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 No. 744 BROADWAY, NKW YORK.
 
 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 A STORY OP NEW YORK AND SARATOGA. 
 
 BY 
 
 
 
 CHANDOS FULTON. 
 
 NEW YORK ! 
 HENRY L. HINTON, PUBLISHER, 744 BROADWAY. 
 
 1873.
 
 ps 
 
 35/1 
 
 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE SINE QUA NON. 
 
 " WHAT, you don t mean to tell me that Ellen 
 Bates has been married to that young man ? " ex 
 claimed Mrs. Brown. 
 
 " Yes they were married two weeks ago, and 
 are now on their wedding tour. They ve taken 
 the Canadian trip, and will stop here on their 
 return," said Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 "Why he has never been able to support him 
 self, much less a wife." 
 
 "It was a love-match, I suppose," remarked 
 Mrs. Campbell demurely. 
 
 Mrs. Brown did not deign a reply. 
 
 1692620
 
 10 A BIIOWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 "They loved each other devotedly," resumed 
 Mrs. Campbell. " The attachment was formed in 
 childhood they were playmates in early life." 
 
 " Well, since they waited so long, they might 
 have waited a little longer, till he was established 
 in business and able to take care of a wife," said 
 Mrs. Brown. 
 
 " Probably his luck will change now, and he 
 will be able to get into some business," rejoined 
 Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 " That is trusting too much to luck, which is 
 another name for chance. With two to support 
 instead of one, he will find it much harder to get 
 along." 
 
 " We must hope for the best," said Mrs. Camp 
 bell, meekly. 
 
 " I know very little of them," continued Mrs. 
 Brown; "but she is a nice girl, and deserves a 
 better fate. She has sacrificed herself by this 
 marriage. 
 
 " I do not think she would like to hear you say
 
 THE SINE QUA NON. 11 
 
 so," interposed Mrs. Campbell. " She anticipates 
 much happiness ! " 
 
 " 13ut the deprivations and inconveniences of 
 poverty will soon dissipate that." 
 
 " Where there s a will there s a way, you 
 know." 
 
 " I regard a marriage of this sort as downright 
 folly. I don t know what Mrs. Bates foolish 
 mother could have been thinking of, to have given 
 her consent to the union. It is " 
 
 A wave of the leader s baton brought a crash 
 of music, and silenced Mrs. Brown until the next 
 intermission. 
 
 They were not at a concert, but sitting on the 
 rear gallery of the Union . Hotel, Saratoga, after 
 breakfast, enjoying the delightful morning air, and 
 listening to the music. 
 
 It was a bright, balmy morning towards the 
 close of June, of a recent year ; and the gallery 
 was crowded with stylish loiterers, sitting, stanc 
 ing, and promenading, before separating for the 
 pleasures of the day. The band occupied its stand
 
 \ 
 
 12 A BROWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 and discoursed merry dance music, to which many 
 spasmodically kept time with their feet or hands, 
 while some few adolescent promenaders were so 
 carried away by the sweet strains as to every now 
 and then lackadaisically break out whistling or 
 humming snatches of the air in an undertone (but 
 loud enough to be overheard) to the intense annoy 
 ance of those who were listening to the perform 
 ance. The babel of voices, however, which arose 
 in conversation immediately when the band stopped 
 playing, evidently showed that the majority listen 
 ed under constraint ; they Avould much rather have 
 talked, and would probably have talked through 
 the performance but for appearance s sake, which, 
 I am glad to think, prevents many incivilities in 
 every-day life. I think this was the case with 
 Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Campbell, who sat a little 
 apart from the others, and made a pretence of 
 being busy on some light sewing. They were too 
 well-bred to have been guilty of the impropriety 
 (in consideration of the wishes of those who might 
 desire to listen to the music) of talking during the
 
 THE SIXE QUA NON". 13 
 
 performance; a little point of etiquette which is 
 often forgotten by those who patronize the Opera 
 and Philharmonic Concerts, but a point neverthe 
 less, for the rules of etiquette are not established 
 bv vulgar usa^e, as those of Grammar are. 
 
 J O O * 
 
 They would like to have continued their conversa 
 tion and discussed the Bates affair, because they 
 were both deeply interested. "While they listen to 
 the music, a jolly Offenbachian air let us glance 
 at them. I want you to particularly notice Mrs. 
 Brown. 
 
 Both were middle-aged and motherly-looking. 
 They were plainly though expensively attired in 
 charming morning dresses, and unmistakeably bore 
 the maintien of society ladies. But they were as 
 different in manner and temperament as in appear 
 ance and style. Mrs. Brown, who was also the elder, 
 being tall, slender, and decisive, while Mrs. Camp 
 bell, gentle and yielding, was under the medium 
 height, and inclined to be stoutish. 
 
 A glance at the two, wo uld satisfy any reader of 
 character that Mrs. Campbell was one of those
 
 14 A BKOWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 passive, complacent women, with no ideas of their 
 own, and a habit of concurring in everything with 
 those they meet, that are so often encountered in 
 society, and the inference would be that Mrs. 
 Brown was merely talking to her because she 
 happened to be there to be talked to. Mrs. 
 Brown, however, was a woman of quite a different 
 stamp; she was one of those self-reliant, positive 
 women who are bound to have their way wherever 
 they are, taking the greatest liberties accorded to 
 their sex, yet never agitating the suffrage ques 
 tion. Independence of opinion, decision of char 
 acter, and energy of purpose were all expressed in 
 her strong, well-moulded, albeit rather slender 
 face, chiefly in the bold nose and chin bright, 
 honest, though rather calculating blue-grey eyes, 
 and a cleanly-chiseled mouth, sensitive yet firm, 
 and always bowed with a complacent smile 
 when in repose, indicating that, where her own in 
 terests were not concerned, she was inclined to be 
 kindly, generous, arid sincere, and could be relied 
 upon as a friend. 
 
 Meanwhile the music has ceased.
 
 TIIK SINE QUA XOX. 15 
 
 " Mrs. Bates thinks it a very good match," be 
 gan Mrs. Campbell. " He is a moral, worthy, 
 well-educated young gentleman while Ellen is a 
 lovely and accomplished girl." 
 
 "That she is. But in the house he will take her 
 to, in the way in which he will provide for her, 
 what chance will she have to display her accom 
 plishments ? " interposed Mrs. Brown, with vehe 
 mence. " She has thrown herself away on him ! " 
 
 " Oh, they will get along ; he will make out 
 somehow as thousands of others have done." 
 
 " That is trusting entirely too much to chance 
 or luck," began Mrs. Brown. " My daughter shall 
 never marry with my consent till a husband oifers 
 who will be able to give her a brown stone front, 
 and carnage and horses." This was a favorite 
 declaration of Mrs. Brown s, and she made it with 
 much dignity and emphasis now, as indeed she 
 did on almost every occasion. 
 
 "I am spared this trouble," meekly observed 
 Mrs. Campbell, "in having been blessed with sons. 
 I will admit in early life I wished for a daughter
 
 16 A BROWX STOXE FRONT. 
 
 but now, when I think of this marriage question, 
 I am glad I was favored with sons. They can 
 look out for themselves," added the good lady 
 with much complacency. 
 
 " If they are allowed to," quickly, almost fiercely 
 responded Mrs. Brown, " so can daughters. But 
 neither should be allowed to look out for them 
 selves, as you tenn the most serious question in 
 life. Sons can be married to rich wives, as well as 
 daughters to rich husbands, with the proper 
 maternal care." 
 
 Mrs. Campbell did not not venture a reply, but 
 assumed a thoughtful air, and wondered if it was 
 becoming to her. 
 
 Mrs. Brown continued. 
 
 " Without wealth," she said, " yoti can do noth 
 ing; you are nobody. Poverty is in my eyes a 
 curse, and in marriage either the wife or the hus 
 band, one or the other, should have money." 
 
 She spoke with much bitterness, and any one 
 familiar with her early life, single as well as mar 
 ried, would have been charitable in their judg-
 
 THE SINE QUA NON. 17 
 
 merit of her; for she had had a terrible struggle 
 with poverty, the memory of which still haunted 
 her even in these days of comparative affluence; 
 and it was hut natural that she should wish to 
 save her beloved and only daughter from such an 
 experience as her own, by marrying her to a 
 wealthy man. She came from a good family, but 
 a poor one. Her mother had married for love, and 
 her father, although an accomplished, elegant gen 
 tleman, was never able to make more than a com 
 fortable living for his family. He had no business 
 tact, and early abandoned his profession, that of 
 the law, in which he might have succeeded if he 
 had persevered, and engaged Micawbcr-like, in 
 various enterprises. At his death he left his 
 widow with three children utterly destitute. Mrs. 
 Brown was then in her sixteenth year ; she was 
 the eldest. She and her mother were provided for 
 by an uncle (her mother s brother). The other 
 two children, boys, were put to business, and had 
 since gone to California. The mother did not long 
 survive her husband ; but the uncle kindly cared for
 
 18 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 the daughter till her marriage to Mr. Brown, who 
 was then not as well off by any means as now, 
 when he was doing a large business if he was not 
 exactly wealthy. Mrs. Brown had al \vays been 
 comfortably cared for, but she had nevertheless 
 frequently experienced the inconveniences and 
 desperations of impecuniosity so keenly that she 
 never forgot them. 
 
 "I do not believe in love in a cottage, or in any 
 thing of the kind. It is very pretty in a song or 
 in a poem recited or sung in a parlor by senti 
 mental, rich young people, but it is not practical," 
 Mrs. Brown said in a characteristically complacent 
 manner that would lead one to suppose there was 
 no gainsaying her words. " It is all nonsense. 
 Yet silly-pated girls will believe it if mothers do 
 not instil a little sense into their heads as an offset 
 to the romantic ideas they receive from books and 
 the theatre, particularly the opera, which is all 
 romance generally. With a comfortable and 
 elegant home and the luxuries riches can provide, 
 love will come in good time. A woman will
 
 THE SINE QUA NON. 19 
 
 naturally love the husband who provides her with 
 these, and her love will strengthen with time, 
 instead of being weakened and crossed with vexa 
 tion and disappointment, common incidents in the 
 other case ! " 
 
 She paused to note the effect of this speech on 
 Mrs. Campbell, who, in her eyes, sadly needed re 
 forming or awakening to duties of life, which was 
 not the placid all s-for-the-best condition she sup 
 posed it was ; but that lady, not feeling equal to the 
 task of refuting her arguments, indeed she was 
 completely ovei povvered by them, had first sunk 
 into listlessness, and then allowed her attention to 
 wander, and now was much amused watching 
 some children playing soldiers on the lawn. 
 
 Mrs. Brown went desperately to work on her 
 sewing embroidery of an elaborate monogram on 
 a delicate carnbi ic handkerchief. 
 
 Mrs. Campbell s eyes wandered from the lawn 
 with its Liliputian life, to the gallery and toward 
 the parlor, in which some one was playing on the 
 piano, and into which many of the guests had
 
 20 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 gone. She perceived her companion s daughter, 
 Miss Adele Brown, emerge from one of the parlor 
 casements opening on the piazza, followed by 
 a gay Southerner, Colonel Thomas, who had 
 
 been very attentive to her several days past. 
 f 
 
 " Don t you think Colonel Thomas very hand 
 some?" she observed. 
 
 " Yes yes," assented Mrs. Brown, not looking 
 up from her work, evidently not thinking the sub 
 ject of much consequence. "Yes yes, but he is a 
 poor man ; the war has impoverished him, or, at 
 all events, his father ; and he is not in business for 
 himself. I pity these Southerners, who, raised in 
 affluence and not intended for business-pursuits, 
 are now thrown on their own resources. The 
 Thomases, however, do very well with their race 
 horses, I believe, but this is nothing reliable." 
 
 " No chance for him there," musingly observed 
 Mrs. Campbell, in a matter of fact sort of way, 
 (that afterwards surprised her) as much as to say, 
 " he s dismissed 1 " That nettled Mrs. Brown, whose 
 eyes flashed with indignation.
 
 THE SINE QUA NON. 21 
 
 Before, however, Mrs. Brown could mentally 
 frame a sarcastic reply that was satisfactory, her 
 daughter and Colonel Thomas had approached 
 them, and she lost the chance to lodge her vocal 
 shaft.
 
 22 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 STRAWS. 
 
 MRS. BROWN arose with much majesty of man 
 ner, and very cordially greeted the colonel, who 
 gracefully placed chairs for himself and Miss 
 Brown ; a proceeding which the mother regarded 
 with distrust especially as he placed the chairs in 
 close proximity. 
 
 " Oh mother," the daughter exclaimed on sitting, 
 " I have been so much interested in a visit to 
 the Indian encampment. Although the Indians- 
 only arrived yesterday, we found them comforta 
 bly settled and busy at work. Their ingenuity id 
 wonderful. They make all kind of things with
 
 STKAWS. 23 
 
 straw, beads, and colored worsteds. Colonel 
 Thomas insisted on my taking this as a souvenir," 
 and Adele took a pincushion in the shape of a heart, 
 made out of straw and worsted, and held it up 
 admiringly. 
 
 "I supposed you were promenading on the 
 front piazza," said her mother with some asperity, 
 regarding the souvenir with ill-concealed dis 
 pleasure. 
 
 " We went out to do so, replied the daughter, 
 " but the sun soon came and drove us away." 
 
 It was evident from the expression on Mrs. 
 Brown s face that she did not at all like the " we " 
 and " us " in Adele s reply ; but she merely re 
 marked, " If I had wanted you I should not have 
 known where to have found you." 
 
 " You must blame me entirely," said the colonel, 
 laughingly. "I wanted to convince Miss Adele 
 I could talk Indian, and prevailed upon her to go." 
 
 " And do you talk Indian ? " incredulously in 
 quired Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 " After a fashion," responded the colonel. " Dur-
 
 24 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 ing the war," then checking himself, he added, 
 " For a long time I had an Indian from the Red 
 river, Louisiana, for a body-servant; and from 
 him, as also during hunting excursions among 
 his people, while visiting a friend near Shreveport, 
 I learned something of their jargon ! But I 
 don t think the big Injun this morning understood 
 me ! I have my doubts, however, as to his genuine 
 ness, lie looked in his straw hat, natty clothing, 
 and comfortable shanty, like a well sun-browned 
 Irishman ! " 
 
 " Oh, colonel, how unromantic ! They claim to 
 be the lineal descendants of the tribe that originally 
 owned this section of the country," said Miss 
 Brown. 
 
 "I know they do," responded the colonel, "but 
 I doubt their claims. They are more gypsy than 
 Indian." 
 
 Observing that Mrs. Brown was becoming 
 restive, and to watch her was a source of much 
 merriment to this shrewd young man of the world, 
 the colonel turned to her and observed :
 
 8TKAWS. 25 
 
 I came to ask the pleasure of your and Miss 
 Adele s company to the races to-day. None of 
 our horses run to-day, and 1 shall be entirely at 
 your service." But out of politeness he added, " Mrs. 
 Campbell, if you are not engaged, I should be glad 
 of your company, too ; let s make up a party." 
 
 " Thank you," responded Mrs. Campbell, "I am 
 engaged to the Stevenses." Looking at her watch, 
 she added, "It is getting late, and I must go and 
 dress ; " and she retired from the group. 
 
 " You are very kind," said Mrs. Brown, slowly, 
 " but" 
 
 Adele looked at her appealingly; and luckily 
 for her the worldly-minded mother misinterpreted 
 the look, understanding it to mean a desire to go 
 to the races, which was the fashionable thing to 
 do, rather than a wish to be again in the society 
 of the captivating Southerner. 
 
 Mrs. Brown reflected a moment ; she had no 
 engagement to go to the races that day and it 
 was considered very slow to remain away, because 
 really everybody that was anybody went yet she
 
 26 A BROWN" STONE FRONT. 
 
 did not care to encourage the advances of Colonel 
 Thomas. The result of her maternal deliberation 
 was a determination to accept the colonel s invita 
 tion to go to the races, but to cut short his atten 
 tions on their return by studiously avoiding him. 
 There is a time when any woman can justify her 
 self in making a convenience of an escort. Mrs. 
 
 O 
 
 Brown thought this was such a time. 
 
 Mrs. Brown accepted the invitation in a few 
 formal words, averring that she and her daughter 
 had made arrangements to spend the morning in 
 in one of the cottages with a neighbor from the 
 city, but she could easily send an excuse. And so 
 they went to the races with Colonel Thomas in 
 fine style, as he obtained the equipage of a friend 
 living in one of the cottages. 
 
 The weather could not have been more auspi 
 cious, being clear, bright, and balmy; and there 
 was a numerous and fashionable attendance. A 
 very fine sight is a race-course on a meeting 
 day, the expanse of field, the neat sward, the 
 snake-like track, the trim fences and buildings, the
 
 STRAWS. 27 
 
 variously engaged crowd, the assembly of vehicles, 
 the prancing and noble-looking steeds, the gayly 
 attired jockeys, the numerous characteristic groups, 
 form a picturesque and inspiring scene. A healthy 
 excitement it is when the swift coursers come 
 flying down the home-stretch, the people on the 
 grand stand rising en masse, and those on the 
 quarter sti etch standing tip-toe to obtain a better 
 view of the winner as he dashes under the string- 
 The reporters of the New York papers telegraphed 
 as they always do Avhen there is not a positive fiasco, 
 that the racing was the best of the season. It was 
 certainly very good. 
 
 "While Mrs. Brown was engaged in a conver 
 sation " across the benches " with a well-known 
 General of the United States Army, and an 
 equally eminent leader of the forces on Broad 
 street, for without any claims to beauty, or 
 rare conversational power, Mrs. Brown with 
 great tact managed always to make herself a 
 centime of attention Colonel Thomas found opjior* 
 tunity for a few words with-\he daughter.
 
 28 A BROWX STOXE FRONT. 
 
 "You attend the hops at the hotel, I believe? " 
 he inquired. 
 
 " Not regularly, but occasionally mother and 
 I go in for a little while," she replied. [It was 
 customary for ladies to attend without escort.] 
 
 "Shall you go to-night?" he asked. 
 
 " Very likely," she replied. 
 
 " I shall be engaged in the early part of the 
 evening," said he, or I should ask to be your 
 escort. We have a horse in the race to-morrow, 
 and I intend to purchase a few pools on him. But 
 I shall drop into the hop afterward, and if you are 
 there will you dance with me ?" 
 
 " Yes," she murmured softly, much pleased. 
 
 "Thanks," he replied. 
 
 "I shall consider it an engagement," she re 
 sponded, gazing upon him admiringly. 
 
 The colonel did not think that the mother 
 overheard them ; but he was mistaken ; not that 
 he had any motive for wishing she had not, or 
 caring whether she did or not, for there was noth 
 ing to be concealed ; that lady, however, never
 
 STRAWS. 29 
 
 allowed herself to become so much engrossed in 
 conversation that she could not catch the tenor of 
 Avhat was said in her proximity, or take note of 
 the significant by-plays. 
 
 Detecting the movement of the colonel toward 
 establishing a confidence with Adele, she resolved 
 
 O * 
 
 matters had gone far enough, and that she would 
 put a stop to them at an early moment. 
 
 After the races, the colonel escorted them over 
 to his stables in the old race-track, and had several 
 of his hoi ses brought out for their inspection. 
 
 There was a Lexington colt whose symmetry of 
 form challenged admiration, and received it from 
 moneyed turfmen as w r ell as from inexperienced 
 but tasteful ladies. The blooded stock of the 
 Thomases was their pride, and was as fine as any 
 in the country ; and. several equestrian beauties 
 were shown. A fine sight is a thoroughbred 
 horse, with his noble head and keen eyes, superb 
 neck, and easy, graceful movements. " Blood will 
 tell," and never more clearly than in a racehorse, 
 whether in motion or at rest.
 
 30 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 At the stables the colonel had the opportunity 
 to utter a great many soft little nothings, meant 
 by him as such, but received with the utmost con 
 fidence and pleasure by Adele. 
 
 The return from the race was uneventful. Had 
 the driver chosen he might have made it otherwise ; 
 for the opportunity for a smash-up was frequently 
 and temptingly offered. 
 
 At the door of the parlor, when the colonel 
 bade them adieu, Mrs. Brown, preceded by Adele, 
 whose entrance into the room she hastened 
 by a gentle though unperceived push, said to 
 him: 
 
 " We have to thank you for a very pleasant 
 drive and a very enjoyable time. We shall 
 always be happy to see you. Good morning ! " 
 
 Adele bowed meekly from within, and uttered a 
 soft " Good morning," with eyes sparkling with 
 feeling and admiration. 
 
 The colonel, who understood matters, responded 
 and bowed, and was on his heels in a moment. 
 He went away laughing to himself, and mutter 
 ing : " These mothers ! Oh, these mothers ! "
 
 DISAPPOINTED. 31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 DISAPPOINTED. 
 
 I AM afraid Adele is enamoured of Colonel 
 Thomas. If she is, she will experience much men 
 tal anguish. 
 
 Adele was a very loveable girl. She united the 
 good traits of both father and mother, and pos 
 sessed none of their faults. She was good- 
 tempered, kind-hearted, courteous, affable, un 
 selfish. She had been carefully educated and was 
 accomplished. She conversed fluently in German 
 and French, and was skilled in drawing and paint 
 ing, both in water and oils. There was no kind 
 of fancy work from shell-work to embroidery 
 in which she was not aufait. Her reading had been
 
 82 A BKOWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 extensive, and she was familiar with all the standard 
 authors. But what marked the difference between 
 the daughter and the mother more strongly than 
 anything else, was that the former was thoroughly 
 unworldly and quite unsophisticated in specu 
 lative matrimonial views. Her mother had not 
 yet taken this part of her domestic education 
 iii hand. The "bump" of imagination was 
 fully developed on Adele s head, and she lived 
 much in an ideal world of her own creation ; 
 and the lord of creation in this microcosm was 
 Colonel Thomas. If she had led less an ideal life, 
 and recognized the truths of the real world as they 
 came before her eyes, probably this would nut 
 have been the case ; for a beautiful trait of her 
 character was that she was considerate to a re 
 markable extent of the wishes of her parents. 
 
 She and her mother usually went to the hop in 
 the evening, in the old Opera House, for an horn 
 or so, if they had no other engagement; and hav 
 ing none for that evening Adele supposed of course 
 they would go.
 
 DISAPPOINTED. 33 
 
 She made some alterations in her toilette after 
 tea I will not venture to describe; them and was 
 surprised, on coming out on the piazza, to find 
 that her mother, who usually "prinked up" con 
 siderably, was unprepared. 
 
 " Are you not going over to the hop this even 
 ing ? " she inquired. 
 
 "No," responded her mother, " I have a sick head 
 ache ; and if it is not asking too much, I should 
 like you to remain here with me," she added in a 
 manner that indicated she did not expect a refusal. 
 
 " Why what strange language ! If it is not ask 
 ing too much ! Why, of course I will stay with 
 you," Adele exclaimed, embracing and kissing her 
 mother. " I would not have left you even if you 
 had not asked me to stay ! " 
 
 " I thought you might have some appointment," 
 said the mother, observing her closely. 
 
 " I promised Colonel Thomas to dance with him 
 if he should be there," said Adele. 
 
 " Oh, that doesn t matter in the least," responded 
 the mother: but observing Adele made no com-
 
 34 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 ment, she again spoke : " Does it ? If so, never 
 mind about me ; you can go with Mrs. Campbell." 
 
 " Oh no, mother, I ll not leave you ! " 
 
 She sank into a chair beside her mother, smother 
 ing her disappointment with an effort, and the two 
 enjoyed, drank in, I may say, the delightful coo 
 that came with the twilight. 
 
 How any sane person, man, woman, or child, 
 could leave the delightful cool of the open air for 
 the heated atmosphere of the ball-room is some 
 thing I cannot understand ; yet as soon as the old 
 Opera House was lit up, and the band vacated its 
 stand on the lawn, and appeared on the one in the 
 dancing-room, couples, trios and groups could be 
 observed leaving the mammoth hotel by various 
 exits and repairing to the hop, seemingly attracted 
 to the light like moths. The music struck up a 
 popular waltz, and soon the polished floor glittered 
 with the play of daintily-cased feet. 
 
 Mrs. Brown occupied a suite of rooms on the 
 second floor of the extension on the right hand 
 I really don t know whether it was East, West,
 
 DISAPPOINTED. 36" 
 
 North, or South and so was not far from the 
 Opera House. From their seat on the piazza, she 
 and Adele could easily see everything that was 
 going on in the ball-room. With the aid of an 
 opera glass, which Mrs. Brown directed Adele to 
 bring out, faces could be recognized. 
 
 For awhile Mrs. Brown kept the glass, mention 
 ing to Adele those whom she recognized in the 
 motley throng. 
 
 All the time she had the glass, Adele strained 
 her eyes in an eifort to discover Colonel Thomas 
 among the merry-makers. 
 
 When her mother handed her the glass she told 
 her she could keep it. You had better believe 
 that mother knew what she was about. Colonel 
 Thomas had not come. Colonel Thomas attended 
 the pool-selling in the basement previously to going 
 to the hop, and it was to Adele a long time ere he 
 made his appearance. She discovered him as he 
 entered. He walked in, calmly surveyed the 
 room, and then sauntered around. 
 
 " He is looking for me ! " she ejaculated mentally.
 
 36 A BEOWN STOXE FRONT. 
 
 "What will he think of me for not keeping my 
 word ? " 
 
 Adele would like to have flown to him. 
 
 He takes another survey of the room and then 
 
 r 
 
 comes out and speaks to the door-keeper. 
 
 " He is asking if I have been there," sighs Adele, 
 consciously blushing and glad that the darkness 
 concealed the fact from her mother. 
 
 [The mother, however, made inferences from her 
 silent and intent manner that were not far from 
 right.] 
 
 Colonel Thomas after conversing a few seconds 
 with the door-keeper, returned to the floor, arid 
 made another tour of the room. 
 
 It is about time I should describe Colonel 
 Thomas. So good an opportunity has not offered 
 itself before. 
 
 Born and reared in the South, near Lexington, 
 Kentucky, at the family homestead, he espoused 
 the cause of the Confederacy in the late war. At 
 the outbreak he went to Louisville and organized 
 and equipped a regiment of cavalry at his own
 
 DISAPPOINTED. 37 
 
 expense. He was followed by agreement by some 
 friends of his own age from the neighborhood ; and 
 these he made his subordinate officers. He and his 
 regiment won distinction. He certainly looked the 
 dashing, cavalry chieftain that history reports him 
 to have been. Six feet and a half in height, well- 
 built, neither slender nor stout, his figure was 
 stylish and commanding. Long jet black hair did 
 not give him an effeminate appearance; brushed 
 back from his forehead, after being parted on the 
 side, it fell on his shoulder in a rolling, luxuriant 
 curl, and with his dashing air suggested the 
 cavalier of a by-gone day, especially as he also 
 wore the moustache and goatee. His features 
 were well moulded and expressed confidence and 
 determination. His eyes were the admiration 
 adoration, I had almost said of the ladies. They 
 were blue, and large, and round, and brilliant. 
 He was always attired in a suit of broadcloth, the 
 coat buttoned nearly all the way up a la militaire. 
 A felt hat with a large rolling rim added a char 
 acteristic effect to his tout ensemble.
 
 38 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 Before the war the Thomases had been very 
 wealthy. Their landed possessions were very 
 extensive, but they were nearly impoverished by 
 the war, either through their liberal contributions, 
 or the confiscations of the victors. His father and 
 brothers also held important positions in the service 
 of the Confederacy. They managed to save a por 
 tion of the homestead domain and some of the blood 
 stock for which they had been famous in ante 
 bellum days. 
 
 Since the war the colonel and his father had 
 devoted their attention to raising and training 
 their horses and running them on the race-course ; 
 and they travelled about with them to the various 
 meetings. 
 
 The colonel, after going around the room a 
 second time, addressed a young lady of his acquaint 
 ance. Presently they moved away, and Adele 
 caught only occasional glimpses of them as they 
 flitted through the dizzy mazes of the waltz. 
 
 " He has forgotten me ! " she sighed. 
 
 Thereafter the dashing colonel, who was much
 
 DISAPPOINTED 39 
 
 sought after by the ladies, because he was a good 
 dancer, besides being an extremely agreeable com 
 panion, engaged in every dance, and with one ex 
 ception, every time with a different partner. 
 
 Adele was heart-sick. 
 
 " He does not love me ! " she sighed, and shortly 
 after retired, but it was dawn ere she could sleep. 
 
 My worst fears that she is in love with the 
 colonel are realized. 
 
 She loved him at first sight ; and she loved him 
 with all the devotion of a heart that had known 
 neither sorrow nor guile, but was ready in its 
 purity and honesty to surrender itself with all the 
 ardor and freshness of youth, once and forever. 
 The heart is capable of but one such effort in a 
 life-time. 
 
 And she had thought that the colonel loved her 
 as truly as she loved him. 
 
 In this she was mistaken ; she had been deceived 
 by her own love for him, and misinterpreted his 
 glances and the measured cadence of his voice. 
 
 On behalf of the colonel I have to state that she,
 
 40 A BROWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 being a pretty, fashionable young lady, to whom 
 he had been presented by a dear friend, he had 
 thought it proper to show her some attention. 
 That was all he intended. He had not contem 
 plated even a flirtation. He had taken all the 
 young ladies up to the Indian encampment or the 
 fancy stores, and presented each one with some 
 trifling souvenir. 
 
 Colonel Thomas had no more idea of proposing 
 to Adele than to any one of the score or more 
 whom he danced with at the hop that nigh 
 
 Poor Adele ! Don t blame her. Pity her.
 
 HEAET-SICK. 41 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HEAET-SICK. 
 
 ADEIJS was too unwell to leave her room the 
 next day. 
 
 Nor was she any better the next or the succeed 
 ing ; yet the symptoms a loss of appetite and a 
 listlessness were not alarming. 
 
 I am surprised that her sagacious and observant 
 mother did not divine the cause. 
 
 She was alarmed, and the leading local physician 
 was summoned, and her father, who was then in 
 New York and had only consented to pass a week 
 or so with them during the season, was tele 
 graphed for.
 
 42 A BKOWX STOXE FEONT. 
 
 The physician came, found she had a fever, 
 prescribed and left. 
 
 The father arrived by the next train, and was 
 alarmed to find his daughter so unwell. 
 
 She gradually grew better, and at length re 
 covered her strength and freshness. 
 
 It was simple heart-sickness ; this cures itself ; no 
 medicine can relieve it. A change of air and 
 scene, the excitement of travel may prove benefi 
 cial, but it takes its own time nevertheless. 
 
 A number of gentlemen as well as ladies had 
 called during her indisposition to see her, as it was 
 understood she was not confined to her room and 
 could receive, but she had not been permitted to 
 see visitors, and they left with compliments and 
 an inquiry about her health. 
 
 Her mother kept a list of these visitors and read 
 it over to her the first day of her convalescence. 
 
 The name of Colonel Thomas was not on the 
 list. 
 
 Adele could not for a moment persuade herself 
 that the colonel had not called, and, preferring to
 
 HEART-SICK. 43 
 
 believe that it was an oversight that his name had 
 not been placed on the list (she did not wrong her 
 mother by a suspicion of trickery) rather than that 
 he had not been to see her, she ventured to 
 inquire of her mother. 
 
 " No ; he has not," quickly replied the mother, 
 with evident satisfaction. 
 
 " He does not love me ! " sighed Adele ; and she 
 closed her eyes, and any one observing her would 
 have perceived that her features were momentarily 
 convulsed by severe mental anguish. The look was 
 only momentary, but it was the indication of a 
 desperate, a determined, and, as it proved, a success 
 ful effort to dismiss Colonel Thomas forever from 
 her mind and heart. Her hand in her pocket 
 crushed the cherished souvenir of worsted and straw. 
 
 From that moment Adele became another bein<r ; 
 
 o y 
 
 she was no longer a romantic girl, but a resolute 
 woman, prepared to face the world. The mental 
 change gradually and at first imperceptibly wrought 
 a change in the face; the features settled into 
 dignified repose and received the impress of charac-
 
 44 A BEOWX STONE FBONT. 
 
 ter, and the girlish imperfection or immaturity of 
 her beauty was no longer visible. 
 
 A few minutes afterwards her mother made 
 some request of her and she instantly replied: 
 
 " Yes, mother, certainly I will." She added, 
 after a pause, with an emphasis and almost fierce 
 ness that startled Mrs. Brown : " I will do any 
 thing that you ask oi me ! " and immediately left 
 the room to execute her mother s wishes. 
 
 "Poor girl," soliloquized the mother. "She is 
 dead in love with him, or at all events fancies she 
 is ! It is only a girlish attachment, and she will 
 soon get over it ! I shall have more trouble \vith 
 him than with her ! It s plain to see he is in love 
 with her ! I wonder what has become of him ? "
 
 PAPA AND MAMA. 45 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PAPA AND MAMA. 
 
 I AM about to relate a conversation between Mr. 
 and Mrs. Brown such as I dare say often occurs 
 between scheming mothers and fathers who have 
 marriageable daughters. 
 
 o O 
 
 Adele had quite recovered and was going about, 
 but she was absent at the time. The conversation 
 was held in the privacy of their own room. 
 
 Mr. Brown, a tall, portly gentleman of about 
 fifty-five years of age, with a florid countenance, 
 and a self-sufficient, thoroughly contented expres 
 sion, an abundance of white hair and whiskers, 
 listened, as usual, simply to acquiesce in his wife s 
 suggestions, which if it had been necessary, we
 
 46 A BROWN STOXE FKOXT. 
 
 may readily believe from what we know of 
 her character, would have been commands. Mr. 
 Brown was a thorough business man one of 
 the largest and most successful commission mer 
 chants on Broad street ; he left the government 
 of his household, and all family matters to his 
 wife, and he thought he did enough if he assisted 
 
 / o O 
 
 her in any of her projects by complying with 
 any request she might make. lie had done his 
 duty by his family in providing them with a 
 fine mansion in Madison avenue, and by send 
 ing them annually to Saratoga for the summer. 
 Besides Adele they had been blessed with two 
 other children ; two boys, who were now at school 
 at Princeton, N. J. He was constitutionally 
 opposed to excitement and bother outside of office 
 hours, and claimed his right to enjoy contentedly 
 his cigar ; and his wile generally conceded him 
 this privilege, never troubling him except on 
 important matters. 
 
 From the first he had coincided with his wife 
 that Adele should marry a rich man, or, as Mrs.
 
 PAPA AND MAMA. 47 
 
 Brown expressed it, " a husband who could give 
 her a brown stone front and carriage and horses ; " 
 and he was at any time ready to assist his wife 
 
 in effecting this ; but he looked to her to do the 
 
 i t 
 selecting and the scheming. 
 
 lie foresaw that an important matter was to be 
 discussed, by the formality of Mrs. Browivs pro 
 ceedings. 
 
 He lit a cigar and prepared to listen to her by 
 comfortably settling or spreading himself over a 
 cane extension chair. 
 
 " Brown," she began, " have you met Colonel 
 Thomas?" 
 
 "Yes." [Puff.] 
 
 " lie has been foolish enoiigh to fall in love with 
 Adele ! " 
 
 " Indeed ! " [Puff.] 
 
 " What ! Why you don t seem to think any 
 thing of it at all," observed Mrs. Brown almost 
 savagely. 
 
 " Why, my dear, he is the hundredth who, you
 
 48 A BROWN" STONE FRONT. 
 
 have said, has fallen in love with her," he replied 
 complacently, puffing vigorously. 
 
 " What did he say to you ? " she asked eagerly. 
 
 " Oh, why nothing ! " 
 
 " Xothing ! Don t talk nonsense, Brown. Re 
 member you are talking to me ! Did he not 
 propose ? " 
 
 " Xo ! " 
 
 "Well, what did he say?" 
 
 " Well, not much ; he was in a hurry ! " 
 
 " You are provoking ! Well, when he runs 
 away with your daughter and you find yourself 
 obliged to support both of them, for he is riot in 
 business, why, then don t come to me with 
 regrets." 
 
 "Why what do you mean ? " he asked in alarm. 
 
 <( Just what I said," she replied. 
 
 " Humph ! [PufF, and another, freer this time.] 
 What do you suggest ? What do you want me 
 to do ? " 
 
 " I want you to quarrel with him and sp pre-
 
 PAPA AJS T D MAMA. 49 
 
 vent his coming here ; " said Mrs. Brown, coolly. 
 
 "What?" [Puff, puff.] 
 
 " Just what I say. His family is good enough 
 Imt he is poor," responded Mrs. Brown, still im- 
 perturable. 
 
 " Oh, he is not to be considered for a moment ! " 
 [Puff, puff] But" 
 
 "But what?" interrupted Mrs. Brown im 
 patiently. 
 
 [Puff] "Nothing;" but the vision of a duel 
 with a fiery Southerner still floated before Mr. 
 Brown. 
 
 "I don t mean by a quarrel, a personal en 
 counter," resumed Mrs. Brown. " He is a hot 
 headed young Southerner, and can be readily 
 drawn into a conversation on the southern question, 
 and thus a coolness can easily be produced. You 
 see?" 
 
 "Yes," assented Mr. Brown, mentally resolving, 
 nevertheless, not to have such a conversation, en 
 tertaining no idea of running the risk of enraging 
 
 o o o a 
 
 a man who was a master of the sword and pistol.
 
 50 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 " Well then, the sooner you set about it the 
 better," continued Mrs. Brown. 
 
 "Yes," assented Mr. Brown, recovering his 
 equanimity and again puffing vigorously. 
 
 "Furthermore," said Mrs. Brown, " it is about 
 time Adele should be married. I have looked 
 about in vain for a husband for her. She is too 
 young and inexperienced to be expected to chose 
 for herself. ISTow you must help me. You have a 
 better opportunity of knowing the financial re 
 sources of eligible gentlemen than I have. It is a 
 duty you owe your daughter to do this much for 
 her. You cannot better employ your leisure while 
 here, than in attending to this matter ; or do you 
 know of any one who would be eligible in your 
 opinion ? " 
 
 [Mr. Brown had on previous occasions proposed 
 several who had not passed Mrs. Brown s examina 
 tion, and he hesitated now.] 
 
 " Humph ! " ejaculated Mr. Brown, meditatively, 
 smoking very complacently, and evidently heedless 
 of the sarcasm of his wife s last words. " There s
 
 PAPA AND MAMA. 51 
 
 Mr. Dick," he said at length, " how would he do ? " 
 
 " Mr. Dick ? Mr. Dick," observed his wife mus 
 ingly, and momentarily closing her eyes as if try 
 ing to remember whether she knew him or not. 
 
 " I spoke to you once about him," said Mr- 
 Brown. " You have never met him ; he is not in 
 society." 
 
 "Tell me who he is; I forget all about him," 
 said his wife. 
 
 Mr. Brown then told her that Mr. Dick was a 
 respectably connected young gentleman, who, 
 through the death of his father, had come into a 
 large fortune ; and that they had come up on the 
 train together. 
 
 "I am surprised you have not introduced him," 
 said Mrs. Brown, and she really looked surprised. 
 
 "He has not been come-at-able, my dear," re 
 plied Mr. Brown. 
 
 "What! Do you mean to say he lias been 
 seized by the Smith s? or the Jones s? or Mrs. 
 Rice? What have you been thinking about?" 
 Mrs. BroAvn spoke almost savagely. She fairly
 
 52 A BROWN STONE FEOXT. 
 
 glared at Mr. Brown, being maddened by his com 
 placency. 
 
 " Nothing of the kind," he replied, after a pause 
 and a vigorous puff. " He shuns woman folks. 
 Xo ; he has been on a spree." 
 
 "Shame! It was your duty as a Christian to 
 look after and take care of him," said Mrs. Brown 
 sternly. 
 
 " Pshaw ! " Mr. Brown could not help uttering, 
 though he regretted it immediately. " He does 
 nothing but go on sprees ! " 
 
 " I will reform him," said Mrs. Brown, resolutely. 
 
 "You can do a great many things, my dear, but 
 I doubt if you can do that. [Puff, puff.] 
 
 " Make arrangements to present him this even 
 ing. I will have Adele ready. See that you have 
 him ! " 
 
 " I will have to go to Morrissey s to find him," 
 said Mr. Brown cautiously, furtively watching his 
 wife s face. 
 
 [She had made him promise in a tender moment 
 before coming: to Saratoga tha f he would never 2:0
 
 PAPA AXD MAMA. 53 
 
 to Morrissey s ; and he had been longing ever 
 since his arrival to go there to supper.] 
 
 " AVell, you can go there to find him," she said, 
 and the interview terminated.
 
 54 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 EXIT THE COLONEL. 
 
 As he was passing through the vestibule, shortly 
 after this interview, Mr. Brown saw Colonel 
 Thomas at the desk. 
 
 Colonel Thomas observed him and approached 
 him. 
 
 " Ah, good day," said he. " I was just going to 
 send my card to your daughter. May I ask if she 
 is in?" he continued, after Mr. Brown returned 
 his salutation. 
 
 " Xo ; she has been out all the afternoon." 
 
 " I regret she is out. I wished to bid her adieu," 
 the colonel said, interrupting him.
 
 EXIT THE COLONEL. 55 
 
 " What, are you going to leave ? " inquired Mr. 
 Crown, feigning regret. 
 
 " Yes," replied the colonel. " I had hoped and in 
 tended to remain here a few days longer, but a tele 
 gram from my father summons me to Long Branch. 
 I leave in to-night s train. Father left for Long 
 
 O O 
 
 Branch with our string of horses the day after the 
 meeting, and he has been laid up with his old com 
 plaint (the gout) and so I am needed to superintend 
 the training of the horses. You know we think we 
 can name the winner of the Monmouth cup." 
 
 " I am very sorry you leave so soon," said Mr. 
 Brown, " and I know my daughter will also regret 
 not seeing you." 
 
 " I must ask you to express my adieus to her ; 
 and also to tell her that somehow I only heard 
 of her recent indisposition yesterday, or I should 
 certainly have called ; " and the colonel grasped Mr. 
 Brown s hand, and bade him good-by, making him 
 promise to stay at the homestead if he ever came 
 to Lexington ; and then some other person claimed 
 the hospitable Southerner s attention.
 
 56 A BROW^T STOXE FRONT. 
 
 [Mr. Brown was a prudent man : his natural 
 impulse was to repeat to his daughter the colonel s 
 apologies and adieus; but he wisely resolved to 
 consult his wife first, and that astute lady decided 
 that nothing should be said on the subject to Adele.] 
 
 Some one told Mr. Brown on his asking, that 
 Mr. Dick had last been seen rolling ten pins at the 
 Indian encampment, and thither he went in search 
 of him. 
 
 He had left there nearly an hour since. 
 
 " I am sorry ; I wished to see him," exclaimed 
 Mr. Brown. 
 
 " I can tell you where you ll find him," said a 
 young gentleman who had evidently succeeded 
 the absent Dick in the game. " You ll find him at 
 Morrissey s ! " he added in a half whisper. 
 
 No answer could have been more agreeable 
 to Mr. Brown, and he went at once to Morrissey s 
 palatial establishment, and found Mr. Dick in the 
 dining saloon busily engaged dissecting a fish (done 
 to a turn), from the lake with a bottle of the 
 "Widow Cliquet before him.
 
 EXIT THE COLONEL. 57 
 
 Mr. Dick perceived Mr. Brown as soon as he 
 looked into the saloon, and beckoned him to a 
 seat opposite him, ordering a plate, etc., of the 
 attentive waiter at his back. 
 
 As Mr. Brown took his seat, the plate was 
 placed, a fi.sh served, and his glass filled; and 
 soon the two were in conversation. 
 
 After a few common-place remarks, Mr. Dick 
 became confidential as well as morose. 
 
 He confessed he had just lost five thousand 
 at faro in an endeavor to recover one thousand 
 which he lost last night; and he looked, and 
 probably felt, very miserable ; but whether at the 
 pecuniary loss or at the lack of skill or luck in the 
 game which the loss implied, it is not in my power 
 to say. I am able to state, however, that he need 
 not have regretted for a moment the pecuniary 
 loss ; he could afford it. 
 
 Mr. Brown, by way of consolation, made a remark 
 to this effect, without affording much solace to the 
 
 O 
 
 young gentleman. 
 
 " What have you been doing since you have
 
 58 A BROWN STOXE FKO3T. 
 
 been up here, that I have not seen you ?" asked 
 Mr. Dick, perhaps anxious to change the conversa- 
 sion. 
 
 " Oh, I have been with my family ! " replied Mr. 
 Brown; and then he went on to tell his friend he 
 wanted to introduce him to his daughter in the 
 evening, and planned a drive to the lake and a 
 fish supper. 
 
 Mr. Dick was pleased and readily assented ; Mr. 
 Brown was surprised as well as delighted. 
 
 Slightly under the influence of champagne, and 
 chagrined at his " bad luck," he was in a mood 
 when he could be controlled by any one who 
 happened to be with him ; and it was fortunate 
 for Mr. Brown that he was in that condition now. 
 
 Their repast finished, they left Morrissey s to 
 gether, and passed the rest of the afternoon in a 
 cool corner of the piazza at Congress Hall whei 3 
 Mr. Dick was stopping ; and in the desultory con 
 versation that ensued, Mr. Brown learned much 
 about his friend that was very interesting.
 
 MU. DICK. 59 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ME. DICK. 
 
 A BRIEF chapter here concerning Mr. Dick, who 
 in the future will play a prominent part in ray 
 story, will not, I hope, prove unacceptable to the 
 reader. 
 
 In early life, in fact until the age of fifteen, Mr. 
 Dick had been worked so hard on his father s farm ii 
 the interior of the state, that he determined, and ht 
 had since had no reason to change his decision, not 
 to do any steady work if he coiild help it. Fortune 
 favored him. When he was fifteen his father "be 
 came independent by quarrying a stone mine on 
 his farm; exhausting which, he was fortunate in
 
 60 A BROW-* STOIN E FRONT. 
 
 being able to sell the estate at a good price. He 
 removed to New York. William for this was 
 the boy s name was placed at school. His father 
 engaged in speculation and was successful. I have 
 neglected to state that his mother died while he 
 was very young ; he was the first and only child. 
 William had little capacity for learning, though 
 he remained five years at school. His tutors recog 
 nized his incapacity and humored him because he 
 was a rich man s son. He attended school when 
 he had no other engagement, and studied when so 
 inclined. Indeed, he did pretty much as he pleased 
 there as at home. Deprived of a mother s watch 
 ful care and neglected by his father, who was com 
 pletely absorbed in his business pursuits those of 
 speculating in real estate and stocks it is not sur 
 prising that he fell in with bad company and be 
 came dissipated. lie had money, he had leisure ; 
 he had a constitution that could stand a great deal. 
 He left school of his own accord, and immediately 
 entered a gymnasium where he became a skillful 
 and brave athlete. He was a youth of muscular
 
 MR. DICK. 61 
 
 proportions, who at this period looked like a 
 pugilist or professional oarsman, and this was 
 what he " affected." He had no higher aspirations, 
 when, at the age of twenty-two he came into the 
 possession of his father s fortune by the sudden 
 death of that gentleman caused by the break 
 age of a blood vessel from intense excitement during 
 
 O O 
 
 a crisis in Broad street. You may remember the 
 circumstance. It was freely commented on in the 
 daily papers. Excepting a loose hundred thousand 
 his money was well invested ; and this William 
 sensibly added to one of the deposits, deciding to 
 live on and within his income. He sold the resi 
 dence and went into a suite of rooms at a fashion 
 able hotel. He now became less of a sporting man, 
 and more a man of the world. I might go on at 
 
 O O 
 
 this rate and fill many pages with items about 
 him ; but the interest of my story does not 
 warrant this. To come, then, down to the present, 
 a few months before visiting Saratoga, his wealth 
 was increased to a million by an inheritance from 
 an old uncle in Connecticut whom he had never
 
 62 A BROWN STONE FBONT. 
 
 seen, (which was perhaps fortunate for him.) At 
 the age of twenty-four we find him a millionaire. 
 He had freed himself from the aspect of a pro 
 fessional athlete by letting his hair gro\v to a 
 decent length, and by donning the subdued colors 
 and plain clothes which distinguish the gentleman. 
 
 In the conversation alluded to, it is but fair to 
 state that Mr. Dick did not tell all this to Mr. 
 Brown ; I have added a good deal from my own 
 personal knowledge. The conversation lasted till 
 tea-time, when Mr. Brown left to go to his tea, 
 and to prepare his wife and daughter to receive Mr. 
 Dick an hour and a half later. 
 
 The ladies had already made their toilettes in 
 expectation, and Mr. Brown found time to relate 
 to his wife his conversation with Mr. Dick. 
 
 " I will be a mother to him," said Mrs. Brown, 
 energetically.
 
 MB. DICK IS PRESENTED. 63 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MR. DICK IS PRESENTED. 
 
 MR. DICK called after tea. He found Mr. Brown 
 sitting on the front piazza, smoking. In truth he 
 was awaiting him, in order to "capture him," as 
 he facetiously said, to his wife, as he left her, before 
 anybody else ran off with him; but the cigai was 
 the game. Brown regretted having to throw 
 away his half-finished cigar, and secretly wished 
 Dick had Availed a quarter of an hour later. He 
 sacrificed the cigar, however, with manly resigna 
 tion. 
 
 The ladies awaited them on their piazza I mean
 
 64 A BKOWX STOXE FRONT. 
 
 that part of the piazza which fronted their private 
 rooms and thither the gentlemen went. 
 
 Mr. Dick was presented with much ceremony, 
 and provided with a chair between mother and 
 daughter, Mr. Brown seating himself on the other 
 side of his wife. 
 
 Adele was very charming in a white organdie, 
 with natural flowers in her beautiful blonde hair. 
 
 Mrs. Brown contrived to make the two hours 
 that Mr. Dick remained with them pass very 
 pleasantly. 
 
 He admitted as much to himself on his way back 
 to his hotel. 
 
 Mrs. Brown did not think that on first acquaint 
 ance, especially if her mother were by, a young 
 lady should run the risk of being considered for 
 ward and pert by an excess of affability, and Adele 
 taking little interest in the proceeding, said just 
 enough to please her. 
 
 Mr. Dick s conversational power was limited 
 in the presence of ladies ; and he felt very grate 
 ful to Mrs. Brown for relieving him of the em-
 
 MR. DICK IS PRESENTED. 65 
 
 barrassment of talking, by skillfully conducting 
 the conversation. 
 
 As he was leaving he asked Brown "how about 
 that drive to the lake and a fish supper at 
 Moon s ? " 
 
 Mr. Brown told him they would go the next even 
 ing if it would be convenient to him. 
 
 Mr. Dick said it would, and added that he must 
 be permitted to do the honors of the occasion. 
 
 " Oh, you shall have that privilege another time," 
 responded Mr. Brown, jocularly. 
 
 " Very well ; I shall hold you to your promise," 
 replied Mr. Dick. He continued : "I have sent 
 down to New York for my carriage and horses, 
 and I hope we can arrange some pleasant drives ; 
 whereupon Mrs. Brown smiled pleasantly. 
 
 He then made his adieus and left. 
 
 " Wliat do you think of him ? " inquired the 
 mother. 
 
 "Not well educated nor very well bred; but a 
 clever, good-natured sort of person," was the 
 daughter s summary.
 
 66 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 "A capital fellow ! " was the father s comment. 
 
 " I will confess I wish I knew more of his 
 family," Mrs. Brown resumed thoughtfully. 
 
 Mrs. Brown had much family pride. Mr. Brown, 
 who came from Xew Jersey, did not .know any 
 thing of his ancestors beyond his grandfather; 
 Lut his wife who was the granddaughter of an 
 esteemed Knickerbocker, could trace her descent 
 back several generations, Dutch on the paternal 
 side, on the maternal, English. Her own mother 
 was an English lady, and from her she came by 
 the crest which adorned her china and plate. 
 
 " But," she added, after a pause, " he is a mil 
 lionaire."
 
 BUTTERFLIES. 6V 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 BUTTERFLIES. 
 
 FROM the drive and supper which had been planned 
 may be dated Mr. Dick s courtship of Adele ; for 
 in these he occupied a place by her side and was 
 shrewdly permitted by the mother to monopolize 
 her conversation. 
 
 Miss Finch, an old maid, who, regularly since 
 she " came out," had visited Saratoga for the 
 benefit of the waters, (with no idea of catching a 
 husband,) declared all the courting was done by 
 Mrs. Brown; but this, in justice to the mother, 
 I must deny.
 
 68 A BROWN STOXE FKONT. 
 
 Two evenings afterward, by which lime Mr. 
 Dick s carriage and horses had arrived, they took 
 their first drive with him, followed by the supper 
 at Moon s, excursions which were frequently 
 repeated, and as may be imagined were always 
 very enjoyable. The four made tip the complement 
 for a table; and four are enough for a sociable 
 repast. There can be no sociability when there 
 are more. Brown, however, was a gourmand, and 
 would allow little conversation while the luscious 
 fish was being dissected ; for cold fish had no 
 flavor and was consequently not palatable ; there 
 fore, he wished them to devote their attention to 
 it while it was before them there was time enough 
 afterward for chat. lie instructed the waiters to 
 remove the plate of any one who relaxed his 
 attention to its luscious contents and gave way 
 to conversation. The only one caught in this crime 
 was his wife. 
 
 Mr. Dick also became the ladies escort to the 
 Springs for of course they took the waters regu 
 larly and they enjoyed many delightful promen-
 
 BUTTERFLIES. 69 
 
 ades in the shady park in the glory of morning as 
 well as under the twilight shadows. 
 
 All this was a novel experience to Mr. Dick, 
 who had been little in ladies society, or, in fact, in 
 society at all ; and, his new found friends improving 
 on acquaintance, he regarded with great pleasure 
 the turn of fortune which brought them together. 
 
 As yet, however, it was merely a flirtation. In 
 early life he had declared he should never marry ; 
 and later when he saw his wedded friends disagree 
 ing, he fortified himself in this resolution. Now, 
 the subject never once entered his thoughts. 
 
 When some of his friends jocosely congratulated 
 him on his good fortune in obtaining the company 
 of so charming a young lady, his vanity was 
 touched, and he took pride in parading his atten 
 tions to Adele. 
 
 Once when she accepted the escort of another 
 gentleman, (obeying in this the skilful strategy of 
 her mother,) he Avas quite piqued. lie never passed 
 a more miserable afternoon in his life. He took 
 good care in the future to be in regular attendance
 
 70 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 on her. He ordered from the city a stylish equip 
 age, and they attended the races daily during the 
 second or August meeting. 
 
 Here Adele met Colonel Thomas, but her reco^- 
 
 * O 
 
 nition was very cold and formal. But the colone 
 did not give the affair a second thought. 
 
 The colonel made himself the object of general 
 attention one day, by subduing a restless horse, who, 
 when he came to the post, would not stand still, bui 
 started off prematurely and endeavored to throw 
 his rider. He seized the horse by the bridle and 
 soon brought him to his senses. The horse was 
 one of his own, and he stood in front of him instead 
 of the side, annoying him. 
 
 But the next day, as if divining her wish, Mr. 
 Dick made himself equally conspicuous to those o. 
 the grand stand as well as the quarter-stretch. 
 There was a " selling-race," and the winner showed 
 such speed that all the racing men wanted to pur 
 chase him, but Mr. Dick outbid- all of them, includ 
 ing Colonel Thomas, amid great excitement. 
 
 Adele thought well of Mr. Dick for the first time,
 
 BUTTERFLIES. 7 1 
 
 this day. The motive can readily be understood. 
 If he were not accomplished and handsome, he was 
 plucky and indomitable j qualities all women ad 
 mire in men. 
 
 Mr. Dick discovered about this time that he was>, 
 not entirely happy excepting while in the society 
 of Adele ; that when he was away from her an un 
 satisfactory image of her filled his mind s eye, and 
 he missed her. He began to dread the approach 
 of the breaking up of the season, because there 
 would not be the same opportunity, in the city, of 
 seeing her so often. 
 
 Slowly now the idea of proposing to her dawned 
 upon him ; he scouted it at first, but soon recog 
 nized it as sensible and proper. 
 
 Men of his stamp are slow and cautious in mak 
 ing up their minds, but bold and energetic when 
 they have once decided on a course of action.
 
 72 A. BKOWX STONE FKOXT. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 COURTSniP. 
 
 THE majority of courtships where there is no 
 elopement, or quarrel and family interposition 
 possess little interest, except, of course, for the 
 contracting parties, the blissful couple, and the 
 immediate relatives and friends, who are in the 
 secret. Lovers are company for no one but them 
 selves. If they go into company they sit apart 
 from the rest and do not participate in the 
 general conversation. Go and see them and they 
 ignore you, after a few commonplaces. When by 
 themselves they will often sit and gaze at each 
 other by the hour without uttering a word. [I 
 have watched them.]
 
 COUKTSIIIP. 73 
 
 Mr. Dick s courtship of Adele was an ordinary 
 one, and there is nothing beyond a record of facts 
 to be said on the subject. I might make a good 
 deal of innocent fun at Mrs. Brown s expense for 
 her manoeuvring which almost justified Miss 
 Finch s remai k. 
 
 Confidentially, when he thought the proper time 
 to propose had come please remember, if you 
 think him precipitate, he was encouraged by Mrs. 
 Brown Mr. Dick experienced much mental per 
 plexity. 
 
 The reader can surmise the cause. 
 
 I have an idea that men make fools of themselves 
 when they propose to their lady-loves ; they will 
 talk freely on all sorts of confidential subjects, but 
 the one in point. 
 
 Novelists, too, are cautious in treating the sub 
 ject, and generally avoid it. 
 
 Mr. Dick was a thorough man of the world, but 
 he was no flirt ; hence his perplexity. 
 
 He was by no means an orthodox person, but ho
 
 74 A BROWN STOKE FEONT. 
 
 adopted the orthodox way in the matter of pro 
 posing. 
 
 The father shortly came up from the city ; the 
 season was drawing to a close, and he wanted to 
 arrange for the return of his family. 
 
 Mr. Dick asked permission of the father to pro 
 pose to his daughter. 
 
 " You have it, God bless you ! " replied Mr. 
 Brown, showing some feeling notwithstanding his 
 delight. 
 
 " Do you think she will accept me ? " Mr. Dick 
 asked speculatively, as if calculating his chances. 
 
 " She loves you devotedly ; " was all the father 
 could say to this. 
 
 The conversation occurred in the evening after 
 Mr. Dick had called on Adele. 
 
 Before retiring, Mr. Brown reported it to Mrs 
 Brown. 
 
 Mrs. Brown sought her daughter. What she 
 said to her need not be repeated. 
 
 Adele had expected this she knew what was 
 meant by the formal introduction several months
 
 COURTSHIP. 75 
 
 ago, and she did not evince the slightest surprise. 
 
 " You will accept him," said the mother, cau 
 tiously. She added immediately : " for my sake ? " 
 
 " Mother, I will do anything that you ask of 
 me," she replied, " as I promised some time ago ! " 
 
 The mother kissed her and left her. 
 
 Adele, prompted perhaps by a perversity com 
 mon to human nature, unintentionally misled her 
 mother by her replies in regard to her love for llr. 
 Dick. She did not love him with the devotion 
 that she had given Colonel Thomas; her heart was 
 incapable of another such effort ; but regarding 
 Mr. Dick as her inevitable husband through the 
 force of circumstances, she had taught herself to 
 love him, and she now thought she loved him 
 well enough to make him a good and faithful 
 wife. So, the next day, when, in the course of the 
 after noon drive, Mr. Dick proposed, Adele accepted. 
 
 She Avas true to herself, and honorable towards 
 him. 
 
 He was not so honest either to himself or to her, 
 but he did not know his mind so well.
 
 76 A BKOWN STONE FEONT. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 MARKIAGE. 
 
 THEY returned to the city shortly after, for the 
 season ; and the engagement was announced. 
 
 Mrs. Brown did not believe in long engagements 
 and she advised that an early date be fixed for the 
 nuptials. 
 
 " There is no reason for delay and there should be 
 no delay," said she. And when this is the case, it 
 is cruelty to keep two loving hearts separated by 
 a long engagement." If she had been given to 
 
 o o o o 
 
 quotation she might have added, " There is many a 
 slip twixt the cup and the lip ; " and she did not 
 mean there should be one in this case.
 
 MARFvIAGE. 77 
 
 She had no reason, however, for the slightest 
 misgivings or apprehensions ; for Mr. Dick, for a 
 nature of so little ardor, was all devotion and 
 attention, while Adele appeared to be very happy 
 and sanguine. 
 
 Mrs. Brown, of course, assumed the management 
 of the wedding preparations. At Mr. Dick s en 
 treaty she also superintended the furnishing of the 
 elegant brown stone mansion which he had pur 
 chased for his occupancy after marriage. 
 
 Mrs. Brown suggested a bridal trip to Europe, 
 but Mr. Dick from the first very sensibly objected 
 to a sea-voyage in mid-winter. Indeed he did not 
 approve of a journey anywhere at this season ; but 
 Mrs. Brown prevailed upon him to visit Washing 
 ton for a fortnight, while she prepared his house. 
 
 There is one thing she deserves and shall receive 
 credit for ; and that is that she did not furnish and 
 select everything because some other leader of the 
 fashion had so furnished and selected ; but she 
 exercised her own taste and judgment, and did not 
 resign herself to tasteless upholsterers, et id omne
 
 78 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 genus. For this, in these days of servile imitation 
 and reproduction she certainly deserves much 
 credit. 
 
 Tbe marriage passed off with great eclat. One 
 of the society journals, which is before me as I 
 write, is eloquent in its report of the event. At 
 first it was was proposed that the ceremony should 
 be performed at Grace Church, and the reception 
 held afterward at the Brown mansion. But Mrs. 
 Brown decided that the ceremony should also 
 occur under the parental roof. 
 
 The Brown mansion was well up town on Madi 
 son avenue. It was a double house with high 
 ceilings, and commodious, frescoed rooms. On the 
 first floor, on the left of the hall, were two long 
 parlors, separated by ornate arches. There was 
 a spacious bay-window in the rear, overlooking 
 in summer a small flower garden, or more properly 
 speaking a large rockery, picturesquely draped 
 with various flowering vines. This bay-window 
 was beautifully festooned, canopied, I might say, 
 with, flowers, so that on the festive occasion it
 
 MARRIAGE. 79 
 
 looked like a floral niche. In this stood the eminent 
 divine who performed the marriage ceremony. 
 The society journal referred to, somehow ascer 
 tained that the floral display cost nearly three 
 thousand dollars. I know that the resources, of 
 two leading florists were taxed to supply the de 
 mand ; for there was an elaborate display of 
 flowers in all the other rooms. Beautiful flowers, 
 the "joys of the shrubs that bear them," or, 
 as Pliny calls them, the " stars of the earth ! " 
 the air was perfumed with their exquisite odors. 
 The rooms on the other side of the hall, some of 
 my readers may be interested to know, were three 
 in number ; in front there was a reception room, 
 which was isolated, as it were, by a corridor running 
 from the centre hall to aporte cochaise. This was a 
 long room as also that on the other side of the 
 hall, which was evidently the dining-room. Both 
 Ihese rooms were arranged for dancing. The band 
 was located in the hall intervening, so that its 
 music flooded each room equally. At the foot 
 of the stairs leading to the ground floor under the
 
 80 A BBOWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 flight above, \vas the promenade band, the music 
 from which softly and gently floated up-stairs and 
 pervaded the rooms with its distant and subdued 
 strains. The location of this band, so that its 
 music could reach the rooms above without deafen 
 ing conversation, was a happy idea of Mrs. Brown s. 
 Back of the dining-room was the conservatory, 
 which was quite crowded with shrubs and small- 
 sized trees from the tropics and other climes; in 
 the foliage of which were discovered gilt cages con- 
 
 o o o 
 
 taining sweet-voiced singing birds. On the ground 
 floor in a spacious room, were two large tables for 
 those who wished 10 sit and leisurely enjoy the 
 repast ; while in an apartment up-stairs on the 
 second floor, was prepared a collation for those 
 who merely wished a hasty plate of cream or salad, 
 with a sip of wine. There was a large and fashion 
 able attendance; though the rooms were never 
 more than comfortably tilled, so that all enjoyed 
 themselves. 
 
 Adele was ano-elic in her loveliness. With 
 
 O 
 
 admirable appreciation of her beauty, her mother
 
 MARRIAGE. 81 
 
 dressed her very simply in a close fitting, though 
 flowing white satin, high in the neck, with a ruffle 
 of lace confined at the throat by a diamond cross. 
 This was the only jewelry she wore. The sleeves 
 were long and quite close. Her beautiful blonde 
 hair was dressed as usual with a few orange blos 
 soms concealing the fastening of the veil, which 
 fell gracefully one side, resting slightly on the 
 shoulders ere it fell aside again. 
 
 They left for Washington in the midnight train
 
 82 A BROWX STOXE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 TIIE 
 
 IN Washington they were the guests of an uncle 
 of Mr. Dick s, (on his mother s side) a fine, rosy- 
 faced, aged gentleman of the "old school," who 
 had for a number of years occupied an important 
 position in one of the departments ; so long, in 
 fact, had he been in his department, that it was 
 believed no one else could adequately perform 
 its duties, and consequently he remained in office 
 through all political changes. 
 
 Through successful speculation he had made 
 himself independent, and lived in a style quite be 
 yond his salary from the government.
 
 THE HOXEYMOOX. 88 
 
 They were of course, presented at the White 
 House. Mr. Dick had met General Grant once 
 while he was on a visit to the army of the Potomac. 
 
 A member of the cabinet gave a reception in 
 their honor, and they passed every evening in* 
 society, while, during the day, they went sight 
 seeing, visiting the Navy Yard, the Patent Office, 
 the Smithsonian Institute, the Capital building, and 
 the Treasury Department, not forgetting Arling 
 ton Heights. They also visited that admirable 
 institution, the Jesuit s College, at Georgetown. 
 
 Both were quite worn out with excitement and 
 fatigue before the expiration of the fortnight, and 
 Avere glad to return to New York. 
 
 They arrived in Gotham in the morning and 
 were met at the depot by their own carriage ; for 
 a stylish turn-out and horses were purchased at tbe 
 same time that the brown-stone front was bought. 
 [Mrs. Brown.] 
 
 The mansion on Madison avenue had been magi 
 cally prepared by that lady, and on the evening 
 of their arrival with Mr. and Mrs. Brown as
 
 84 A BBOWN STONE FKOXT. 
 
 their guests, they dined at their own residence. 
 Everything, even to the engaging of the servants, 
 had been attended to by Mrs. Brown. 
 
 After they were comfortably settled in their new 
 domicile, or rather after they had recovered from 
 their journey, and could make the arrangements, 
 they gave a reception, which, under Mrs. Brown s 
 supervision, was a grand success. 
 
 The frescoing being much more elaborate than 
 
 O O 
 
 in her own house, she did not devise the same 
 floral display, though the corners and niches 
 bloomed with fragrant flowers, and the same ad 
 mirable taste regarding the disposition of the 
 music was displayed, only here the bands were 
 entirely concealed from view, and the sweet sounds 
 filled the rooms from some invisible source. 
 
 " I have done for you all a mother can do for a 
 daughter," said Mrs. Brown, lingering a few 
 moments after the guests had departed. " It is 
 your own fault, my dear, if you are not happy. 
 You have all that heart could wish for ! " 
 
 Adele made no reply, though why, she probably
 
 TilE HONEYMOON. 85 
 
 could not have told. There was somehow a void 
 in her heart in her happiness, which she could 
 not have explained if she essayed to do so. 
 Emotions are not always definable.
 
 86 A BKOWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 DOMESTIC INFELICITY. 
 
 AFTER this, Mr. and Mrs. Dick were out almost 
 every night until Lent, to a party or ball, several 
 being given in their honor. 
 
 Now Mr. Dick was not by nature fitted for a 
 society man ; and since the novelty of the ex 
 perience had worn off, he had begun to feel 
 trammeled by its exactions in the way of social 
 engagements and the like. 
 
 Adele, as a girl, had enjoyed dancing and the 
 gayeties of the ball-room ; but with the change of 
 purpose and disposition that we have noted, came 
 a spirit of resignation and passiveness that render 
 ed her indifferent to almost everything that she 
 did not deem her duty except, indeed, her
 
 DOMESTIC INFELICITY. 87 
 
 love for painting and reading ; and this she had 
 not been able to indulge to any extent for some 
 months. It was her duty now to love her husband, 
 and she determined to do so, and thought she did. 
 
 Mr. Dick, before he was married, went a good 
 deal to the theatre ; and he looked forward with 
 eagerness to the time when Lent should release 
 him from social engagements and afford time to go 
 to the public places of amusement. 
 
 His wife, however, was a communicant in the 
 Episcopal church, and she declined to go to the 
 theatre during the Lenten season. 
 
 He did not care so much for her company, for 
 he had been her escort everywhere since their 
 marriage, as well as for some months before 
 several years it appeared to him now but he did 
 not like to be refused ; and angry words passed 
 between them on the subject for he offended 
 Adele and she replied spiritedly. 
 
 They were already beginning to discover how 
 entirely uusuited they were to each other s society 
 he being uneducated and unrefined, caring noth-
 
 88 A BIIOWN STOXE FIIONT 
 
 ing for the pleasures of the intellect and devoted 
 to the excitement of the world, while she was 
 quite the reverse ; but they had controlled them 
 selves and never quarreled. 
 
 Of the two, Mr. Dick had been the most 
 fettered by the marriage bond; he had yearned 
 for his old associates and haunts and had only 
 been prevented by a sense of fairness towards his 
 wife, from " cutting " society and returning to his 
 boon companions. 
 
 He was incompetent to appreciate his wife s 
 many noble qualities of head and heart, and her 
 varied accomplishments ; and consequently soon 
 lost in the familiarity of constant intercourse, the 
 pride in \vaiting upon her which he had experienced 
 when he was courting her. 
 
 Courtship is a by-path near the highway of 
 Life. It runs through romantic depths of the 
 forest, down into dales where flowers grow, and 
 all is enchanting ; but it soon returns to the high 
 way, which is broad and full of ruts, and hard- 
 travelling to a great many.
 
 HE MUST BE MANAGED. 89 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 HE MUST BE MANAGED. 
 
 ALMOST unconsciously a coolness sprang up between 
 this newly-made but ill-assorted couple, which 
 did not escape the vigilant eye of Mrs. Brown. 
 
 Ah ! if Mrs. Brown could always have been by, 
 I venture to say that their married life would have 
 been as pleasant and harmonious as their courtship. 
 
 But Mrs. Brown did not believe the time had 
 come for her to say anything ; indeed, she was not 
 sure that such a time would ever come ; and so 
 she kept her own counsel, not even telling Mr. 
 Brown. 
 
 She was vigilant, however. She learned acci- 
 dently from Adele s maid, (who had formerly been 
 in her employ) that Mr. Dick went out in the
 
 90 A BROWX STOXE FRONT. 
 
 evening by himself, and often remained at the 
 club to dinner. Mrs. Brown s eyes informed her 
 that he no longer escorted Adele to church on 
 Sunday. 
 
 She had latterly noticed, too, that Adele had 
 grown wan and looked wretched. She perceived, 
 also, a peevish disposition in Mr. Dick, which was 
 surprising in one who had before manifested such 
 a flow of animal spirits. 
 
 But she said nothing on the subject to her 
 daughter; if there was any serious trouble, it 
 would make itself known in time, she argued. 
 
 Adele was silent and resigned. 
 
 Days passed, and they were still as formal in 
 their intercourse as it was possible for man and 
 wife to be. 
 
 Once Adele drove down and passed the evening 
 with her mother and father, and in the family 
 circle chatted quite gayly, as she used to do when 
 at home. 
 
 Her father asked where her husband was ? 
 
 " At the club, I believe," she replied calmly.
 
 HE MUST BE MANAGED. 91 
 
 Her mother, in the privacy of her apartment, 
 subsequently asked why her husband was not, 
 with her. 
 
 " He did not know I was coming here ; I have 
 not seen him since this morning," Adele added. 
 "I did not myself know that I was coining here 
 till a few moments before I started ; I grew 
 desperate at being left so much alone, and so 
 rushed down here." 
 
 Her mother could not restrain the curiosity 
 which had troubled her for some days ; and she 
 asked and obtained an explanation from her 
 daughter. 
 
 " My dear," exclaimed Mrs. Brown, " I have 
 done all I could for you ; I have provided you 
 with a husband who can afford you all the luxuries 
 that wealth can purchase. If you do not love him 
 after you thought you did, it is not my fault. 
 
 " Mother !" 
 
 The mother interrupted her ; she did not pro 
 pose to allow Adele a word in self-justification. 
 
 " Any man," said Mrs. Brown, " can be governed
 
 92 A BROWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 if he is studied and understood. Why, your 
 father was just as arbitrary and self-willed as he 
 could be when I married him ; but I studied him 
 and soon managed him ! " 
 
 Adele turned away and put on her things pre 
 paratory to leaving. 
 
 I will think over this matter," continued Mrs. 
 Brown. "A little mutual forbearance, and this 
 trifle, which now seems momentous, will prove as 
 light at air ! " 
 
 As she left she expressed a wish that her 
 brothers who were absent at Yale College were 
 at home, that she might occasionally claim their 
 services as escorts; then saying good-night, she 
 left to return home, having made no response to 
 her mother s last remark. 
 
 Mrs. Brown, after proper deliberation, concluded 
 that a good way to bring about a reconciliation 
 between Adele and her husband would be to invite 
 them to a party. She felt keenly the absence of 
 her children, and had sent to Philadelphia for two 
 nieces, the daughters of a widowed sister of Mr.
 
 HE MUST BE MANAGED. 93 
 
 Brown, promising if they would come and stay 
 with her, that she would give this party in their 
 honor. 
 
 Invitations were therefore issued for a large 
 party, shortly after Easter. 
 
 On the evening of the day they readied Adele, 
 Mr. Dick dined at home for the first time in 
 weeks. 
 
 He had, unknown to Adele, sent word to his 
 butler that he should bring a gentleman home to 
 dine with him ; and an admirable dinner was pre 
 pared, to Adele s great satisfaction. 
 
 He entertained Seiior Viva, a Spanish gentle 
 man of great wealth, who had recently arrived 
 from Europe with letters of introduction from an 
 esteemed friend. 
 
 After dinner, Adele told her husband of the in 
 vitation, or rather he found it on the mantel-piece, 
 where she had carelessly tossed it. 
 
 He glanced at the date and declared he could 
 not attend, as he had an engagement. 
 
 " Seiior \ r iva, whom I shall in the meantime in-
 
 94 A BUOWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 troduce to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, will perhaps be 
 kind enough to escort you," he said. 
 
 Seiior Viva would, of course, be delighted to 
 be madam s escort. 
 
 Mr. Dick was a man of impulse as I have pre 
 viously intimated, and acted on the spur of the 
 moment ; so, later in the evening, he invited Signor 
 Viva to call with him upon Mr. and Mrs. Brown. 
 
 Mrs. Brown soon found an opportunity (private 
 ly, of course,) to " lecture him," as she said ; and 
 she expatiated on her daughter s grievances (oh ! 
 how mortified Adele would have been if she had 
 overheard her !) in consequence of his cruel neglect 
 of her. 
 
 Mr. Dick heard her through without wincing or 
 interruption. When she had finished speaking, 
 he with deliberation and emphasis, replied : 
 
 " Courtship and married life are as different as 
 holiday and work-day. Courtship is a playtime 
 before the real, matter-of-fact life entered upon 
 after marriage. It is supposed both parties to the 
 contract have got over their torn-foolery by the
 
 HE MUST BE MANAGED. 95 
 
 time they are married ; and they lead the life ex 
 perience satisfies them is the most congenial. Now 
 I do not seek to govern Adele, and she must not 
 seek to govern me; for she cannot. I will give 
 her everything she wants, but she must not expect 
 me to sacrifice my pleasures to her whims ! " 
 
 " But she has a right to regard you as her pro 
 tector and escort," interposed the mother. 
 
 " I will take her out anywhere whenever she 
 asks me, if I have no previous engagement. But 
 this time I am promised elsewhere ! " 
 
 " That is a point gained," Mrs. Brown mentally 
 commented; and she passed on to another subject.
 
 96 A BROWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A.K UNDERSTANDING. 
 
 MR. DICK was an intensely selfish man, but lie was 
 not bad-hearted. He still loved Adele, but not 
 with the same ardor as at first ; it was not in his 
 impulsive nature to remain long enthusiastic about 
 anything. He still loved her, though in his own 
 ,way, and respected her as his wife. 
 
 After breakfast the next morning, he strolled 
 into the parlor; but whether to read the II .raid 
 which he carried in his hand, or to take an inven 
 tory of the furniture, Adele could not decide ; he 
 left her so unceremoniously at the table.
 
 AX UNDERSTANDING. 97 
 
 " Adele," he called after a moment, " won t you 
 play something for me ? " 
 
 " With pleasure," she said, entering the parlors 
 from the breakfast room, which was upon the same 
 floor. She seated herself at the piano with a 
 brighter face than she had worn for days, and with 
 some of her wonted grace and elasticity. " What 
 shall I play for you ? " she added, tossing over the 
 music upon the racks. 
 
 " Oh, anything," he answered pleasantly, settling 
 himself comfortably upon the sofa. 
 
 Any one not as dull of comprehension as Mr. 
 Dick, would have seen she was in a mood for a 
 reconciliation, and was not disposed to exact any 
 more than the proper respect and courtesy due a 
 wife and a lady. 
 
 She played and sang with spirit and taste, several 
 pleasant songs which she had recently added to her 
 repertoire. Happening to look around at him, she 
 discovered him intently reading the Herald. She 
 stopped abruptly, rose, and left the piano with a 
 mortified, injured air.
 
 98 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 " Thank you ! thank you ! " he exclaimed ; then 
 tossing the paper aside, he continued : " look here 
 Adele, it is as well we should understand each 
 other ! I had a talk last night with your mother," 
 this with a significant look which she thought 
 she understood. She turned and approached him, 
 once more looking wan and hopeless. He motioned 
 her to a chair which she took mechanically. 
 
 Mr. Dick then spoke substantially as he had 
 spoken the night before to her mother. 
 
 His wife did not deign to reply. 
 
 He rose when he finished speaking and left, say 
 ing he should dine at the club. 
 
 " Good morning," said Adele. 
 
 " Good morning," her husband responded gruffly. 
 
 When out on the pavement he said mentally, 
 " I wish she woiild speak ! She sat and stared at 
 me as if I was making a show of myself ! " 
 
 Within, the young wife was weeping. 
 
 A few days before the party at her mother s wag 
 to take place, Mr. Dick said to Adele :
 
 AX UXDEUSTAXDIXG. 99 
 
 "You will go to your mother s with Signer 
 Viva as I have engaged. 
 
 " Xo; I will not," she replied firmly. 
 
 " Why ? " 
 
 "Because I have too much self-respect," she 
 responded. 
 
 " I have an engagement that evening, but I will 
 take you to the party, and come for you will that 
 do ? " he inquired. 
 
 " Yes," she replied ; and so she went to the 
 party which she had determined not to attend, if 
 she had to accept the escort of Senor Viva. 
 
 The two nieces, the Misses Stephens, in whose 
 honor the party was given, made a very favorable 
 impression. They were petite, bright-eyed, rosy- 
 cheeked, plump brunettes, with untiring vivacity. 
 Adele had made their acquaintance several days 
 before ; but Mr. Dick now met them for the first 
 time, and was so pleased with "his cousins" that 
 he remained the whole evening, forgetting all about 
 his engagement. 
 
 Adele favored Senor Viva with her company be-
 
 100 A BROWN STOXE FBOXT. 
 
 cause he sought it. She was agreeably disappoint 
 ed in him, having conceived a dislike to him at 
 their first meeting for which she could scarcely 
 account upon further acquaintance. He had 
 travelled far and wide, spoke several languages, 
 and was a highly educated and refined gentleman, 
 with remarkable conversational powers. She con 
 sequently found him. a thoroughly agreeable com 
 panion, and the evening was one of the pleasantest 
 she had passed in some time.
 
 SKNOB VIVA. 101 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 SEXOE VIVA. 
 
 A FEW evenings after the occasion mentioned in 
 the preceding chapter, Senor Viva called on Mrs. 
 Dick ; Mr. Dick was out, of course ; as usual, he 
 had not been home even to dine. Senor Viva 
 proved himself to be an accomplished musician and 
 violinist ; he played on the piano and guitar, and 
 sang in several languages. His knowledge of 
 music seemed to be as extensive as his reading, 
 and he sung with Adele several duetts from favorite 
 operas. In the course of conversation, he modestly 
 mentioned some little attempts he had made in an 
 artis ticline, which he hoped to have an opportunity
 
 102 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 some day to display. Xo one, to look at Senor 
 Viva, would imagine him to be so accomplished. 
 In stature he was short and slight. His complexion 
 was very swarthy and his features small and con 
 tracted, especially the eyes. His hair was cut 
 rather close, pushed back over the forehead, and 
 not parted. A perturbed, restless spirit, had this 
 curious looking little man ; who was given to facial 
 expression and gesture in conversation. 
 
 Adele informed her liege lord of Senor Viva s 
 visit. 
 
 " Well, I hope you made his call pleasant," he 
 said. " He is one of your kind, given to music, 
 painting, and reading ; and as he is not company 
 for me, I wish you would take him off my hands." 
 
 Adele refrained from pointing out to him the 
 impropriety of receiving Senor Viva s visits as he 
 desired, not because he did not fully recognize the 
 fact, but because she well knew he would not 
 appreciate it. But she expressed a desire that he 
 would afford her more of his society ; and several 
 times thereafter when the accomplished Senor
 
 SEXOB VIVA. 103 
 
 called, her husband was also at home to receive 
 him. 
 
 Senor Viva said he had visited New York with 
 the intention of remaining only a few weeks, and 
 then going south ; but he liked the city and had 
 been so Avell received, that he had concluded to 
 remain during the Winter. He was a gentleman 
 of leisure and wealth, untrammeled by business and 
 in receipt of a large income from estates in Spain. 
 Still, though it was a great pleasure to receive 
 him, Adele did not encourage the intimacy with 
 him that her thoughtless, imprudent husband was 
 endeavoring to establish. Men of Senor Viva s 
 stamp make themselves just as agreeable to gen 
 tlemen as to the fair sex ; at the club he played 
 whist and poker with Mr. Dick, soon convinced 
 him he knew what he was talking about when the 
 the subject of horses and yachts was under dis 
 cussion, and in many ways proved himself to be 
 "a jolly good fellow." Mr. Dick took a great 
 fancy to him, and with a magnanimity characteristic 
 of his temperament, declared he must regard his
 
 104 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 house as a brother s, and make himself at home there. 
 Senor Viva enjoyed Adele s society very much, 
 
 and they were much together. 
 ******* 
 
 One morning, Mr. Dick said to Adele that the 
 coachman complained she drove out so seldom that 
 the horses were becoming unmanageable. 
 
 " Why have you discontinued your afternoon 
 drive ? " he asked. 
 
 "Because somehow it no longer possesses an 
 interest for me," she replied. " It is always so 
 lonesome ! " She added, after a pause, " Lucy 
 Stephens will return to mother s next week, and 
 then she will go with me." 
 
 lie was silent for a few moments. 
 
 "I have an idea! "he exclaimed. "Why not 
 prevail on Lucy Stephens to stay here ? She will 
 be company for you !" 
 
 Adele was pleased with the idea, and said that 
 she would see Lucy and get her to come down 
 and stop with them.
 
 105 
 
 Miss Lucy Stephens, the gayest and most viva 
 cious of the two sisters, left Mrs. Brown s and came 
 to Adele. She proved company for Mr. Dick as 
 well as Adele ; for the latter became merry in untir 
 ing conversation with her whenever she was in the 
 house. But Adele did not mind Mr. Dick s atten 
 tions to Lucy Stephens. As long as Lucy was 
 with her, there would be, under the circumstances, 
 no impropriety in her receiving the visits of Senor 
 Viva, which now became more frequent. 
 
 Lucy was a good musician and vocalist, and she, 
 too, enjoyed his society. Instead of duetts they 
 now sang trios. Wishing to have Lucy always 
 by her whenever Senor Viva was in attendance, in 
 order to avoid the possibility of a scandal, Adele 
 persuaded her cousin to learn drawing; and while 
 Adele and the Senor sketched or painted in the 
 studio over the hall, she was also there similarly 
 engaged. Adele now resumed her afternoon rides; 
 and after a while Senor Viva was invited to join 
 them. lie would take his sketch-book, and the 
 carriage would be stopped while he made sketches
 
 106 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 of picturesque scenes in the park, or of the admira 
 ble views to be obtained from higher grounds 
 of the Hudson or the Sound. The blank bristol 
 board soon became instinct with life under hi^ 
 magic pencil. There are many beautiful lands 
 cape bits to be found in the park, many charmin; 
 woodland vistas and intervals of lawn. Thus there 
 was some pleasure not stern duty all the time 
 for Adele. Don t shake your heads, shrug youi 
 shoulders, or elevate your eyebrows, my dear 
 reader. The coolness which had once existed be 
 tween Adele and her husband had passed away, 
 and there now prevailed a good-natured feeling, 
 based on a thorough confidence in each other, and 
 an understanding none the less definite because 
 never defined, that each was to enjoy life in thei 
 own way Adele with her drawing and music, and 
 Mr. Dick, at the club.
 
 TIME FLIES. 107 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 
 TIME FLIES. 
 
 WHEN the time came for them to be thinking 
 about a retreat for the Summer, Mrs. Brown, who 
 felicitated herself that matters had righted them 
 selves in the Dick household, moved that they all 
 go to New London for the season. They had been 
 so often to Saratoga, the Lakes, and Cape May, 
 that these watering-places had lost their attrac 
 tions. Long Branch was too near the city, and 
 was becoming too frequented. They had explored 
 the White Mountains season before last. The 
 pleasures of Newport, too, had been exhausted; 
 New London seemed the only alternative. A
 
 108 A BKOWX STOXE FRONT. 
 
 cottage had been erected on one of the delightful 
 drives leading shoreward from the town, which 
 Mr. Brown contemplated purchasing, but would 
 like to occupy experimentally a season before 
 deciding to do so. This was agreeable to Adele, 
 who had no desire to participate as in previous 
 years, in the gayeties of the more frequented, if 
 not more fashionable, summer retreat. It was even 
 more agreeable to her husband, and this decided 
 her at once. It was, in fact, just what Mr. Dick 
 intended proposing himself; either Newport or 
 New London. He had purchased a yacht, and 
 joined a club, and intended to pass the summer 
 cruising about ; and New London was a good 
 port. The cottage was taken and prepared for 
 occupancy by Mrs. Brown, by the middle of June. 
 It was an unpretentious and comfortable frame 
 building, situated on a slight eminence, and com 
 manding from the front piazza an admirable view 
 of the bay and outlying sea, and from the other 
 side, a fine stretch of landscape with the town in 
 the distance and Groton beyond.
 
 TIME FLIES. 109 
 
 As long as her husband was satisfied, so was 
 Adele ; and with his new toy, Mr. Dick was 
 thoroughly contented and as happy as a child that 
 had yet to learn that this is a world of turmoil and 
 sorrow. He retained the sailing-master and crew 
 that had been engaged on the yacht by the former 
 Dwner, and they were, of course, familiar with 
 these waters. An anchorage was selected for the 
 yacht in the bay, in sight of the cottage ; and 
 when at the cottage Mr. Dick was constantly 
 making a discovery of new beauties in her, and 
 the nautical lore he displayed on these occasions 
 astonished the ladies, and would have made the 
 sailing-master laugh outright ! It was a beautiful 
 craft that sat in the water with the graceful repose 
 of a swan. It was a scooner yacht with cabin 
 accommodations for six, and was fitted up regally 
 in all respects. Adele delighted her husband by 
 working a beautiful silk private ship s flag for him. 
 But Adele was unfortunately very timorous on the 
 water, and did not enjoy a sail in the least, except 
 ing, indeed, when there was so little wind that thr
 
 110 A BROWX STONE FKONT. 
 
 craft lazily floated along with the tide, and then 
 Mr. Dick was restive and impatient, and declared 
 the whole thing a bore. He sighed for a high 
 , wind to send the yacht scudding through the 
 water at I do not know exactly how many knots 
 an hour. Mrs. Brown shared her daughter s dis 
 trust of nautical adventures ; and after a while the 
 ladies were not included in the hospitalities of the 
 yacht, except on some occasions when a party was 
 made up for a quiet sail in the Sound, around the 
 lightships, and thence to Stonington and back. 
 
 Mr. Dick knew very little about sailing the 
 yacht, unlike several of the captains of the fleet, 
 but his sailing master succeeded in making him 
 believe he did, and he found gi-eat pride in giving 
 orders in stentorian tones to that worthy, which 
 lie followed or not, as the whim suited, finding it 
 easy to disobey them under the plea of "wind 
 shifting," " squall expected," and so on. 
 
 Mr. Dick became so infatuated with this life, that 
 he passed most of his time on ship board. lie had 
 some fine sport shark-fishing oft* Block Island.
 
 TIME FLIES. Ill 
 
 Like the king and his men, he sailed to Newport 
 and back, and he sailed to New York and back. 
 He was in his glory when he came ashore in his 
 dino;y and then departed with much ceremony, 
 taking his seat in the helm, and ordering " let fall," 
 "give way," with the tiller lines in hand. He 
 always had a jolly party on board, and had a good 
 time. 
 
 Senor Viva was frequently his guest ; and when 
 he was not with him on the yacht, he was at the 
 Pequot House, and a welcome visitor at the cot 
 tage, so that his intimacy with the family con 
 tinued. He had succeeded in completely ingratiat 
 ing himself into the favor of Mrs. Brown, who 
 thought it possible to make a match between him 
 Miss Stephens. 
 
 Mr. Dick sailed his yacht in two regattas, and 
 accompanied the club on its annual cruise ; but he 
 did not distinguish himself, much to his chagrin. 
 On the whole, however, he passed a very delight 
 ful Summer, and was sorry when the season was 
 over. A new joy awaited him, however, in the
 
 112 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 city ; his agent had obtained for him in Vermont 
 a pair of very fleet young thoroughbred trotters, 
 and he anticipated great pleasure in speeding and 
 displaying them on the Harlem Lane. It is need 
 less to say that Adele did not participate in this 
 pleasure ; nor, indeed, was she invited. She would 
 have been as afraid of being smashed up by his 
 fast driving, as capsized into the ocean by sailing 
 before the wind with the yacht dipping to the 
 water s edge.
 
 SCANDAL. 113 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SCANDAL. 
 
 THERE are many persons who talk merely to hear 
 themselves speak. They never think, but talk, 
 talk, talk. "Words, words, words," as Hamlet 
 says. 
 
 Such chatterers delight in scandal ; for to talk 
 scandal no thought is required. They are always 
 on the qui vive for a subject. 
 
 None but such as these heartless, bi ainless gos- 
 Tiipers, would have involved such a guileless woman 
 as Adele in a scandal. 
 
 At first her name was coupled with Senor Viva s. 
 
 Senor Viva had decided to pass another winter
 
 114 A BKOWX STOXE FIIOXT. 
 
 in New York ; and of course his intimacy with 
 the Dick s and the Brown s was continued. In the 
 same social circle they constantly met in the same 
 round of parties. Mr. Dick, who wished to stand 
 well in the eyes of the world, escorted Adele: but 
 he was glad to place her in charge of Senor Viva, 
 as soon as he could with decency retreat to the 
 smoking-room. 
 
 Adding the perceptible fact that Adele was 
 always glad to take Senor Viva s arm on these 
 occasions, to that previously discovered that the 
 Senor was frequently seen riding with her, and 
 was a constant visitor at the residence, the 
 gossips had materials for a first-rate scandal. 
 
 A proper regard for the truth compels me to 
 state that the scandal commenced with the ladies. 
 
 Dutiful wives whispered the story to their hus 
 bands; these repeated it at the clubs, and soon it 
 became common talk in the circles in which the 
 respective parties moved. 
 
 The story was industriously circulated by the 
 Social Foxes, who are too sly in their movements
 
 SCANDAL. 115 
 
 to be discovered in their crimes, and who from 
 principle (?) always fall foul of the Social 
 Geese, who in their innocence repeat everything 
 they hear. Your chatty, vivacious woman of 
 society is condemned when she is entirely inno 
 cent nine times out of ten ; while the quiet, schem 
 ing woman, who is so particular, escapes observa 
 tion. 
 
 Of course the principals were the last to hear of 
 the scandal, but of these Mr. Dick was the first to 
 be enlightened. 
 
 He was sitting at the club one morning drinking 
 brandy and water, when a young member, slightly 
 intoxicated joined him, and began to joke him on 
 the subject. 
 
 At first Mr. Dick could not imagine what the 
 fellow was aiming at. 
 
 He asked an explanation : and the fellow told 
 all he knew. 
 
 Did Mr. Dick knock him down as he should 
 have done? 
 
 No ; though he would doubtless have done so, if
 
 116 A BBOWX STOXE FKONT. 
 
 any one had overheard the recita.l But his lower 
 nature gained the ascendency ; he allowed himself 
 to become suspicious, and the youth confidential. 
 
 He drew his chair closer to the youthful Bac 
 chanal, and heard the story a second time. 
 
 Then he laughed at it, but his laugh was forced, 
 hollow and weak. 
 
 He lit a cigar and took a walk. 
 
 "Was it possible his wife had been untrue to him ? 
 No, he could not think that of her! She had 
 probably been indiscreet in her conduct towards 
 Senor Viva ; that was all. His better nature 
 triumphed over his lower, and he regretted he had 
 not knocked the young man down. 
 
 But the demon, suspicion, is remorseless ; and it 
 had gained his ear, and was not croin<? to let him 
 
 O O O 
 
 oft so easily. 
 
 Senor Viva he had not seen him for some days ; 
 whereas formerly he called onkhim at the club two 
 or three times a week. Why did he now avoid 
 him ? 
 
 His wife had appeared for some time past more
 
 SCANDAL. 11"? 
 
 contented and happy than at first. At first she 
 always informed him of Senor Viva s visits ; for 
 some time past she had ceased to do so. He dis 
 covered now the fact that his wife and the Senor 
 always seemed to understand each other when they 
 met. He had thought her contrary in her disposi 
 tion; he admitted to himself he hud been dis 
 appointed in her; but never until now had he 
 supposed her capable of sinning. 
 
 His first impulse Avas to see Mrs. Brown ; but 
 no, the mother would, of course defend the 
 daughter. 
 
 His confidant and chum was away on a shooting 
 tramp. 
 
 He left the club for a stroll, and met Lucy 
 Stephens; although young, she was sensible; he 
 would consult her. 
 
 He broached the subject with a delicacy and tact, 
 that was surprising in him; and briefly stated what 
 he had heard, without expressing his suspicion. 
 
 Lucy was indignant at the slander ; she ably 
 defended her cousin, whom she eloquently eulogized.
 
 118 A BUOWX STONE FRONT. 
 
 Mr. Dick, before speaking, had made her promise 
 " secrecy ; " but if he had not, she would not insult 
 Adele by broaching the subject to her. 
 
 Mr. Dick, after admitting that he had requested 
 Adele to always welcome Scnor Viva to the house, 
 and confessing that he believed the story an out 
 rageous slander, abruptly hailed a stage and went 
 back to his club. 
 
 He endeavored to be satisfied by Lucy s assur 
 ances ; but still the demon of suspicion would not 
 let him alone. Add to this the consciousness that 
 he had been indiscreet with his wife, and he be 
 came wretchedly miserable. 
 
 Several young gentlemen in the salon of the 
 club, were evidently discussing the scandal; for 
 they appeared disconcerted when he entered. He 
 felt the hot blood mantle his face and brow, and 
 for a moment, his head was dizzy. 
 
 "Women, like doctors, hang together," he ex 
 claimed. " Of course, Lucy defends her cousin ! " 
 
 That night he dined at home, and remained in a 
 greater part of the evening. He made allusions to
 
 30A.NDAL. 119 
 
 Senor Viva that caused, his wife to praise that 
 gentleman. This was fuel to the flame that was 
 consuming him. 
 
 The next day he consulted his lawyer, who was 
 also a social friend. His lawyer had heard the 
 story ; he laughed at it, and urged Mr. Dick not 
 to sue for a divorce, as in his opinion he could not 
 obtain one. If he wanted a separation, that could 
 be arranged privately, without going into the 
 courts. 
 
 " But the scandal," said his client. 
 
 " Will be forgotten in the next excitement," re 
 plied the lawyer. 
 
 Mr. Dick decided to confer with Mrs. Brown.
 
 120 A BBOWN STOXE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 q 
 
 MRS. BROWN TO THE RESCUE. 
 
 MRS. BROWN heard him through with a patience 
 that aggravated him. He was agitated and heated ; 
 she was calm and cool, as if the matter under 
 deliberation were no more important than a picnic. 
 
 "You do not believe this base slander? "she 
 asked, when lie had told his story, in a jerky, in 
 coherent way. 
 
 " No," he faltered in reply. 
 
 " I hope you have too much confidence in Adelo 
 to believe it for a moment," she said. 
 
 " 1 have," he involuntarily replied.
 
 MItS. BKOWN TO THE RESCUE. 121 
 
 " It is a serious mutter," she continued, " but it 
 can be righted." 
 
 He expressed surprise not, however, at the 
 story, but that she had not heard it before. She 
 did not think it worth a moments bother; still 
 something must be done. 
 
 "That s so!" he exclaimed, to a remark which 
 Mrs. Brown made to this effect ; " and that is what 
 bothers me. In justice to myself I must take some 
 notice of it. I am sorry I did not knock the fellow 
 down at the club." 
 
 " I am very glad you did not," she interposed. 
 "You would have made a scene that would have 
 got into the papers, and then matters would be 
 beyond control. Besides in all probability you 
 would have been expelled from the club ; and that 
 would add to your troubles." 
 
 " Still something must be done," exclaimed Mr. 
 Dick, who evidently thought he must knock some 
 body down to avenge his honor. 
 
 "Of course," responded Mrs. Brown. "But do 
 not be rash or hasty."
 
 122 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 "I do not intend to," he replied. "I came to 
 you for advice ; for if I had followed the prompt 
 ings of my own mind, I am not sure but that I 
 should have gone and thrashed the old fool." 
 
 "That would have been very ungentlemanly," 
 said Mrs. Brown, reprovingly. 
 
 " But I must do something," reiterated Mr. 
 Dick. 
 
 " Let me see," said Mrs. Brown, meditatively. 
 "You have not spoken to Adele about this ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " That is fortnnate. Leave that to me." 
 
 " That I will ! " 
 
 "It is probable also that Senor Viva has not 
 heard of the scandal either," resumed Mrs. Brown, 
 musingly. 
 
 " I have not seen him for several days," inter 
 posed Mr. Dick. " Whether he has purposely kept 
 out of my Avay or not I can not say." 
 
 " There you go again, blaming without cause," 
 Mrs. Brown exclaimed. " If you allow yourself to 
 get into this train of thought, you will soon learn
 
 MRS. BROWN TO THE RESCUE. 123 
 
 to believe in the scandal. It is always the way 
 with you men; you jump at conclusions; you 
 don t arrive at them by careful examination of the 
 facts. If you men had to make a dress you would 
 spoil it through your impatience in having to 
 match the various parts. Their careful considera 
 tion of minute detail is the reason why women 
 make such good schemers." 
 
 " 1 believe that half the schemes in the world 
 especially the devilish ones are originated by 
 women ! " exclaimed Mr. Dick. 
 
 "The scheming that women sometimes have to 
 do to make both ends meet in the management of 
 their household, affords them scope enough for the 
 exercise of their talent," said Mrs. Brown, sharply. 
 
 " In order that they may save more to spend on 
 their dresses ! " replied Mr. Dick, sneeringly, though 
 without intending to be cutting, as, holding his 
 mother-in-law in much esteem, he would not have 
 intentionally offended her. 
 
 " Come, if you are going to talk this way, I will 
 not listen to you," said Mrs. Brown.
 
 124 A IJKOAVX STOXE FROXT. 
 
 " Well, you are responsible for the digression. 
 What do you advise me to do as regards the 
 Senor ? " said Mr. Dick. 
 
 " You are responsible for this slander ; you know 
 you indiscreetly thrust Adele continually into the 
 Senor s society. 
 
 "But that is past; that is not the point." 
 
 "It is an important fact, nevertheless, in the 
 case. But do not interrupt me. Now, since you 
 have brought this scandal upon yourself, and 
 that you have done so you need not deny, do you 
 think it would be manly in you to challenge the 
 Senor, perhaps kill him, for doing that which you 
 asked him to do show some attentions to your 
 wife : or in other words, relieve you of that onerous 
 duty ? I say it is you own fault that this scandal 
 has arisen." 
 
 "I wish I had called the Senor to account, and 
 thus settled the matter without consulting you. 
 I did not suppose you would go on this way," ex 
 claimed Mr. Dick, rising and pacing the room.
 
 MRS. BKOWX TO THE RESCUE. 125 
 
 "You are dodging the question! Something 
 must be done, and that quickly, too." 
 
 Mrs. Brown perceived that he was not in a mood 
 for an argument, and that it needed little to excite 
 him to some rash act ; and after a moment s hesita 
 tion, she said : 
 
 ""Will you leave the matter to me until say 
 to-morrow evening ? " 
 
 " Yes," he replied sullenly. 
 
 " And you promise to govern yourself and not 
 be led into any rash act ? " 
 
 " Yes," he replied, in a better humor. 
 
 Shortly after he withdrew. 
 
 Alone with her thoughts, Mrs. Brown devoted 
 herself to a consideration of the ticklish subject. 
 She did not feel altogether equal to the emergency. 
 
 " It is no use consulting Brown," she soliloquized. 
 " Men always lose their minds in these matters, and 
 think that nothing but a duel can settle the affair. 
 
 The innocent cause of the scandal, Senor Viva, 
 would probably be the most surprised of all when 
 he heard it; and regretful, too, for he was a per-
 
 126 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 feet gentleman, with a keen sense of honor. The 
 idea of conferring with him occurred to Mrs. 
 Brown, and the more she thonght over it the more 
 was she pleased. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon ; time enough for a 
 letter to reach the Senor before he went out to 
 dine. She wrote him a note asking him to call on 
 her in the evening ; or if the note failed to reach 
 him in time, the first thing the next morning. 
 
 7 O O 
 
 The note found him in, and he called in the even 
 ing, shortly after Mr. Brown had gone out to call 
 on a friend from the West at the Fifth Avenue 
 Hotel, and Mrs. Brown saw Senor Viva alone, as 
 she desired. 
 
 She hastily and briefly informed him of the un 
 fortunate affair. It not only surprised but dis 
 tressed him, to think that he should be the inno 
 cent cause of such trouble. 
 
 " It is in my power, and in my power alone," he 
 said, " to settle the matter without any trouble. 
 Leave it to me ; " and shortly he withdrew. 
 
 Outside he muttered to himself: " Talk about the
 
 MBS. BROWN TO THE RESCUR. 127 
 
 excitability and jealousy of the French ; these 
 Americans are worse. They can not credit a 
 woman with any sentiment or romance 1 "
 
 128 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A LETTER FROM SENOR VIVA. 
 
 THE next morning after breakfast, while lounging 
 in the parlor looking over the paper, Mr. Dick was 
 called upon by Senor Alpha, a friend and com 
 patriot of Senor Viva, from whom he brought a 
 letter, which entirely changed the aspect of affairs. 
 This letter read as follows : 
 
 [Viva s crest and initials.] 
 
 NEW YORK HOTEL. 
 
 Evening. 
 WILLIAM DICK, ESQ. 
 
 "MY DEAR FRIEND, If you will allow me to
 
 A LETTER FROM SENOK VIVA. 129 
 
 call you such, let this introduce to you my friend, 
 Senor Alpha." 
 
 " Good morning, Senor Alpha," said Mr. Dick. 
 " Be seated ; " and he motioned to a chair, taking one 
 near it himself. He continued to read : 
 
 " Between gentlemen there should be but one 
 course a frank, manly course. I have learned 
 that I have by my visits to your house, innocently 
 been the cause of a scandal. I am informed that 
 you are aware of this scandal ; from which I infer 
 I have lost your confidence, as well as friendship, 
 or you would have conferred with me. You and 
 your wife, who is one of the most accomplished 
 women I have ever met, so cordially welcomed me 
 to your house, and have been so uniformly kind 
 and courteous to me, that it may be I have been 
 indiscreet in calling frequently ; at least the world 
 judges so ; there is no other cause for the scandal ; 
 there is, in fact, no cause. 
 
 " That I called when I knew you were absent, I
 
 130 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 admit ; but I received your permission to do so. 
 I have devoted my life to art and learning, and the 
 accomplishments of your wife rendered her society 
 very agreeable. 
 
 " Having made this explanation, the propel 
 course for me, in view of this scandal, is to remov* 
 the cause for it by my absence ; and I shall make 
 arrangements to leave for Central America, which 
 I have long desired to visit. A steamer sails on the 
 day after to-morrow ; and unless there is occasion 
 to remain, I shall go in it. 
 
 " My friends say it would be impossible for me 
 to trace the slander to its originator. If I could 
 find any gentleman (?) to father it, I would honor 
 him with a challenge, though such a contemptible 
 scoundrel would not deserve such consideration. 
 He should be chastised. 
 
 " If you are not satisfied with this explanation, I 
 will accept a challenge from you ; but I tell you 
 beforehand that I shall fire into the air. I have 
 done you an injury in being the innocent cause of 
 this scandal, and you shall have a chance at my
 
 A LETTER FROM SENOR VIVA. 131 
 
 life, if you wish it ; I would not shoot at you, 
 because I would not rob the lady involved, of the 
 one who alone has the right to protect her. 
 " Senor Alpha awaits your reply. 
 
 ""With respect, etc., 
 
 " VIVA." 
 
 "Tell Senor Viva I am satisfied, and wish him a 
 pleasant voyage," said Mr. Dick ; and he accom 
 panied Senor Alpha to the door, adding there that 
 he might call during the day. 
 
 He returned to the parlor and read the letter 
 again. 
 
 Adele came in just as he finished. Some women 
 seem to move in a charmed atmosphere impenetra 
 ble to deceit or guile; and Adele was one of 
 these. There never was a purer woman than she, 
 and I hope she will never hear of the scandal in 
 which she has become so innocently involved. She 
 was very charming in a close-fitting purple silk, 
 with her beautiful blonde hair braided across her 
 head.
 
 132 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 After a brief and pleasant conversation, during 
 which he felt very contrite for his conduct towards 
 her, Mr. Dick went down to the club as usuaL
 
 AT THE CLUB. 133 
 
 CHAPTER XXT. 
 
 AT THE CLTJB. 
 
 AT a window of the club-house sat Mr. Dick, his 
 head and shoulders hid by the paper he was read 
 ing, and the rest of his figure concealed by the 
 drapery of the curtains. He was not, however, so 
 absorbed in the contents of his paper, as not to 
 hear some interesting remarks made on the scandal 
 by two young gentleman who had entered the 
 room together and stood near him. 
 
 One of them was the same who had informed, 
 him of the aifair. He had evidently been telling 
 the other of this fact, which he clearly regarded
 
 134 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 a good joke; and he added, "Mr. Dick laughed at 
 it, as if he did not think it worth bothering 
 about ; " whereupon both of them giggled. They 
 shortly withdrew. 
 
 " If either of them had said anything to give me 
 the slightest pretext, I would have knocked him 
 down, exclaimed Mr. Dick, indignantly. After 
 I have thrashed one of these gossipers, the rest 
 will stop talking about my affairs. I am glad he 
 is promulgating that I laughed at the scandal ! " 
 
 A waiter brought him a letter that had been 
 left at the door. 
 
 He recognized Senor Viva s handwriting in the 
 address. He read : 
 
 [Viva s crest and initials.] 
 
 NEW YORK HOTEL. 
 
 Morning. 
 
 "Mr DEAR DICK, I thank you for the assur 
 ances of friendship implied in your message. I 
 Bail in the steamer to-morrow. 
 
 " I submit the enclosed letter to you, confident
 
 135 
 
 you will see the propriety of handing it to Mrs. 
 Dick. 
 
 "With respect, etc., 
 
 VIVA." 
 "WILLIAM DICK ESQ." 
 
 Enclosed was the following letter to Mrs. Dick : 
 
 [Viva s crest and initials.] 
 
 NEW YOKK HOTEL. 
 
 Morning. 
 MRS. WILLIAM DICK: 
 
 Esteemed lady, I sail in the steamer to-morrow 
 for Central America. Urgent business, connected 
 with my departure, will prevent my calling to sav 
 good-bye. I thank you for your many courtesies 
 to me. 
 
 " With respect, 
 
 " VIVA." 
 
 Mr. Dick, on his way out for his customary
 
 136 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 afternoon drive, called at his mother-in-law s, and 
 showed her the letters. 
 
 She read them through carefully with a great 
 deal of satisfaction. 
 
 "Let me have all three letters I will deliver 
 Adele s for you; the other two I will give you 
 this evening at your house," said Mrs. Brown. 
 
 Mr. Dick consented. 
 
 " I will dine with you and Adele," said Mrs. 
 Brown, as he left, her face beaming with a secret 
 satisfaction.
 
 OVERWHELMED. 137 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 OVERWHELMED. 
 
 MRS. BKOWN immediately proceeded to her 
 daughter s. 
 
 She told Adele that she had met Mr. Dick, and 
 he had entrusted to her Senor Viva s letter. 
 
 That Senor Yiva should write her a letter, 
 evidently surprised Adele very much; that it por 
 tended something she surmised from her mother s 
 look. 
 
 She hastily glanced over the letter and re 
 marked : 
 
 "I am very sorry he is going away. I shall 
 miss him. He is very accomplished, and I have
 
 138 A BUOWN STONE FKONT. 
 
 passed many pleasant hours in his society hours 
 which, spent alone, would have been very heavy ! " 
 
 " Nonsense ! " exclaimed Mrs. Brown, somewhat 
 petulantly. 
 
 Adele sighed. 
 
 " It is the lot of every one to have troubles," con 
 tinued Mrs. Brown, " but yours are light com 
 pared to what they might be ; " and she re 
 ported the current scandal with her characteristic 
 facility of description, finishing by reading the 
 other two letters. 
 
 Adele sat by her, arid heard her through without 
 uttering a word ; indeed such an attentive listener 
 did she become, that her pose, expression and gaze, 
 became fixed as in death, and heavy respiration was 
 the only evidence of life. 
 
 When her mother finished the letters, she ex 
 claimed in tones of anguish and despair: 
 
 " Oh ! Heavens, this is terrible ! " She endeav 
 ored to say more, but before her mothor could 
 catch her, she swooned away, and fell over upon 
 the floor.
 
 OVERWHELMED. 139 
 
 Lucy and the servants were summoned, and 
 restoratives applied by Mrs. Brown with partial 
 success. She was soon restored to consciousness, 
 but she seemed dazed, and stared wildly at those 
 about her as if she did not recognize any of them. 
 Her lips moved as in speech, but what she said 
 was inaudible. 
 
 Mrs. Brown had her tenderly removed up-stairs 
 to her chamber, and put her to bed with her own 
 hands. 
 
 In the meantime, the family physician, a medical 
 celebrity, had been summoned. 
 
 He was alarmed ; the symptoms tended to brain 
 fever, perhaps insanity. 
 
 He administered an opiate, and soon the rolling 
 eyes were closed in sleep. 
 
 But it was a sleep that was troubled and 
 labored ; and he sat by the bed-side and watched 
 the symptoms for an hour or so. 
 
 When he left he ordered perfect quiet ; and 
 when Mr. Dick came shortly afterward, he found 
 the door-bell muffled.
 
 140 A BKOWN STONE FKONT. 
 
 He was alarmed, and for the first time in his 
 life lost his presence of mind ; he stood upon the 
 door-step as if afraid to enter. 
 
 The door was opened by Mrs. Brown, who had 
 been watching for him, and who hastily told him 
 all. 
 
 He had a dread of death. 
 
 He had never had any experience in sickness 
 his father, it will be remembered, died suddenly 
 and he was completely overwhelmed, or rath " 
 would have been, but for the chiding of Mi 
 Brown. 
 
 The doctor returned in the evening, and again 
 watched his patient for several hours, until relieved 
 by a professional nurse, whom he had engaged. 
 He declared it was too dangerous a case to be en 
 trusted to any except an experienced attendant. 
 In the day-time, during which he would call in 
 as frequently as he thought proper, Mrs. Brown 
 and Lucy could take turns at watching. Mrs. 
 Brown, however, was not contented with this, but
 
 OVERWHELMED. 141 
 
 ran in frequently during the night to see that the 
 nurse did not neglect her duty. 
 
 For several days Adele hovered between life and 
 death. It seemed to be impossible to quiet her. 
 She raved from time to time until overcome by 
 exhaustion. She told of her love for Colonel 
 Thomas, and why she broke herself of it. She also 
 told how she encouraged a love for Mr. Dick, 
 because she saw he was the choice of her parents ; 
 and why, too, she had received the visits of Senor 
 Viva. She never wearied repeating the story. 
 
 Her husband sat beside her and listened with 
 bowed head ; and though there were conflicting 
 expressions on his face during the recital, he was 
 pleased by the revelation. All was new to him, 
 though not to Mrs. Brown. 
 
 One morning, after a better night s rest than 
 usual, Adele, after vacantly gazing about her, in 
 quired for her husband. Lucy was watching at 
 her bed-side while Mrs. Brown was breakfasting ; 
 Mr. Dick was standing by the window. 
 
 4 J Here, Adele," he said; and he went and sat
 
 142 A BROWN STONE FRONT. 
 
 by her bed-side. Taking her hand iu his, he 
 clasped it warmly. 
 
 She motioned him to lean down and kissed hire 
 on the forehead. 
 
 A benign, serene smile radiated her features. 
 
 Then she appeared to be in deep thought for ? 
 moment or two. Looking her husband full in the 
 
 O 
 
 face, as if to show there was nothing to be ashamed 
 of, she asked : 
 
 " Where is Senor Viva ? " 
 
 " Gone," answered her husband. 
 
 "Ah, yes ! good ! " she said. 
 
 Again her thoughts wandered, and she closed 
 her eyes as if trying to collect them. 
 
 She murmured, " Oh ! this is a terrible dream I 
 have had ! " but her husbaud did not hear her ; 
 for supposing she wanted to sleep he had quietly 
 withdrawn. 
 
 After awhile she did fall asleep ; and this time 
 her slumber was easy, quiet, and natural. 
 
 The doctor called while she was asleep.
 
 OVERWHELMED. 143 
 
 " She has had a narrow escape ! " he said, " but 
 she is all right now ! " 
 
 Adele s condition improved daily ; she was soon 
 able to sit up and move about her room. 
 
 One morning she asked her mother to show her 
 those letters ; and, on her insisting upon seeing 
 them, Mrs.Brown complied with the request. 
 
 She read the letters carefully. 
 
 " He himself forced Senor Viva s attentions on 
 me," she said. "Did he wrong me by a sus 
 picion ? " 
 
 " No," answered the mother. 
 
 Adele s features were suifused by a serene smile 
 which rendered her angelic in her loveliness. 
 
 In a week more she was able to ride out in the 
 park and enjoy the balmy spring air. 
 
 Mr. Dick possessed many noble qualities of head 
 and heart which this latter experience had brought 
 to light. 
 
 The doctor advised a southern trip, believinj 
 that Adele needed a change of climate and scene 
 to produce a complete restoration.
 
 144 A BKOWX STONE FKONT. 
 
 Mrs. Brown suggested and insisted on a Euro 
 pean tour, aud arrangements were made for their 
 departure in a fortnight. 
 
 They sailed in that gallant ship the Cuba. 
 
 Mrs. Brown s last words on the wharf were a re 
 quest for both of them to write to her, as soon as 
 they reached London, and both promised to do so ; 
 but Mrs. Brown doubted if Mr. Dick would keep 
 his word, as he seldom or never wrote letters ex 
 cept on business.
 
 HAPPY AT LAST. 145 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 HAPPY AT LAST. 
 
 Lsr the course of time Mrs. Brown received letters 
 by the same mail from both of them. 
 
 Mr. Dick s letter was short and sweet, like the 
 schoolboy s. 
 
 Here it is entire, minus the date, address and 
 signature : 
 
 "Adele says she will furnish you with the par 
 ticulars of our voyage, which was very pleasant. 
 She is much better, and I am as careful of her as if 
 she were made of china, for I am afraid of a return 
 of her indisposition. I only hope you two are 
 as well as this leaves us."
 
 146 A BROWN STOXE FKOXT. 
 
 " He ll give you no more trouble," jocularly ob 
 served Mr. Brown, who sat at the other side of the 
 centre table, and who had latterly added a glass 
 or two of brandy and water to his post-prandial 
 indulgence of a cigar. The following is an extract 
 from Adele s letter : 
 
 . ..." I have discovered in William many no 
 ble qualities, which have endeared him to me. He 
 could not be more attentive and kind than he is. 
 I am happy once more ! " 
 
 " She is happy at last ! " exclaimed Mr. Brown. 
 
 " And she has got her brown stone front ! " 
 jocosely exclaimed Mr. Brown, looking up from his 
 Evening Post, and draining his glass, which had, I 
 lear, proved too much for him. 
 
 In another mood Mrs. Brown would have admin 
 istered a sarcastic rebuke; but now her look of 
 reproval was but momentary. 
 
 " She is happy at last ! " she reiterated ; and giv 
 ing way to her feelings she shed tears freely ; but 
 they were tears of joy, and her face soon cleared and
 
 HAPPY AT LAST. 147 
 
 brightened and was radiant with smiles. After 
 many days of conflicting emotions she had found 
 peace at last, and there was hope in the future. 
 
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