The National tribune., 1881-02-01
A Shy Mans Story.


Randolph Braybrooke had the character being the
shyest the whole army His shyness perfectly
painful AS child he blushed aud stammered when any
body spoke to him. and his shamefacedness grew rather
than diminished he came to man estate lie was per-
petualy chacd about at school and at Sandhurst
when he ful-blown officer, with busby on head and
sword hip his shyness continued. 1t long before
he could bring himself to give the words of command to
squad of recruits when the colonel adjutant wgged
him he flushed scarlet and could not find word of usti
fication in reply. This extreme shyness Oft per-
haps but disappeared AS he got on in yearsand
in rank he found She greatest difficulty in saying unpeas
ant things to subordinates He did like to lecture
private even his subalens could get the better of
him by asking him publicly for leave He hated to be
totted before others He would man9uvre for weeks
avoid making speech Although always ready to sub
scribe literally, he would never attend regmentai tesy
ties He might be called upon 20 act host which he
deested TO be civil tohe ladies, to take them down
supper, or worst of ALL to dance. Nothing would in
duce him TO become lady's man He was no misogyn-
s but he had wholesome horror of the female In
the abstract he tespected admlred possibly adoed them
all but i'll the concrete he would 60 miles rather than
address a syllable to the most charming woman in the
world
Naturally he had never married He could never get
through the prelimnaTies even to proposing legion
of prospective moherinaw and buckets of inspiriting
maraschno would not have brought him to the scratch
In the regiment it quite joke against him. Brother
officers wives, whom he occasionally facedafter know
ing them for ten dozen years-always asked him
when he going to be married, and goodnaturedy
he thought vciousy set traps for him by introducing
him unexpectedly pretty sisters fascinating cousins
from whom he had always TO escape by the skin Of his
teeth.
There was really no reason why he should not marry
ANYBODY he chose He was not by any means bad pdr
of this worlds goods he had very decent store he could
have made good settlements and had very substantial
income outside and beyond his profession and his pros
poets the service excellent He had already done
extremely well. His shyness only social AS sol
dier he had proved himself be brave lion He
had much service had gained entirely through his
galantry much and rapid promotion and there
many who prophesed not without that he would
assuredly become very distinguished man. To be q
brevet lieutenant colonel the Victoria Cross and
tain and thirtyye years of age, good earnest OF
greater bonors vet 70 come No wonder that peope wen,
out of their way be civil him In he might
have had dozen Invitations and to the best houses every
night In country quarters the local magnates We're dis
posed to be especially gracious TO him. He might have
gone the whole round from one house to another for balls
shooting parties and meets.
A favorite amusement with him to take long coun
try walks. His regiment quartered in wel-knowI
Midland capital town somewhat choked and blackenet
furnaces and SCOT, but within mile two opel
ooads margined by wellgrown leading through up
lands clothed with grass and grain. he pondered deeply
Ias he walked and built many of do castles upo
airy foundations the less enhancing because the.
crumbe speedily into dust. Randolph Braybrooke wa
ambitious, although soshy. He had high aims and hopeC
to achieve them yet. That he might some day becom
famous and rise to the top of his profession was hi
dream
He was strding along one summers day. while NOR
than usually preoccupied when suddenly he
by the sound of wheels rapidly oveItaking him.
He looked round and small pony carriage ap
preaching him at top speed. 1t had only occupant
ladyand this lady had lost ali control her horse
The pony had run away with her.
Bray ybrooke that he stop the trap the lady
life might be endangered He had much time to max
up his mind but he acted promptly and decsively. In
stead of going to the runaways head, he let the ira
pass him. then caught hold and clambered in behind T.
get in front, take the eins, and with rm stead
hand reduce the ponys speed first to canteT then 10
tro and finally walk, not dicnlt length
job This done, he looked to his companion.
Little beast! said the lady, with concentrated bitter
ness and then tainted away.
Randolph six foot high it was clear she did nc
mean him. Besides, she might be forgiven for stron
Rttt ba bp at he
white face and motionless figure. What should he do
Painting fits not much within his experience, bu
common told him unloose her lace kerchief
open her at the throat Then he stopped the taI
bitched the pony up gate, fetched water in Ii
hat sprnkled it the adys face, and rubbed haT
at her hands, from which, however, he had been unab
To remove the gloves