Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-04-25


the lighted street.
They went directly to Broadway
walking along that brilliant thorough
fare. Percy tried to appear as if he no.
ticed nothing; but he saw much, and
thought more. Among other things, he
observed that majority of young men
carried a slender walking stick, which
seemed to add grace and dignity to the
bearers. An air of elegance surrounded
these men, which, to Percy's mind, came
directly from the fanciful reeds which
they waved coquettishly with dainty
gloved fingers. Moreover, they afforded
employment for otherwise unoccupied
hands; and Percy wished for cane.-
Kingsley--that was the name of his new
friend-carried ga beauty" the top rep
resenting an exquisite leg and foot, the
knee joint forming the bend of the ham
die. Percy resolved to have one just like
it. In fact, he greatly admired Kingsley,
He took on no airs; was neither super
cillous nor patronizing; and Percy, CRATE
full for his attentions, pronounced him a
first rate fellow.
"Do you drink, Howell7 2" said Kings
ley, palsing neritsHngly peiore a bril-
liantly lighted saloon2
"No," said Percy, as if ashamed; ''I-
"Neither do /" said the other, moving
on. al take glass of champagne occa-
sionally but champagne is light, you
know"
Percy didn't know, but he said:
ayes, certainly"
1 "I am temperance man." continued
Kingsley, with an emphatic gesture; 1
don't mean to say that am in favor of
total abstinence. That is simply intem-
perate abstemiousness. The Bible says,
Let your moderation be seen of all men,
Now, total abstinence is just as immod-
crate as total drunkenness. We should
shun both extremes. In my opinion,
the pledge has made more drunkards
and consequently more liars, than any
other one thing on the face of the globe
Do you play billisrdsf'
"Not otmuch, replied Percy, unwilling
to admit that he had never seen billiard
table.
"Come in and try hand" said his
companion.
Percy would gladly have excused him
self bat with show Of slacrity followed
Kingsley up a flight of broad steps into
a brilliant room where number of men
were engaged at play.
= /. nalsni-e s-r;i.t. ;fsas; ~ ~
, rather tired" said he, as they entered
: az suppose So" said Kingsley, throw
ing himself on q luxurious lounge
g Make eyourselfcomfortable for awhile
/ Following his example, Percy took I
8 sofa, and in the course of an hour gath
: cred some knowledge of the game.-
: True, he heard some things said that sen
/, the blood tingling to his brow; true, h,
: observed that the play sinvariably sup
e plemented their game with visit to tn,
r bar below; and he thought of his moth
t er and of his Annie. Nevertheless, h
: was determined that he would learn t,
e play billiards.
"Come in and have drink" SAT-
/, Kingsley, ,as they ran down stairs. "Onl,
= glass of lager; twill make you Sleep
s So Percy, yielding, found himselfstan
a ding at the marble bar and drinking from
: glass held in richly wrought receive
of silver a beverage which, to his un
0 taught palate, was exceedingly offensive
: at is better, certainly, if one has one
: own house, and can afford to keep bill
a lard room," said Kingsley, wiping hi
i mustache as they left the saloon. "Thel
a fellow can choose his company. But
s since we can't have our private billiar,
s rooms, are we to be deprived of thi
manly and elegant pastime2 OF course
$ the society at these places isn't just tn
d thing, but what can aman dor"
: Percy thought of poor Tray, who wa
d cruelty beaten for no other reason thal
It being found in bad company, but sal
nothing.
: When he reached his room twas near
a ly midnight. Though very tired, he tool
: up the paper, and looked again at til
1; singular advertisement that had interes
J ted him before going out. 1t seemed t
r, apply to him. He was "young maj
n from the country, seeking employment
and he might get some very useful hint
a from the "Old Man of the Moor" ]
i clergymen went, as the advertisement
!, implied, he might, surely. And he be
t lieved he would go.
h Next morning he rose late, and tool
s breakfast with very pretty young lady
r who declared, with bewitching smile
It that since they sympathized in the mat
ters ofrising and breakfasting, they mus
: be firm friends. Her hands were so small
It and white, her complexion SO delicate
J. her waist so slender, and her hair 8,
: beautifully arranged in rolls and crimp
n and curls, that Percy regarded her witt
= intense admiration, and mentally con
trasted her with Annie Collins. 1t hard
Y ly need be said that his conclusions wer
very unfavorable to the sweet girl who's
4 devoted heart was ever magnifying hi
d graces and accomplishments. Meantime
the young lady, whose name was Sybi
= Pearson, entertained him with her prett,
= chit-chat, and he fingered long over hi
coffee. AT last, with some constraint
z he said:
8 "Do you ever go to the theater?'
}, "I7 oh, yes never lose an oppor
d tunity," said she, with look whicl
= meant "try me and seer"
( T" Have you seen the old Man of th,
Moor?"
I "No; hut want-oh ever SO mucl
t to see itp'
81 would like-I moan, intend to go
3 Would you"