New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-08

II the Lady Patricia OF Nevern the cause
of anxiety her relatives and friends they
took let her know Il, and that Is where her
grievance in. To be the subject of general
disapprova did not SO much trouble her. but she
did resent being called upon Justify herself, for
she invariably came out second best in any argu-
ment. Quite clear in her mind. of her perfect
right to do she liked with her life. she of
too and yielding a nature enforce her
point of view on an impairment world. and. with a
very strong determination 10 go her own way, she
Yet lacked the decision necessary to snap her fin
in the face of Society and take il. She would
agree that it was unfortunate. and OF the
ordinary. 20 be left widow the of nineteen,
but she could not that she did her neighbors
wrong when. the expiration of her two years
mourning she still refused to embark a second
matrimonial venture. She did not pretend to in
consolable grief though she had unfeignedIy re-
GREETED the death of Mr. Nevern within six months
| of their marriage.
Bat il was surely exaggeration the part %
peculiarly aggressive aunt, who would have it
| that Patricia threw positive slight on her first
husbands memory when she declined give him
successor Mr.. Nevern. young. rich and healthy.
lord of broad acres. the less fair because
they had been bought and paid for out of cotton.
had been most desirable match for Lady Patricia
Eardisand. who. her side had chosen him
freely and had had no cause (nor perhaps. time)
repent Of her choice. He had been kindness it
self to her reiterated Patricia and it cruel.
almost a stupid. fate TO have Overtaken so mighty
n hunter ana SUCn a ROO0 sportsman generally
A horse that had stumbled as he and his mas
ter alike tired out returning home the
close of long day with the hounds: fall. in the
sudden surprise of the moment and the straightest
rider country in the shire lay silent IN the
November dusk with his neck broken
And Patricia did much admit to her
self that Reggie Nevern had not been the brightest
of companions when he did manage to keep
awake after dinner which could not. in reason be
often expected OF him. what with hunting and
shooting and golf to make up with. though he
would occasion, dear man. be content with a
/ golf ball near him look at just for company.
when he had perforce to hhiss the links through
stress Of weather. But at all this his widow, in
her loyalty, never limited No: he had been the
best Of husbands the very. very best-only. please
she did want another. A decision that reused
her indignant family to make common cause with
the host Of sUitOrs who would have II that the
Lady Patrcia's clear duty lay in ma king selec-
ton of one from among their number TO serve as
the protector Of herself and her fortunes.
vain for Patricia to insist that she did not
feel the for protection. for it is clear that in
these hard times. il an unmarried woman with r
rent roll OF fSooI0 a year does not want husband
TO look after her. she ought to. And this woman
further complicated matters by her inability to say
No with practice.
On the least show Of real feeling from one of her
woud-be lovers. she invariably strove 10 soften the
blow of dismissal to him by promising to think It
| over But while frequently occurred half a
aIl waiting together what time the Lady Patricia
should have thought them over. she was earning
FOR herself most uncnviable and quite unoeserNeo
reputation as frt. and laying hersef open 10 the
severest censrIre from her brothers wife. the Lady
AlIestree a most aggravating young matron who.
strong in the conscious sense OF superiority that
rurservful Of babies bestovs on a woman. would
not hesitate to qualify her sister-in-laws conduct
as simply indecent.
For though she fondIy hoped that she kept them
IN herself il was more than suspected by her sur
roundings that the Lady Patricia had aspirations
and views Of a most reprehensible order She did
not care for society. and it Is certain that she
dabbed I'm painting. Some OF her frlends went SD
far as To believe that she wrote for the PAPERS
and even the magazines. And she was, at all
events never so happy as when left to her
self In the peaceful quiet of her Suffolk home.
between the cha peronage of her grandmother. the
Dowaser Countess of Allestree. VINO ahored her
and had brought her UP. AMI the friendship of her
neighbor and particular chum and confidant old
Lord Harley.
7, fact as Celia Allestree. representing public
opnion would sum up with awful fnality. the Lady
patricia Neverp inclined to be eccentrio-a
crave charge. over which. however. Milford Harley
made light for he thought he knew of certain
ovre safe 10 come along some day for these little
feminine vagaries Indeed. he thought he knew
most things did this understanding peer. And.
upon discovery that his nephew and heir. Mr. Ar
thur soames following the fashion. had lost hts
/ II
Harley to himself. lis the very thing. He is a
good looking boy, much what was at his age. and
she is the very niece soothe and comfort my
declining years"
Wear the willow all her life. would she. for a
fellow she never even cared for? BAH" sconed
the old gentleman. continuing his sooquy we
must teach her better than that. and leave me
alone to do it, he chuckled, secure IN the pellel
that he had nothing left to learn of woman.
For if a bachelor dating from the tar-aWay times
when Patrica's grandmother was girl Hu-
NOR the scandalous jade, had II that no churhsn
lack OF appreciation for the seX-quite the con-
mailing an invidious distinction among them.
Mr. Soames. who not. perhaps. so frequent
a visitor his uncle's as he might nave Deen.
had met Patricia. quite by chance some Nv" ana
hunt ball in another part OF the country. Ana.
there being no danger signal attached 10 the sum.
eirIish figure nor outward indication OF the orig
mai views tucked away in the shapely gold mead.
loss wide-open blue eyes before he knew what ne
was letting himself Ia for; and. informed or the
close proximity OF this amazing widows nome U"
that OF his uncles. he had at once presented MN
a n.ighborhood would afford him OF pushing his
court But what he heard there had soon knoS ked
the hopefulnes- out OF him. and LORD Harley
account of Patricia's little way win her sultors
had well nigh reduced this fresh claimant 10 oe-
"Of course you will never get her left to your
selr' was his lordships modest assurance TO his
nsnhav: hut put yourself in my hands. and Will
why it's been the dream OF my life. he con-
tjnued ito bring you two together; hut nave not.
a. YOU may imagine. studied woman so closely
without learning something, by the way, OF man.
and had proposed her TO you: you would nave re-
fused to anything In her
xrfhur Of course had thought this absurd. and