The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-10-18

- ne might never nave IOunu IL.
How like life this is!s
ITS Just like the young man who
starved in garnet" said Miss Cot
ton vaguely. He lived on crusts
and drank water. rather than degrade
himself by doing something quite pay
ing and dull, and sold every rag and
bone he had. Then in despair he
starved, and starved, and starved
until
''Yes?" said Lise kindly.
until at last, in an agony of mind,
he swallowed his better feelings and
wrote the required pot-boiler. After
that, of course, his fortune was made.
Life is so bitter, isn't it? But the
cases are quite dissimilar, for I'm
sure Mr.. Kenworthy has never done
anything Of the kind. z
Darling, wasn't reading some
thing aloud to you about the Duke
of Lavendale the other day." Mrs
Cogwheel turned to Audrey thought
fully what could it have been?"
Audrey smiled back at her with
bright affection.
"Oh, yes, dearest. In the Queen.
He's engaged, you know, to Lady
Doreen Greenrose. She's. the third
daughter of our Lord Malinder, of
course. It's most romantic engage
ment. They've loved each other from
the very cradle, and all the things are
being made in Paris, except the Irish
lace, and she's having that made in
Ireland simply because the Duke has
estates there. It's SO sweet of her.
isn't it. to think Of the poor lace
makers with their cushions at the
cottage-door?" She turned to Mrs.
Hay with her pretty smile. II said
to mother at the time, didn't I, dar-
ling?-' Dearest, said, only really
noble nature would have thought of
that at such a time!' Father asked
in his scepticaI way, Where else
could it come from but mother
thought as I did. She did really.
Il wonder why they never come
to Malinder,p Miss Gee said bitterly.
Il think they ought to. If it's only to
open things and show themselves.
But they only come to shoot, and
then none Of the ladies are with
them, and men, however exalted in
rank, are never much to look at"
"The other day remarked Mrs
Hay, II heard Miss Green say that
she had met Lady Alexandra, the
youngest one She liked her, she
said"
Eat bazaar, no doubt" Miss Gee
suggested. 'These great ladies are
civil to almost any one when it's for
good object. Martyrs to the cause,
they consider it. There's nothing
narrow about our aristocracy."
well. when you come to think OF
It in its true light" Mrs. Flanelie
remarked dreamily, they can be but
ordinary flesh and blood, can theyy"
Il thought Lady Alexandra was
still. figuratiyely speaking. in the
schoolroom,'' Mrs. Cogwheel said
doubtfuIfy. ''In Provence. some
where, with governess and tutors.
Naturally, not at common convent
school. Somewhere near Aries. Or
is it Avignon? One of those Old
World towns, / feel sure. hear she
is the plain one. but still And l
dare say she's nice. They very often
are. Like the ugly duckling. Au-
drey used to love the story of the
ugly duckling when she was child
didn't you, dear?"
It really was wonderfully inter
esting dinner party for Malinder, and
Lise took Audrey aside in the draw
ing room, and lost no time in carrying
on the campaign.
I'm So glad, DEAR" she said
smoothly, sthat the barriers are to be
removed at last"
Audrey shook her head.
ut won't be any good" she said
sadly. Father is so prudent. He
will insist upon waiting to see if
Michael keeps the post. know he
will. And Michael won't keep it. He
never does You mustn't let me dwell
upon it, Lise. Don't let me live in a
false paradise. I am learning to bear
1t and be resigned. Don't fill. me with
new hopes only to be dashed again."
you haven't much faith in your
lover I4ise said. with a curious quick
look at her. Are you getting over
your--dream?"
Audrey sighed reproachfully.
II don't change said she sadly,
Il only wish / did Consistency isn't a
virtue; it's only a folly. It isn't hui
man nature to be constant, but. then.
I'm different. ! suppose. One learns
to see things as they really are when
one is unhappy"
Audrey" Lise came close up to
her and tucked her hand under the
the girls round arm. eff Mitchell
came like a bold knight Of old and
carried you on willy nilly to Gretna
Green, what would YOU do?"
Audrey's eyes lit up with answer
ing enthusiasm.
II should love, it'll" she cried but
he never will
you wouldn't listen to your con-
science them
The girls eyes fell.
II couldn't If were carried off by
force, she said. 1T wouldn't be my
fault then. would it? often say to
mother. what pity 1t is that we don't
live in the good old days. And father
says he likes glass in the windows,
and hot and cold water laid on and
electric light. He's hopelessly mod