Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-09-21

Miss Archer retired TO the dJOlnlng
seat as she spoke, leaving young Grame
standing in the middle Of the apart
ment, the picture of embarrassing nt
1t was mercilessly cruel joke, but a
suppressed litter went around the
room, for the young mans conceited
manners had attracted general atten-
ton. He had the tact, however to con-
ceal his rage and vexation, ard quietly
accepted the services Of Miss Daniel,
whose execution was simply murder
Gus. He finished the song as best he
could, and retired to the background,
covered with confusion, and keenly
conscious Of having been made to ap.
pear ridiculous.
II was while smarting from the effects
Of this fresh indignity, and endeavoring
to control his temper sufficiently to
venture to demonstrate with Miss Arch
err, that he was told of her engagement.
Considering what he had undergone at
the young lady's hands, it is not sur
prising that he felt deeply aggrieved
But, apart from his wounded pride, the
news gave him such painful shock
that he hurried from the house, over
whelmed with humiliation and dlsap-
pointment, and without attempting TO
set eyes on Miss Archer again, he start
ed the next day for tour on the con-
tinent.
Reginald Giame was at first filled
with blind rage and Indignation at what
he considered Miss Archer's perfidy.
He had submitted to her lectures be-
cause he believed that she was not in
different to him, and it was very CALLING
to discover that she had simply been
amusing herself at his expense. But
his vanity and conceit had received a
wholesome lesson, and by degrees he
began to realize how very ungentle-
manly and inconsiderate his conduct in
society must have appeared. 1t was a
consolation to him to know that he
had erred from thoughtlessness and
from blindly following the fashion of
young men of the day, but he could
not blame Miss Archer for having
formed an unfavorable opinion of his
character and sentiments from his gen
eral beha sior.
These sober reflections were natur-
ally the result of time and experience.
He was absent from England nearly
two years, and spent the greater por-
ton of that period in visiting the chief
European capitals. He managed to
get into good continental society, and
was at once struck by the courteous
and deferential demeanor Of young
men of other countries toward host
ess and toward her guests. The desire
to make oneself agreeable seemed to
be universal; the slightest wishes of
the lady of the house were eagerly re-
sponded to; there was no inviGious
choosing of partners to the relentless
exclusion of the unskillful or unfaver-
ed; and no one ventured to give him.
self airs or to appear patronizing. The
result was marked absence of the
stiffness and absurd formality which
characterizes an English assembly.
Reginald readily fell in with these i'm
proved manners, and found, to his
establishment, that the tritllng incon-
venience which he suffered was more
than counterbaanced by the pleasant
consciousness of having done his best
to promote the general harmony. He
returned to England with enlarged
views upon many subjects, feeling
heartily ashamed OF his former short
coming5 and firmly resolved to en-
deavor to atone for the social delin-
quencies which he had been accus-
toned to commit.
One of the first persons he met on
his return was the young lady who had
been the cause of his conversion.
Since he saw the announcement of her
marriage in the papers he had en-
deavored to forget her, and tiattered
himself that lie had succeeded in do
ing so. But at the sight of her his love
seemed to revive with dangerous in
tensity, and he could hardly summon
up courage to approach her. The
young lady seemed fully to reciprocate
his embarrassment, and her charming
bushes increased the young mans con-
Iusion.
"Mrs. Watson, have something to
say to YOU" he said hurriedly, when
they had exchanged greetings. 81
wish sincerely to thank you for having
given me wholesome lesson. | think
you will find | have protited by it,
for now see the error of my ways"
81 have been longing to apologize
for my behavior to you, Mr.. Creme"
returned Miss Archer, softly. 81 was
inexperienced those days, and could
not realize that You only followed the
fashion among young men. But why
do you call me Mrs. Watson? Andrew
Watson married my eldest sister"