire whether he was to congratulate her
upon her impending remarriage.
Sir Arthur Middleton mOdcstly disclaimed the
imputaton of being clever man. Talent, he
observed. is scarcely displayed by getting ones
self defnitiyey re'egated to private life.
well. YOU are an honest one. anyhow" his
hostess generously declared.
Thank you; yes l believe l may call myself
honest. So. no doubt, is Coxwell. in addition to
being clever That YOU are extremely clever is
notorious and what. | suppose. furnishes one
more proof Of my being extremely stupid is that
/ ! can't for the life OF me understand why you
have been moving heaven and earth to convert
him into what he Is when you had no intention
Of marrying him"
Lady Assistants eyes sparkled. you admit.
then. that it ia who have converted him into
what he is ." she cried triumphantly.
at the risk Of giving offence to an Old friend.
| am afraid | can't quite admit that He swims
willie I sink simply because he Is buoyant.
whereas | am heavy. But admit that you
have thrown him all the cork jackets and spars
you could lay hands upon, and, as | said before.
| | can't make out why"
Chen all / say is that you really are stu
Did! Surely you might have guessed that my
motive was to humble your provoking obstinate
pride in the dust"
! Sir Arthur raised his eyebrows. Really?
! Well I have been satisfactorily rolled in the
dust whether you were Instrumental or not in
innctng that humiliation upon me. But why
should you have wished to humiliate me? Is
| that another stupid question"
! Lady Adisham decidedly Of opinion that
il was but she did not say so. She remained
silent for a few moments; after which she asked
abruptly: and what are you going TO do
now"
He shrugged his shoulders PLANT my cab
bages. l suppose
you give up the game like THAR she eI-
claimed impatenuy do you really not care
then or is it a pOse?'
| 1T only remained for you to accuse me OF
being a poseur. Some months ago | was told
that l had neither discrimination nor sense OF