The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-04-03
HIS CoNCEITEDNESS.

Mr.. Walsh Warrington caressed his long
tawney moustache complacently and looked
thoughtfully at his handsomely-booted feet,
elevated on the railing around his office
desk.
"Well, don't know about it, Craven. 1t
will be deuce of bore, you know, and
really fellow can't be forever incoming
around to please the women. Pm afraid
you'll have to count me out, old fellow. st.
March III go, or Stanwx. They're peren-
niaIly ready to dance attendance at such en-
tertanments."
And, having looked as much contempt for
st. March and Stanwix as was possible to
express by look, Mr.. Warrington settled
back in his chair with the very superior air
of man who is above the temptation into
which less fortunate fellow-mortals fall.
Phil Craven puckered up his forehead and
looked both provoked and puzzled.
"Clora will be awfully disappointed if you
refuse her, I'm sure. She told me to insist
upon your taking part in her theatricals,and
as she has made every effort to have them
a success-artistically and socially for her
own sake, and financially for the Little
Childrens Nursery--I must say you ought
to oblige her."
Mr. Warrington looked lazly toward the
ceiling, in no ways moved by his brother
in laws urgent statement of the case.
"Clara is a very energetic little woman
energetic almost to troublesomeness some
times-as l dare say your experience has
already taught you. Her theatrcals will be
a success, beyond doubt. All the same,
can't see, for the life of me, why am TO be
sacrificed for the Little Children's Nursery
You know, and Clara knows, look upon
ladies society as a deuce of bore. They
run after fellow SO, especially ifhe has the
bad luck to be tolerably good looking"
Craven smiled as Mr.. Warrington stole a
seli-satisfed glance from the mirror opposite
"Most OF the rest Of us fellows would be
glad to be as good looking" he said, good
umoredly-"barrug the conceit, old boy
See here, I'll tell you what III do, Walsh
IN tell Clara you'll come and take the char
acter she has assigned you-I forget what
and in turn IN agree that the ladies shall
not fall in love with you"
His jolly gray eyes were shining with
mingled amusement and contempt.
Mr.. Warrington lazily whisked a lonely
autuminal fly oil his coat sleeve.
"Phil, my dear boy l appreciate youl
kindness, but you would be powerless. They
always do, you know, and it is not pleasant
to a man of sensitive organization, like my
self, to feel that he is the means, however
UNCONSCIOUS, of causing distress, and arous-
ing affection he cannot return. It's moi
| pleasant, assure you, Philip"
81 should think not" Craven said, biting
his moustache. "But we will hope ior bet
ter luck this once. There will be but foul
ladies staying at the house, and to my Ger
tain knowledge three of them Miss Gage
Mamie Butler and Ida Morrison-are en-
gagged to be married. And the other"
Warrington looked at his brother-in- law
as if he pitied him for his ignorance anC
his stubbornnesss.
s"I remember SO many instances WHERE
engagements have been so hopelessly bro
ken; but we won't discuss it. You seen
determined I shall come. Tell my sister
will oblige her, on this one ooudition-thi
term of agreement, which l absolutely in
sist upon-that she will insure me agains
annoyance from her young lady guests, an'
that she will hold herself responsible 70
any unconscious damage l may do in thei
affections, for it is sure to bc the same OLD
story, you know"
Craven shouted outright, in perfect pea
oflaughter, at which Mr.. Warrington open
ed his handsome, lazy blue eyes.
"Walsh, you ought to go on the stage
: You'd make your fortune as perfect imlia
I tor Of the genuine article"
. "Look here, Phil, don't you believe whs
! l sayY"
I "You were not in earnestP
"wssnt II tell you the women fall !