DYING GAME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2471, 8 December 1886, Page 2

DYING GAME.

There is no sadder speotable than that vouchsafed by the mother of a large family of marriageable' and unmanageable daughters, as she takes up her post of vigilance night alter night of the season. From morn till dewy eve hers is a lifo of incessant toil, and it is too often repaid by the black ingratitude of marti At bostj the chaporone oaii only hope. t» become that Blighted and ridiculed creature a mother iu law; yet she uniol-

fishly toils on. with hope df'rewardintraagine the feeling of such a mother when she observes that Gertrude's complexion V is'fading, andMaria'scheeks are getting hollow. There are not the only difficulties : ■>' which she has to contend with. : As Gertrude's color demolishes, her search of a '"';],' "mission" becomes more ftani'ic. ,-, .'..'?■• Unfortunately, husband-hunting and a ; ■'. , -, mission are hot compatible. Maria does■ ■ \£ ■■'■■ hot improve the contour of her face -by> ; ,1; going iato.a Oourao. of; study,, [and wfe^*; 'goloshes, waterproofs arid spectacles dome:':, fi .1 in at the door, love flies .out of the win- ■ dow.. Lady Matchmaker tries lastto do the best for the girli' A Scieiitife" ■ '.-'-'■••'■ widower and Hshort.aiftnbd.curato'are ' caught and invited to.'dinner. Balls are' given up, but there" is still ; aome : hp,\ Maria like the solicitor's daughter in V "Trial by Jury,'! will "very ;w,ell,paM for fortv-threeihthe dark, with the light- -v behind her." Gertrude can berenovated*■-.. ■'- tolook almost'equal to.new, with-an;aT&: ficialtouch of rouge and caroW'dfefilhjf In the midst of these" preparations'for contest, Lady Matchmaker is' attacked; v by a mortal disease. ■; ; ' ' •'- ; ' • Nevortheloss, tfio heroic woman-Ac-ceali sufferings like a Spartan.'. : S&? '■ widower is Bhy, arid inclined to b|eW away. -It is necessary to purßu'e'liiih to a country house where ho hastake'iv.refug6. Lady Matchmaker ahdJMaria" accordingly follow him as soon as possible. Theyari now exposed to the rivalry o'f'othei '■•■-.. mothors and daughters, who are aware of ' their game,' and equally determined to put a spoke in the whool if a favorable - ' 'opportunity.arises; ,■ Ladjr-.Matehmakw.; struggles'on. "Dear Maria,.l'm sur*' that strong light is affeoting your »ye*. Chang!}, places with -me, exbiaims at breakfast, observing thjitj th« ■ cruel light of the morning sun is seatth--injf out the weak places -in MariaVfib ■armour to art alarming extent. dear child will road so lato at night,!' ih» : murmurs in an aside to. the iciontifio widower, Ho makes no answer, absorbed in the contemplation of a young Hebe sitting' opposite' to him. Marll talks to him in vajn of protoplast, evolution, and heredity, Heiurhs-a deaf ear to the jargon which once ' his soul loved, . but when breakfast is over he slides 1 up to Hebe, and expresses a wish to learn to play at lawn Hebe good naturedly .ojFer*,-to teach him, and Lady Matchmaker Sums green with apprehension. Her fears, are only too well founded.' -A week passe* away, and the widower is, becoraingi>v capital player at'-tennis;,-,,Yet aiuwf ■' week and Hebe: is .betrothed, '.'.HmJti. last ohance is gorid'foreVer, and there IS nothing to be done but to:paok uparid go home again; '■

Robert Emmet was born March ith, '"' 1778, entered Trinity College, Oci.Vj,- ' 1793, was tried and convicted of";-higb,. treason Sept 19,1803, executed ancDbe- • •■/ headed Sept. 20,1803, and consequently / he was at his death in his twentysiith year; His one hundred and eighth anni- • verssry occurred on the fourth of Mairch last.