New Ulm review., 1901-01-16

XKTHEN I first knew Curzon could
Wv not, for the life of me, make out
why his lips had that bitter curve
to them. Nor was I able to reconcile
his habitual suspicion with the facts
of his life, which appeared to me to
be very fortunate. He was quite at
the head of an interesting English
colony out in certain ambitious
western city; and he had an amiable
American wife and four fine, ener-
getic, handsome, well-mannered sons
Financially, he enjoyed an easy COM
petence, without the harassments of
poverty or the responsibilities Of
riches. He was president of the golf
club, and in the polo team, and he
went to cricket and altogether made
a miniature England out there on
the skirts of Puget, sound.
Quite by chance, saw much of a
friend of his one time when I was
going over to London. We were
steamer acquaintances merely, with
Tom CurZon for our one bond. We
talked about Curzon good deal
so you don't understand the 'sneer
beneath his smile?" my acquaintance
said in reply to a remark of mine.
swell, do. knew him when he was
as innocent of sneer as you are of
murder. Perhaps you'd forgive Cur
zon for the sneer if I were to tell
you his story
Il forgive him for anything he may
DO" I replied, warmly, because I like
him. But I'd be glad to hear his
story. I've hoped Curzon might tell
it to me himself, but he never has,
Give no doubt he'd like to, but
there are reasons why he cannot, in
honor. I knew him first down at
Cape Town. He came there with an
engineering corps, and he soon made
friends.
However, it was presently observed
that he had some attraction outside
of the bachelor circle, and it deyel-
oped that this was young girl, a
native of Cape Town and an orphan,
who was acting as nursery governess
to Mrs. Reginald Henly's children.
Mrs. Henly was a connection Of mine,
and I was a coed deal at her place.
and that was how [ discovered Cur
IONS interest in Nannette Averill
She was a lovely girl, and an unusual
one. think she must have been al
most six feet tall, quite slender and
the very impersonation of grace. The
indescribable purity Of her appear
ance in her simple gowns, with
flower in her hair, will always re-
main with me as one. of the sweetest
feminine pictures in my somewhat
extensive gallery. Curzon had too
much true pride to entertain any
idiotic vanity. He wasn't in the least
ashamed to have it known that he
intended to marry a nursery govern
ess. AS soon as he had right to give
that fact out he did so, and he in
formed everyone that he thought it
would be better if Miss Averill were
saved the fatigue attendant upon her
duties, and so he was sending her to
his people to stay with them till he
could come for her.
You see, he said to me, of course
dear Mrs. Henly would give her a
good send of-put up cosy little
wedding for her and all that. But
after all, it would be a sort of an
interjectory affair. I want Nannette
to go to the little church where our
people have been married for genera
tions past, and I want all our friends
to see her there in her white satin
and veil according to tradition. She's
the most beautiful woman I've ever
known, and mean to pay tribute to
her beauty as well as to her good
ness. The poor child has had no So
clal experience, and mater will see
to that, you know. She'll take her
to London, and have her meet all the
country people. It's the sensible
thing that I'm doing, though I find it
mighty hard to let her co.
She's travelling quite alone?' I in
quired.
eyes, but my brother Norman is
to meet her at Southampton. I've
cabled him.
"Curzon had a big job on at that
time, and he worked at it frantically.
He knew he'd make name for him
self if he got it through successfully.
And he was in Paradise all the time,
I could see that. His work for the
day over, he gave himself up to
day dreams. I suppose he was see
ing that little ivy-colored church sat
home and the tall lily-like bride with
the old veil that the Curzon brides
had worn for centuries. I helped
make up case of jewels which he
was to take with him as a bridal Gift.
We got pearls, principally, and con-
sumptive little italian who lived down
there made them up into the most
exquisite necklaces and fllets I have
ever seen. Curzon wrote by every
steamer. He became sort of devo-
tee. I almost think he lost sight of
the human qualities of the woman.
That white face of hers had en-
fhralled him. He put her on an altar
up there tn his north country and
worshiped her. There was no ques-
ton about it, he reverenced her as he