Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-06-10
MY FIRST EVENING AT THE l.


|
edward, your election to the noble
brotherhood of which | am a membc
took place last evening. Will you &C
cept my best congratulations"
Ellersley Whyte entered my chambe
one afternoon with the above announce
ment Languldly reclining upon my
lounge, l half rose from the recum
bent position and, taking Ellersley'
outstretched hand, asked him to repea
his remark, as l had been three quar-
tiers asleep when heard it.
! My friend complied. I may as wei
state, e,tt,e,eous, dear reader, that
had heard with a thrill of the intensest
Joy, every word of Ellersly's greeting
the first time that he uttered it. But
among men of fashion, anything thai
resembles emotion is q grossierete-s
vulgarity, a nonsense; besides, had
another reasonfor concealing my gratifiS
cation at having been created mem
Der of the Club, and that reason
was pride. had lived so long among
fashionable circles, without enjoying
the honor, that l was unwilling
Ellersley Whyte should see how highly
l valued it.
'Thank you for coming to tell me,
my dear fellow" I drawled, lazily, in
reply to repetition of my friends
most welcome announcement. dts
quite a surprise, really. Chetwynde
mentioned my having been proposed,
the other day, but had completely
forgotten the matter, l assure you"
"Ellersly Whyte smiled little
oddly. Perhaps he was keen enough
! to penetrate my mask of Indifference;
but he only remarked, walking toward
the door
''And now that my message is deliv-
cred Edward, Unjust leave you for
an engagement further up town. BY
the way" be continued 'Holmes and
Erskine and Morland, and half dozen
other men, want you to be round at
the club tonight, if you can spare an
hour or so. At about eleven, they
said Can you manage it
Il think SO, was my reply. eyes,
they can depend on me. "Will you
| be there"
eyes. Az reuoir"
"Au revoir"
At eleven o'clock precisely entered
the modest but elegent club-building
nth Street, with a feeling O
delightful triumph that cannot recall
in these advanced years of mine with,
out smile at the foolish ambitions
used to then cherish so fondly. The on
social distinction which I had SO Ions
coveted was, thought, mine at last
Out of the many who would hay
sacrificed so much for the honor o
calling themselves members Of tn
Club, | had enjoyed the com
pliment of being chosen. 1t was
very pleasant and flattering truth to re
feet upon. But had little time fo
reflection just then. George Erskine
one of the friends who had been nost
Jealous in obtaining my election, me
me as l entered the large and hand
some hall of the building.
"Ah, Sternforth," he, said, advancin!
and taking my hand cordially in his,
am delighted to find that you have s.
soon assumed the rights of membership
Come into the card room; you will flint
host of old friends there"
I found most of those assembled il
the card room, as it was called, man,
with whom I had long been on variou
terms of intimacy Or acquaintance
They all appeared glad to see meal
treated me with mixture of cordially
and courtesy which was very fatterine
to my self-love and to my new sense o
Importance.
While stood among knot o.
friends, and shared In the conversation
that engaged them, Give Erskin
touched me on the shoulder, saying:
II have secured vacant card~tablt
Sternforth. Will you be my partne
in game Of whist against Holmes anC
Rivers?"
"Willingly," l said. Erskine, wei
knew, was accounted one of the bes
,, whist players in his circle and | coul'
not but appreciate the compliment
conveyed by his request. ''But yo
must not forget" l added, 'Eto intro
duce me to Mr.. Rivers. We are no
acquainted.
! A few minutes later the introduction