Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-05-29
MY FIRST EVENING AT THE
L---- CLUB.

brotherhood of which | am q member took
place last evening. viii you accept my
best congratulations p
Ellersley Whyte entered my chambers
one afternoon with the above announce
ment. Languidly reclining upon my
lounge. I half rose from the recumbent
position and. taking Ellersloy's outstretch-
ed hand, asked him to repeat his remark.
as 1 had been three-quartcrs asleep when
heard it.
My friend complied. I may as well
state, entrenous, dear reader, that I had
heard, with thrill of the intensest JOY,
every word Of Ellersly's greeting the first
time that he uttcredit, But, among men
of fashion, anything that resembles emo
is n grosnereto--a vulgarity, a nonsense j;
besides, had another reason for conceal
ing my satisfaction at having been created
member of the L. Club, and that rea.
son was pride. had lived so long among
fashionable circles, without enjoying the
honor. that was unwilling Ellersley Whyte
should see how highly valued it.
''Thank you for coming to tell me, my
dear fellow" drawled, lazily, in reply to
repetition of my friends most welcome an,
nouncement. "It's quite a surprise, really.
Chetwynde mentioned my having been
proposed. the other day. but had com.
pletely forgotten the matter, l assure
you
Ellersley Whyte smiled little oddly.
Perhaps he Was keen enough to penetrate
my mask of Indifference but he only re.
marked, walking toward the door:
"And now that my message is delivered,
Edward, must leave you for an engage
ment further uptown. By-theway,' he
continued, "Holmcs and Erskne and Nor
land, and ha i-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 ?"
"Yes. Au reroif,'
"Ag reroir."
At eleven o'clock precisely 1 entered the
modest but elegant cluh-buildmg in--th
Street, with a feeling OF delightful triumph
that 1 cannot recall in these advanced
years of mine without u smile at the fool
ish ambitions I used then cherish so fondly.
The one social distinction which [ had
so long coveted Was, | thought, mine ut
last,
Out Of the many who would have sacri-
feed SO much for the honor of calling
themselves members Of the l. Club,
had enjoyed the compliment of being chos-
en-. 1t was u very pleasant and fattering
truth to reflect upon But I hal little
time for reflection just then. George
Erskinc, one of the friends who had been
most jealous in obtaining my election, met
me as l entered the large and handsome
hall Of the building.
''Ah, Sternforh,' he said, advancing
and taking my hand cordially in his, "I
am delighted to find that you have so soon
assumed the rights of membership. Come
into the card-room You will find Z host of
old friends there"
found most of those assembled in the
card room, as 1t was called. man with
whom had long been ON various terms of
intimacy or acquaintance. They all ap-
peared glad to see me-all treated me with
a mixture of cordiality and courtesy which
was very fattcrins to my self-love and to
my new sense of Importance,
While stood among knot Of friends,
and shared in the conversation that engaged
them, Give Erskine touched me on the
shoulder, saying:
81 have secured u vacant card-table,
sternforth. Will you be my partner in a
game of whist against Holmes and Rivers ?"
Willingly" I said. Erskinc, I well
knew, was accounted one of the best whist
players in his circle and could not but an.
preclate the compliment conveyed by his
request. "But you must net forget" I
added, "to introduce ME to Mr.. Rivers.
We are not acquainted
few minutes later the introduction
took place. and lively and interesting
game was entered upon. The stakes were
high, and, although I was a practiced play
er, my luck SCENE quite marvellous. Weak
ly assisted by Erskine. easily won the
first three games.
As the deal was made by Rivers at the
beginning of the fourth game, happened
carelcssly to glance toward his face. 1t
was one of those mobile faces on which the
passions or emotions of the "inner man"
are easily portrayed. l read there, to my
intense surprise, the profonlldest contempt,
mixed with an apparently almost ungov-
srnable anger. He returned my glance
with fierce expression in his deep-black,
Spanish sort of eyes that was far from
pleasing ME. 1t was the kind of look
whici no gentleman cares about receiving
from another.
NV blood rose on the instant. Was it
possible that he suspected me of foul play?
What could have done to merit this most
singular Indignation, tacitly expressed, its
true, but none the less evident.
"Oblige me by explaining" I said, in a
voice that thoroughly controlled the an
noyance felt, "thc cause of your some
what peculiar demeanor toward me, Mr..
Rivers. / am 10th to believe that any