The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-03
The Episode of the
Old Masters

fng about freely. Six weeks in May
fair is as much as he can stand Then
he must run away incontinently for
rest and change TO Scotland, Homburg,
Monte Carlo, Biarritz. II won't be
limpet on the rock he says. Thus it
came to pass that In the early autumn
we found ourselves stopping at the
Metropole at Brighton. We were the
accustomed nice little family party
SIR Charles and Amelia, myself and
Isabel, with the suite as usual.
On the first Sunday morning after
our arrival we strolled out. Charles ard
II regret 10 say during the hours al
lotted for divine service-on to the
Kings road, to get a Whit of fresh air,
and a glimpse of the waves that were
churning the channel. The two ladies'
with their bonnets) had gone TO
church; but Sir Charles had risen late,
fatigued from the weeks toll, while
myself was suffering from a matutinal
headache, which l attributed TO the
close air of the billiard room over
night, combined. perhaps. with the in
sidious effect of brand of soda water
to which l was little accustomed: I had
used 1t TO dilute my evening whisky.
We were to meet our wives afterward
at the church parade-an institution to
which / believe both Amelia and Isabel
attach even greater Importance than
to the sermon which precedes IT.
We sat down on a glass seat Charles
gazed inquiringfy up and down the
Kings road. on the lookout for boy
with Sunday papers. At last one
passed. Observer. my brother-iu-
law called out laconically.
-''Ain't got nome" the boy answered,
brandishing his bundle in our faces.
Ave a Referee or Pink 'Un?"
Charles. however, is not a Refereeder,
while as TO the Pink I'm, he considers
it unsuitable for public perusaf on Sun
day morning. 1t may be read indoors,
but in the open air its blush betrays
1T. So he shook his head. and muttered:
IF you pass an Observer send him on
here at once to me"
A polite stranger who sat close to us
cepted it just a trifie grumpily
Would you allow me to offer YOU
one?" he said, drawing copy from his
pocket. 81 fancy l bought the last
There's a run on them today, you zee.
Important news this morning from the
Transvaal."
Charles raised his eyebrows and &C
cepted it. as 1 thought. just a trifie
So to remove the false impression his
surliness might produce on so benevo-
lent mind, l entered into conversation
with the polite stranger. He was a man
of middle age and medium height, with
a cultivated air and a pair of gold
pince-neZ; his eyes were sharp his
talk before long about distinguished
people just then in Brighton. 1t was
clear at once that hewas hand in
glove with many of the very best kind.
We compared notes as to Nice, Rome,
Florence, Cairo. Our new acquaintance
had scores of friends in common with
US. ii seemed; indeed, our circles so
10
had never happened till then to knock
up against one another.
And Sir Charles Vandrift, the great
African millionaire" he said at last,
do you know anything about him ?
I'm told he is at present down here at
the MetroDole."
1 waved my hand toward the person
in question.
This is Sir Charles Vandrift," I an
swered with proprietary pride. land 1
his brother-in-law, Mr.. Seymour Went
WORTH
'Oh, indeed" the stranger answered,
with a curious air of drawing in his
horns. l wondered whether he had Just
been going to pretend he knew Sir
Charles, or whether perchance he was
on the point of saying something high
ly uncomplimentary, and was glad to
have escaped il.
down the paper and chimed into our
conversation. I could see at once from
his Modified tone that the news from
the TranSvaal was favorable TO his
operations in Cloetedory Golcondas. He
was therefore in a friendly and affable
temper. His whole manner changed at
once. He grew polite in return to the
polite stranger. Besides, we knew the
man moved in the best society; he had
10 ton boz A olf
anxious to secure for her ''at homes"
in Mayfair-young Faith. the novelist,
and Sir Richard Montrose, the great
Arctic traveller. AS for the bainterS il
was clear that he was sworn friends
with the whole lot of them. He dined
with academicians and gave weekly
breakfasts to the members of the in
stitute. Now. Amelia is particularly
DESTROYS that her salon should not be
considered too exclusively financial and
political in character. With a solid
basis of NJ. P.'s ana millicnaires she
loves a delicate undercurrent OF Htera-
ture, art and the musical classes. Our
new acquaintance was extremely COM
municative. knows his place in So
ciety, Sey," Sir Charles said to me af-
terward, land is therefore not afraid
of talking freely. as so many people
are who have doubts about their posi-
ton" We exchanged cards before we
rose. Our new friends name turned
out to be DIR. Edward Polperra.
In practice here?" I inquired. though
his garb belied IT."
''Oh. not medical" he answered. AZ
am an LID, don't you know. / In
terest myself in art, and buy to some
extent for the National gallery
The very man for Amelia's "at
homes" Sir Charles snapped at him in
stantly. I've brought my four-in-
hand down here with me-" he said. IN
his best friendly manner. land We think
of tooling over tomorrow to Lewes. If
you'd care 10 take a seat I'm sure
Lady Vandrift would be- charmed to
see you"
You're very kind" the doctor said,
ION so casual an introduction. I'm sure
l shall be delighted"
I'VE start from the MetropoIe at
$780," Charles went on.
II shall be there. Good morning. ."
aAnd with a satisfied smile he rose and
left us. nodding
We returned to the lawn, to Amelia
and Isabel. Our new friend passed. us
once or twice. Charles stopped him
and introduced him. He was walking
with two ladies most elegantly dressed
I'm rather peculiar artistic dresses
Amelia was taken at first sight by his
manner. "One could see at a glance"
oh said She pa-SOn If .s.,It,,ra