The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-16

Hunter also OF the Sincere Oihce, 10 ulne
with us. The idiot came IN evening dress,
with a iewelled shirt-front, and looked round
upon our tweed coats and hairy faces
with a mixed look of surprise and con-
tempt We were civil enough to him
at first, but he scarcely deigned to
speak to one of us, and winking at
Raikesmere after dinner Che had been
drinking pretty freely), remarked that there
was a id smell Of paint in the room.
don't think any one of us would have seen
the allusion. but that the fool began to
chuoltle Gas fools willy when he had uttered
this splendid piece of witticism.
was sitting just opposite him, and my old
/ schoolfellow, Dick Dewberry, OF the Middle
Temple was by my side. Dick had been at
| Oxford with Tuftleigh, and knew his line.
Moreover Dick was an amateur painter OF no
inconsiderable merit, and had a fellow-feeling
81 beg your pardon, sir, cries Mr.. Dew
berry. very stifly across the table; 81 think
you said that ---"
"Tbat there was smell of paint. Yes,
did, " says the grinning dandy; perhaps you
don't object to it Y''
"To which sir, the paint or your remark"
asks Dick, pretty smartly.
Raikesmere turned crimson.
"'Pon my life | don't know, " drawled Hun
ter. ''You seem to take oifense. Are you
painter %
'Why, no, sir, but Pm gentleman" cries
Dick, lighting his cigar; 'and few of my
friends here are both"
''Then | spOse you accustomed to paint,
sneers Hunter, unabashed.
Raikesmere was nudging his elbow, and tell
ing him to shut up.
7Perhaps So" retorts Dick; 'but there are
some things we are not accustomed to, and
don't mean to endure. Raikesmere, if your
friend wants the fresh air, there's plenty of it
down stairs in the street."
Tuftleigh, pouring out another glass of
wine, muttered something about apublc room
being public property, and that he'd be
blanked before he moved to ohlige anybody.
He was getting rapidly drunk. Dewberry
rang the bell.
"Robert," said he, when the waiter made
his appearance, lis the bllliard-room en-
gagged t'
old Bob.
every well. Then what do you say to a
game of pool, gentlemen ?''
We all started up glad of the opportunity to
avoid row, and left this uncivilest of civil
servants alone with his friend. Raikesmere
came after us with an ample apology, but it
was the last time he ventured to bring one of
his dandiacal acquaintance to dine with us.
"COnfOunded puppy ~ growled Dewberry,
when he had got back to his chambers; II
L
could have stood up and taken care of him
self. There's no love lost between us, l pro-
mise you"
ever seen him before ?'' asked, for felt
sure there was some old grudge ranking in
Mr.. Dewberry's bosom.
"Well, yes, l have" said Dick, somewhat
mysteriously. "He was pointed out to me at
the Crystal Palace last Thursday"
''By whom ?'' said /.
Mr. nayU harry busbed litt1a ard in royl,y
asked me whether | could keep secret.
''To be sure, especially when a lady is in
the case, said, for the honest fellow had
turned as red as a peony, and l saw at once
that we were on delicate ground.
"The fact is, Jack, - continued D. D., ''that
that fellow has been annoying a very great
| friend of mine for some time past, and in
such way that it would be very awkward,
and, in fact, almost impossible for her-you're re
right, it is a lady-or for me, on her behalf,
| to take any notice of it,
| now ventured to ask for a full explana-
ton, having in the meantime mixed myself a
! glass of toddy, at Mr.. Dewberry's express
desire.
''You must know, then," said Dick, after a
pull at his own tumbler, g that | have some
friends living at Kensington, not far from
where this fellow, Hunter, lives. In fact, they
attend the same church at St. Didymus. Theil
/
manages to get seat close by. Well, fancy
for some weeks past the horrid snob has beer
in the habit of staring in an impudent manner
every Sunday during service at this lady, who
is very young, you know, Jack, and-ahem !
really very pretty; and she hasn't any father o.
brother, by the way-yes, by Jove in such
manner as really to annoy her very much, anC
she has tiled to frown him down, but he wont b.
frowned down, and keeps on staring worse
than ever. Now isn't it a disgusting shame
and don't you think it ought to be put stol
to in some way or another l''
''Most decidedly" said l. Couldn't yol
call him to account yourself, or send a messag
by Raikesmere Y'
"Why, no." cries Dick; 'that's just tn
rub. I'd do that directly if might, but Mis-
Petworth won't let me; and when one come
to think of it, you know, Jack, it would b
rather awkward to mix lady's name up wit
such an affair at all; because, of course, he'
deny that he meant to be rude and say it wa
an accident, or something of that kind, and S
get OIL without receiving his deserts. | wan
to teach him lesson which he shant forge
in hurry"
''Well, what do you propose ?" l asked.
why" continued Mr.. Dewberry. ssTy
been thinking the matter over lately, and
see only one way of tackling it. 1t appear
that Mr.. Hunters rudeness is not confined I
one object. He has annoyed other ladies il
the same way. Now l don't like the MOTTO,
of anonymous letters, but really in a case G
this kind | think the end would Justify tn
means. He seems to be such a donkey that
really think If he received letter written i
woman's hand, he would believe it cam
from one of those ladies whom he is alway
oghng, and then we could make as much flu.
| of him pbOSa -