Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-09-21
REGINALD GREME'S LESSON.


was not unduly CONSCIOUS OF the fact;
but his manners were genial and un-
affected, and he took genuine pleasure
in innocent pursuits and emusem ents.
But. alas for the demoralizing intlu-
ence of modern society; short year
sufiiced to effect complete change In
his character. He found that in these
days young man who can dance and
has any pretensions to good looks Is a
popular IDOL Having come to town
without single introduction, he
formed an extensive circle of acquaint-
ances at the end of his first season, and
learned with surprise that nothing Is
easier than to obtain invitations.
His success being in great measure
due to his good looks and his social ac-
complishm ents, he naturally became
abominably conceited; and finding
himself 50 much in request he soon
began to underrate and abuse the kind
ness and the hospitality of his enter
tainers. At first he was scrupulously
careful to reply to every invitation he
received; to keep his engagem ents; to
apologize for any involuntary default;
and to pay calls in accordance with the
good old-fashioned notions of conven-
tonal politeness. BY degrees he be-
came lax in the observance of these
little points of etiquette, seeing that
other young men Systematically dlsre-
garded them without, apparently for
feiting the esteem of their friends. The
consequence was that he ended by
behaving in manner which deserved
the severest reprobation. He never
condescended to reply to an invitation
at ALI. If, when the evening came, he
felt inclined to 60 to Mrs. So-and-So's
ball, he went: or, if he were lazy, he
staid away. In neither case did he
deem the slightest apology necessary,
nor did it even enter his head to make
a call or to snow the least gratitude for
kindness received. He consulted his
own pleasure and his own convenience
entirely, dancing with whom he
pleased, without regard to the wishes
of the hostess, arriving late, leaving
early, and behaving precisely as though
his presence were an act of sovereign
grace and favor.
1t may we'll be astonishing that
young man who pursued this course Of
conduct should have been received in
society at all. 1t is true that in certain
houses his rudeness was resented, and
invitations ceased; but III the majority
of'cases he suffered no inconvenience.
Hostesses continued to send him cards
as a matter of course; young ladies
scolded him prettily for being late or
for being lazy; but he remained rs pop
LA. 81, nyor aud no una traa tod with a
sort of doferennal respect on account
of the airs and graces he indulged III.
TO do Reginald Creme justice, it never
entered his head that his conduct was
ungentlemanly. He had simply fol.
lowed the prevailing fashion among
young men of his acquaintance, and
he soon ceased to be troubled by qualms
of conscience.
One evening young Crane stroEed
into ball room toward the small hours
Of the morning. He had received a
formal invitation, of which he had
taken no notice, but this circumstance
did not disturb his equanimity. He
was, indeed, in a particular good hui
NOR, having supped pleasantly at the
club with some capital fellows, and
smoked an excellent cigar, which had
lasted him up to the door. A hostess
of old.fashioned notions might have
doubted whether young man flushed
with wine and reeking with tobacco
was desirable person to Introduce to
a young lady. The lady of the house,
however, had no such antiquidated
prejudices, and at once presented him
to n pretty girl who happened to be
sitting near. Unfortunately, however,
young Greme, perceiving with the eye
practiced of connoisseur, that hls m
tended partner was debuante, and,
therefore, probably an unaccomplished
walter, he did not feel disposed to
throw himself away upon her. lie
bowed carelessly rs the hostess men
toned his name, and then coolly turned
his back upon the young lady, without
paying her the civihty of asking her to
dance, and then proceeded to look
around IN search of IA damsel whom
he would condesceud to honor with his
attentions.
brief scrutiny revealed to him the
object of his choice. She was young
lady whom he did not remember 10
have met before; tall, handsome girl.
with good figure, refined features,
and a pair of thoughtful gray eyes
with very dark lashes. Reginald
Creme looked at her with more genu-
inc admiration than he was accus-
toned to feel, and begged the hostess
to introduce him. The ceremony be-
ing performed he learned that the
young lady was a Miss Archer. His
request for a dance was complied with
in calm, indifferent manner, which
rather piqued his vanity, but he fiat
tered himself that Miss Archer would
soon change her tone. Judge of his
astonishm ent, therefore, when after
half-a-dozen turns in the waltz his
partner requested him to stop in rath-
sr a peremptory manner, He was the