The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-29
Earl of Beaconsfield
Copyright 1905. by The New York Times campasp
 An Rights Reserved

beauty, of fashion and of genius With her own sex she was courteous. but rarely cordial. except with some young ladies who were her worship pers, and certainly except with her own family, whom she habitually well comed with courtly embrace. It was divine condescension, and meant to intimate, what she was in the habit of asserting. that there was no family in the peerage which. for blood and his- torical achievement, could for a mo- ment be olassed with her own.
 The daughter of Lady Bertram, the Lady Ermyntrude, had just been pre- sented, though young even for such an initiation. Her future was a subject of frequent discussion In what is called society" Whom she would marry and when she would marry7 Large questions-and then there were some who fancied she would never marry, and why? Because she was ec- centric. Eccentric in what? Well they say, she has ideas of her own. That Is certainly serious. Tonight 1t might have been expected that she would have been by the side of her mother, as Lady Bertram received her guests, but Lady Ermyntrude had an instinctive feeling that Lady Bertram was not particularly anxious for her contiguous presence, and she found 1t more amusing to move in her own or bit-but not unattended, There was German lady, Fraulein von Weinlar. who was her official and inseparablo companion, and generally one of her guardians; a Bishop of captivating gifts, sufficiently serious yet of a lus- ory mind, a prelate who ever remem- bered how much the Church owed to holy women. contrived to hover around her, and was usually welcomed and en- couraged by her smile.
 It must not be supposed, however that Lady Bertram was not 6 devoted mother. She was a perfect parent--in theory. Sc wished her daughter to have every advantage and enjoy every delight that was alike proper and prac- ticable, only she was too much inter- ested about herselfto be able to spare any time to carry her theories into practice. Fortunately she had become acquainted with Fraulein von Weimar, who had gained her confidence and her heart by her appreciation of Lady Bertram's genius and her wondering recognition of Lady Bertram's resist less influence over men. This last as- cendant power. however. was of so fascinating a character and it absorb ed the life of Claribel to such a degree that in due course she found it was impossible to spare any longer any por- tion of her existence even to the sweet -tonEued and subtle mind of Fraulein von Weimar. So, after some scenes and much unnecessary diplomacy on both sides. this lady became the guide, the preceptress. and inseparable companion of Lady Ermyntrude.
 Her pupil had not the lustrous beauty of her mother, and yet her appearance was hardly less striking She had a beautiful figure rare to see any one more shapely. and she moved as if she were conscious of her symmetry. Her countenance was delicate aquiline, with gray eyes. but there was a want of mobility about her features, and 1t seemed doubtful whether their habi- tual expression were a simper or a sheer. Fraulein. although very few years older than Lady Ermyntrude, had the mien and carriage of a matured woman. She was rather under the middle size. and her stature was scarce ly redeemed by grace, but she had bright complexion. beautiful teeth, a commanding brow and a large blue eye of searching power
 It was rather late in the evening: Lord Bertram who at its commence ment. as was his custom had assisted his wife in the reception of her guests and then wandered about the crowded salons, talking with those he wished or cared to meet, had quietly stolen away to his red boxes. The rooms were still full, though thinner. MT. Chatterley was standing by the side of Lady Bertram. He was one of the favored, though never welcomed with enthusiasm and sometimes scarcely treated with consideration. He was Lady Bertram's man of letters and. as he flattered himself, the only one of his class really in society. His chief business was to carry to her gossip and to take care that she was properly worshipped in the lettered world. Ser vile to her and adulatory, he vindicated his independence by his arrogance in the inferior circles which he some times deigned to re-enter and where his quotation of great personages made his conversation somewhat re- semble the columns of the Court Cir cular.
 Lady Ermyntrude is looking charm ing tonight" observed Mir Chatter ley.
 Dearest Ermyntruder exclaimed her mamma.
 she has just had joust with the Bishop" said Mir. Chatterley.l "and I do not think had the worst or it.r
 Indeed murmured Lady Bertram.