LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2538, 29 May 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

WHO IS HE? OE LOVJB AT SIGHT,

(Continued,)

The fact was, that at that moment Lord Randolph waa nowhere in the race ; hence it was not particularly clever on the part rf Mra Paialey Brown to flirt with a dotanccd favorite. Meanwhile the dark Adonis In tho corner read his newpaper very placidly, and did not speak to anyone. Very frequently, it is true, he looked over the top of his paper at Lady Glenfelix, but no one taw thU save herself ; and, sad to relate, before they reached London, she caught herself several times returning his glances. * Horrible I She’s a peer’s widow, and he —well, never mind what he was, she must think only of her own dignity,’ Arrived at Paddington, Mr Denman was nearest the platform. He got ont and stood at a little diatanoe till Lady Glenfelix and her party had driven off ‘I must look after Lady Gay Spanker,’ he said to himself, with a laugh, as he strode off in search of a Hansom ; * she Is beautiful, very beautiful, and a peeress to boot. By Jove, there is another pretty face.” Ibis time It was a milts girl, walking between two palls, * Strange, what a number t f pretty faces there are in this wonderful London ! ’

So they had mot and parted twice. Would chsuce throw them into each other’s paths again ? Miranda Countess went home In a state of feverish excitement. ‘Would he ask to be introduced to her ? Was he married ? Where did he hide himself, that she had never met him In society ?* were questions she caked herself over and over again. Lord Bandolph, when he bade her good evening at her own door in Charles street, saw that bis chance for the moment was far from promising; bat he never thought of ascribing the cloud in the sky to the dark man who sat in the corner of the railway carriage, whom he know welt enough by sight. No; Lord Bandolph had had large experience of women’s fitfulness, and being a particularly easy-going man, he concluded that the next turn of the wenther-oook would reinstate him in the fair Miranda’s favor.

She, meanwhile, though very tired from the excitement of the day, dressed and went to a large fashionable reception. Bat Mr Denman was not there ; so she returned home to pass a sleepess night, and begin the chase again on the morrow. 'The park, of course!’ Lady Glenfelix seldom went into the park iu the morning, bat she would go to-day. She sent a note to one of her intimate female friends, begging that the latter would accompany here there. Up and down the Bow they wandered ; now sitting awhile, then finding it too sunny and crossing to the other aide, only to come back again in five minutes, till Lady Glenfelix’s friend exclaimed—

‘ Why, Mi a, you are as changeable as the English climate.' Still no signs of Mr Denman. * If he really admired me and wanted to ree me, he would have come into the park,’ ponted Lady Glonfelix, at laat, as she went home to luncheon quite out of temper. At luncheon she gave her dear friend, Hon. Lucy Blakeland, a history of the whole affair, the Hon. Lucy entering into it with all the fervour and Interest nineteen ever evinces for a mysterious adventure, as she was pleased to call this Interest Lady GlenfeKx had taken to a stranger. Miss Blakeland did not know him ; but of course she would look for him at every party, and let Lady Glenfelix know all she heard about him. From that moment the friendship between those two woman was strengthened tenfold. They became, in faot, almost ic separable. They drove, walked, went to parties together, almcst every afternoon and evening. Lady Tramont, Miss Blakeland’s mother, was a lackadaisical, delicate, woman, and was only too glad to transfer the office of ohaparon to the keeping of Lady Glenfelix. But days grew into a week, and save once, near the Marble Arch, when they were driving, nothing had been seen of Mr Denman. On that occasion he bestowed the same gaze of admiration on the fair and beautiful Miranda that he had done when he first saw her.

‘My peeress! There’s my peeress again j’ ho had mentally ejaculated, as be passed on

Meanwhile Lord Eandolph, patient and confident as he was in his own position with Lady Glenf all*, was getting tired of the way in which she always eluded him whenever be attempted to bring matters to a olimar. He appealed to MLsa Blnkeland, m her Intimate friend j but she only laughed and asked him what ho could expect, as Lady GHenfelir had not yet had half enough of her freedom. To Miranda herself, however, the yonng lady, who was tolerably knowing In the ways of the world, averred that If she did not soon give some sort of encourage* meat to that luckless Lord Eandolph she would lose him altogether, * And the other man la only a myth, Mira —take my word for It, he is only a myth. Con’t bel eve he exists at all, except in year imagination.’

4 Pooh I Nonsense, Lucy I I have seen hm three different times. ’

4 Then where Is he P Where does he go to in between? The only Denman I have ever seen isn’t a bit like the man yon showed ma by the Marble Arab ’ ‘We shall see him again soon.’ ‘Once a week, and that by chance I Really, Mira, you ora easily satisfied. For my part. I should prefer Lord Randolph’s substantial attsntions to these uncertain visions of n dark moustache.’

‘ Lord Randolph must wait. I’ll throw him a few crumbs, and ha must be satisfied to feed on them until I can offer him a more substantial love diet.’

‘ What a flirt you are.’cried Miss Blakeland; ‘I should never dare to play fast and loose with two men as you do. ’ 4 I am not playing fast and loose, but I should not get any fan out of this adventure if I once pledged myself to Lord Randolph. I do not say I am not going to marry him, but ’

‘ But yon moan to see first if this Mr Denman is an available parti. Oh, Mira, Mira I Fray tel! me, too, how do yon intend to find out anything about him? He keeps himself tolerably well hidden.’ 4 Never fear, something will transpire sooner or later.’

Miss Blakeland shrugged her shoulder. She was beginning to fancy that she could not be admitted wholly to her friend’s confidence, Lady Glenfelix could never be so insane as to fancy herself in love with this mere shadow that occasionally crossed her path. bhe had only seen this Denman thrice, and never spoken to him at all, still she could not bring her mind to accept Lord Randolph. In all probability, if Lady Q-ien-fellx had been introduced to, and had been on friendly terms with Mr Denman, she would have thought him a more ordinary mortal. Some naiures require mystery to famish them with excitement. Lady Glenfelix was bored by the endless lovers who flocked round her since her widowhood, and had acquired that sort of indifference that can only be dispelled by oontradiotion. This handsome, well • born, highly ■ aristocratic looking man, who never was seen in the society of which he must have had the entree was a puzzle to her, and she gave herself an infinite amoant of trouble to find it oat.

Parties wore of no use ; ho was never there ; so she took to visiting picture galleries, concerts, and theatres. Ones she saw him at the academy, talking as he bad been at Henley, to some rather distinguce looking woman. He did not fall to observe her, and to gaze as usual iu admiration ; but her spirits were rather dashed when she perceived that he bestowed more attention on a lovely female head by Sant than he did on herself.

4 He must be a painter a wretched dauber, ’ mnrmursd Lady Glenfelix to herself, as she turned away annoyed. Half angry with herself, and very angry with him, she almost made np her mind to leave town, though the season has stiff at its height; bnt as she bad promised some friends she would go with them to a new play at the Duohess’s Theatre on the following Monday, and as seats wore very difficult to obtain, she mast at least stay on till that performance was over. It was a hot, oppressive night; but they had a large box, and the party being a cheary one. Lady Glenfelix was in batter spirits than she had been for some little time. They were all talking a d laughing, when the curtain went np at the commencement of the second act. On the stage, sitting in an arm chair, smoking a cigar, there was 4 No, it was impossible—yet the likeness was so extraordinary—no two people could bo so ridiculously alike—lt was Mr Denman.’

She had never heard him speak, so the voice told her nothing; but she watched every movement with a sort of feverl-h anxiety, and until the curtain fell did not utter one single word to her friends, who were not a little aatoniahed at her sadden change of manner. C To be continued.')