The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-24

"Well, because you echo lndI pOor 10Y
painting after splendid virtues, and like him
where they may begin. Listen moment to
the trumpet of wisdom. There is such
thing as keeping your purities in hand as well
as your faults. You have suddenly conceived
the idea that George is not leading life that
is distinctively profitable to anybody. 1t
takes pretty wise person to prove that, to
begin with; but suppose it true, we lind you
wishing to animate him to think more-to
open his eyes to the good he may do with his
wealth-to learn the pleasures OF more
aesthetic, intellectual, and"
"And religious, Polly"
''Yes, and religious life. Is not that your
plan9"
"Y.yes.'
"Well, and how do you set about it? By
putting yourself in position to direct him
anew By placing yourself in advance? By
instructing yourself in the definite methods
by which he may rise? No, For when he
fairly asked you what he should do, you at
once fell back upon your sentiment. You
should know that you must inoculate people
with goodness, not shoot it into them. 1t
was not the most sagacious plan for you, a
full-fedged Puritan, to leap suddenly out, and
demand that your best friend should give up
his best pleasure because you, in solitary self
communion, had decided that he should. Ii
you are convinced that the few weeks in the
year which are spent by George in such sport
might be better employed, you should have
set about persuading him by slow degrees. I
venture to believe that you have not the re-
| hottest idea of the pleasure OF which you
wish to deprive him. I think you have never
been upon the water. No? I thought not.
Then before you ask George to surrender
something of which you do not understand
| the nature, would it not have been better to
have asked yourself, Am sure that l am
not making mischief?' If you had done so,
then this serious trouble would not have
come upon you. Benjie Dreyus, who is all
ing and bloodless, though very good, has
raised you into moral atmosphere too re-
fined for one to breathe on short notice.
Therefore, if you want George to ascend to
those lofty nights with you, you must toll
him along, and perhaps, he will grow accus-
toned to it by degrees. l don't believe, my
poor Mamie"
At this juncture the sound of eight horses
| feet upon the roadway in front of the cottage
| burst in at the window. Then there was
great refining up, and great prancing and
| snorting, and jingling of silver harness-bells.
| interminged with the high tones of female
| imperiousness. eli, Pip! hi, Pop! hi, I
sayr' Then "Mrs. Tom Townsend Mrs.
| Tom! Pollyv'
SITS Susie Stats! All on fire, as usual!
Sit still, Mamie, please. She won't get
| out"
She opened the shades.
ooh, there you are, Polly, aren't you?"
"Yes, Miss Nelse, here l am. Aren't you
coming in?''
'Dear, no! Pip, be quiet! I just come up,
Polly, about the regatta tomorrow. Clary
has got passes for the judges boat, and
won't you and Tom 60 aboard with ma and
| me? know you won't feel like cruising.
Say yes"
eyes; and many thanks"
"Goodl Dye know I've been to see the
| cup-the Van Schoonhoven, you know? It's
a beauty! All satin work and bright lights.
The Petrels going to win it this year, be-
cause Clary has had new-but that's a
secret. do so want him to get it away from
George! suppose it would make Mamie
horribly-keep still, Pop, I'll kill himV
Here she made dash at fly upon her
pony's flank, but, as most flies do under like
circumstances, it flew off intact. 81 never saw
them so thick as they are this year. Poor
| Pip! Poo Pop! Whoa! Hi! oh, Polly,
| 60, you see. Regatta will be early! Well
paddle off to the judges boat at nine O'Clock
from Clary pier. By byE
And with her ribboned whip properly
crossed, and with her arms squared and her
eyes to the front, she vanished amid -four
ish of wheels. The lady looked around
laughing. But she was alone-Miss Mamie
had fled secretly.
n n n
Before the day was much older, and before
his wife had.had an opportunity to explain to
him the case we wot Of, Mr.. Tom Townsend
strolled out with his cigar. He took his
| of picking up some more yacht gossip against
the morrow. Although he did not own a
| yacht, he had a great regard for those who
| did.
He reached the edge of the cliff, and looked
| down upon the water and the vessels. The
| squadron was assembled and most of it lay at
| anchor. A few crafts were sailing about on
the glittering blue, and the horizon was
dotted with them. The sun was bright, the
below there came the fitful sounds Of prepara-
ton, the rattle of ropes, the fall of blocks,
the voices of men and the clanking of chains.
There was man sitting upon bench
under the one spruce tree that the cliff af-
forded. He was also looking down. He was
brown, powerful, and, at the moment,
| thoughtful.
"Halloa, Georgew
He looked around.
| then both were silent for an instant. Town
| send trifed with his cigar and the other be-
| came distracted.
| "Have just heard about it, George" lie
said this on the strength Of Miss Nannie's
first exclamation.)
"Heard about what?"
| "Oh, itr'
| "Oh, yesp George moved restlessly, took
| off his hat and famed himself cnce or twice.
| Then he put it on again. 81 didn't think it
had flown so far quite yet"
| "Oh. Polly aud I are the only ones that
know it. I,-upon my word-Tm sorry,
| George"
They both looked off upon the sea. Its
| low roar filled up the interval.
'-Yes-yes," cried the yachtsman. SITS
pretty rough. acted like brute, suppose.
But she rather took me by surprise, and +
well-I don't know"
Chow did it come about?"
''Why, you see, I've been making great
deal of a fool of myself during the last three
years about boating. It's rather laid hold
upon me, and so Mamie there took it into
her head that ought to be doing something
worth little more to the world in general:
though am not sure that one can study or
work to much profit in June, July and
August"
HWell?"
"Well, and she brought me to the point at
once and asked me TO give up to-morrow'S
| race. Pardon me if say that that was
settler. ESPECIALLY wanted to sail that race.
Vedder has got long main-boom for his
Petrol and he expects to beat me. Then I
| wanted to keep the Van Shoonhoven cup.
Then, speaking generally, love the sea and
all that belongs to it. You know that have
great deal of interest in the club and all
that belongs to it; the interest of father 1
may say. Then you see that it came to be
somewhat of a trial to give it up"
"These little girls are pretty long-headed
sometimes, George" observed the other.
Oh, know i'll know it. Pve suffered
myself to boat so much that I've come to
consider it right and necessity.
'You used to do a little writing and little
speaking. didn't you?"
"Yes"
"Well, and Mamie remembers it, no
doubt. Perhaps she's ambitious. She wants
to marry fellow who has, or will have, his
say in affairs. Perhaps she can't see much
hope of this while he does nothing but desire
and scheme to beat lot of other yachts with
his own. No doubt she's been fretting her
life away ever since you've been in love with
her; but it's only now that the idea has
burst out"
"By Jove! shouldn't wonder if that
were true"
'There's no particular glory to be got by
V.