Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-30
WHY MUGGINS WAS KEPT

tntlN IcluEncus eullilug, With a punch OF Tooth
picks in his hand. Somewhat to my surprise
(fOr remembered BrintOn as rather a stern Sc
we're man, insteadof getting a sound scolding,
he was informed of his error aad sent back to
Tectify il.
am fond Of eliminating romance from COM
mon mateTials-prOudo of so doing, might saw
cIal gift that way. Ii struck me tharMugeins
might be a romance in disguise, so / remarked
with an afiectatiOnof carelessness:
why do YOU keep such a crazy fellow As that
about the house, John? Aren't you afraid he
might 10 a mischief some day?'
BTintOn's answer was delayed by the reap
pearance of Muggins, this time with the
matches. Meantime reflected that nv aues-
ton might be impTudent; for although John and
had been boys together, we had scarcely seen
each other since; and besides, that sweet de-
Hghtful Mrs. Brinton was sitting close by me-
So resolved to explain
you remember nv weakness, John, and I'm
sure can't be wrong in thinking that some in
teresting story is attached to your connection
with this Muggins. All, you smile. L thought
il was So Now tell it, like good fellow"
BTintOn looked at me fixedly a few moments,
then at the smoke of the outwarsl-bou steamer
just vanishing beneath the horizon, and then at
his wife. all the time with amusing, thoughtful
smile gImmering over his face. At last he
said.
you're a keen observer, Simpson. You de-
serve story, and you shall have this one. Nv
dear, he added, TO Mrs BrintOn, ''wOn't you 20
and see about our supper?' Mrs. B.. with what
seemed half depTecating glance at him, and,
as thought, a somewhat reluctant farewell
dSCcpltuIIl.uc lGaIc tlSlnlSS4 Al, and
retired, like an angel in white muslin, as she
"You see, ;" exclaimed John, "what I'm going
TO tell you involves speaking of my first love ex-
perience and you understand"
1 understand perfectly. As have said,
BrintOn and had been friends at college, and
there. But since then our paths had widely di-
verged, and while had been a traveller, and
withal somewhat of student and recfuse, he
had risen high in the world, had married and
Children we're about him T0-dav Uha
parted youths met as bearded men, with a vista
Of years frightening behind US. Yet / had
found BrintOn almost unchanged-grave, some
what naughty of manner, with native force
and independence in all he did or said, vet
waTm-hearted and energetic, with a low, deep
voice, and a firm grip of the hand. / was graft
fed TO find his confidence in me unimpsired.
and appreciated the delicacy which would
spare his wife the embarras ment OF listening to
the story OF some previous attachment. And
was all ears for the story.
cit happened about eight years agO," began
BIintOn, placing his feet upon the window-sill,
folding his arms, and gazing cOntem platiyeIy
out TO sea. "a had had Mugg gins at that time
about four yearS-eyer since had driven over
HIM, boy, in the street, and knocked out of
him what little brains ever were in him. That
incident, and the fact that he was ALWAYS de-
voted TO me, have been the causes of NV retain
ing him in my service thus far; Tut il was at the
time Of which i am now about to speak that he
performed tor me that extraordinary service
which no kindness of mine can ever repay
Here my friend paused, and pulled az his
Though much Interested at so suggestive a com
meDeement to my romance, fOrbore to inter-
Tupt him, and he soon resumed.
wed been travelling some months in Eu-
rope. i met a Miss Rupert and her father
heTe-sOutheTners, with all the fine and gener-
Gus traits OF their race; and though we were pO-
hucally at swords points, We ultimately became
lnseparable friends. Indeed, Miss Rupert and
Iwere engaged 10 be married. don't mind con-
Tossing now, said BrintOn, lowering his voice,
that loved her with my whole heart. She
was beautiful, proud, tender, fiery, affectionate
you know what mean. Though our tenn
peraments were as dissimilar possible, we
met and sympathized on all vital points. And
she loved me only such a woman can love-
idealiZing me till was a lit subject for adora-
ton; and let her do it TO her hearts content,
knowing that time would set her right. And so
II did, rather sooner than expected
We were travelling in Egypt, as said"
You said Europe" ventured i.
- OF cOurse-I mean Europe" said BrintOn,
hastily. at all happened so long ago that my
memory has become a little rusty. Well. we
were IN Geneva about the latter part OF May,
and, OF course, We were perfectly happy. We
were delighted with everything, for we were
everything to each other. And II il hadn't been
Tor a certain Polish Count, who in some yay he
came acquainted with US, our happiness mi ght
have been uninterrupted to the present day."
This seemed TO me a singular remark for a
married man, and a man like BrintOn, TO make;
ut tOrbOre to interrupt
The Counts name" continued John, twas
GrodJinski; one OF those graceful, elegantly
hammered fellows, with a great deal OF aristo-
cratic breeding and polish, and very little hon
orable reputation of any kind-among women
especially. lie was very attentive 10 Miss Ru-
pert WkO set II all down 70 the way of foreign
eTs; quite correct, no doubt, but it's a way I
didn't approve OF. Well, not 10 make a long
story OF il, we all four went one night to gra d
ball given there. Miss Rupert looked superby
dressed a. only a sOGtherneT can dress: indeed
Tor you know I'm little observation-disclosures
have preferred TO let the exquisite symmetry OF
her neck and arms be left rather more 10 the
Imagination The Count had danced several
unt- with her during the evening, and as was
standing in the hall waiting for her t. come OUT
after the ball was over, he stepped up TO me aud
whispered something in nv ear. / won't repe Al
what he said, but II embodied grSSs insult to
Miss Rupert, and through her to me. Ii cOu d
only be answered BY blow, and il was 80 an
sseTed IL, strikIrg him full in his smooth, PAL
iESOient face The blood spurted from his cheek
over my hand, and his cool smile changed to q
look OF deadly malice. OfcOurSe il created con-
siderable disturbance; but / haven't any very
distinct remembrance OF what followed til
found myself in the carriage, driving home with
well, OF course they were ANXIOUS 70 know
AT about II, and 1 told them all / could. omit
ting, however. 20 mention that POlinski had in
suited me only by insulting Miss Rupert"
"Polinski," said i. timidly, a. thought it was
GrCdjirski-"
SO it was; believe you are right, exclaimed
John; 'bGt the fact Is, all remember about ms
rame Is that il ended in inski. Perhaps we had
better call him Inski, and let the first part Of his
name GO"
or course Iscquiesced and he wen. on.
weil-but where was I? oh. remember:
about the insult. when got through telling
the story Mr.. Rupert said:
. am very sorry il happened, John, though
dare say you acted rightly and as 1 should
have done under the circumstances But-you
know the Counts reputation"
- SuppOsing he meant his bad name among
women,' i replied. IL certainly do, sir, and
perhaps 1 struck him the harder on taat &C
count"
Mr.. Rupert took my hand, pressed 1t silently,
and said:
Il know you'll do yourself honor in any case,
John, and only hope your good fortune may
equal your courage"
What did he mean by THAR" inquredI.
. just what asked myself" said Brinton;
but before had time 10 ask him the carriage
drew mp az the hotel, and he walked OF, saying
he would give Us yolng people" q chance to
say few words TO each other. noticed then,
Tor the inst time, that there traces OF tears
III Miss kupert's eyes, and her hand trembled
On my arm What's the matter, dear?~ 1
asked She chung TO me, cOnyulsively almost,
.oI a lev moments, unable to speak As it seemed
Al i2st She lOOkedup into my face.
= Don mind my fOOliShnesS, John" said she;
ELG iiough her voice was steady and her lip
nm, the effort filed her eyes again. Don't
4 Nssn