Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-09-04
Mechansbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday Sept A. 1884,
LUNCHEON AT LORDS.
London Truth

married sisters He had no entanglements
and was not a gambler. Needless to say,
therefor ., that he was acknowledged by com.
mon con.snt to be the most eligible party In
London. But, though by no means impervt.
ous to tho charms Of the fair ssx, Byng was
terribly difficult to please. Tho lovoliest
young dobutantes aud the most astute
mothers had for years sngled unsuccoas-
fully for the glittering prize. But each
recurring season brought with II some fresher
beauty or aon,e more confident mamma, ard
hence, the hunting Of Byng went merrily on
He liked to talk to women about pictures,
about poetry, love, transcendental philosophy
and matters generally mystical and ethereal.
He found them 80 much more tolerant than
men, and 20 much less opt to detect his utter
and ghastLy ignorance Of nearly evory sub
icct upon which he conversed. Men, In fact,
oonsidered Byng an affected nincompoop,
and only endured him for the sake OF his
wealth.
"Why the deuce don't you mazTy Ad-
dorly" remarked Capt Tom Carbury ono
day,
Tom Carhury was Byng's man OF ll-work
and devoted adherent Ile had lived upon
him for some years, and II was only when his
eccentricity> and vanity became utterly
wearisc ME 10 the practical henchman that
he hntsd at matrimony.. Carbury, moro
over, did not see why he should not mako
pretty good thing out Of hi, patrons Var-
.1age by judicious arrangement with the
brides family.
my dear Tom" answered the trnnscendeu-
tAlist, where am to find woman with
kindred rp;rit; with q soul above the common
things Of earth; one who can really sympa-
thizo with my own idiosyncrasy"
blessed if know" answered the captain,
terribly puzzled by his patrons long words;
"but II l were In your shoes should get
rather sick Of being hunted about by all tho
dowagers In London and ogled by every girl
who comes out l should marry one Of them
TO spite tho rest
II certainly cannot marry them oil, unused
Byng. languidly. "Well Carbury, III think
ai-out it
The captain also determined to think II
over, for, AZ stated, he was getting little
tired Of his position. He was tAick-set,
bull-neckod man OF two or three and 40, verv
fond Of good living and devoted to London
and Paris Dyng, on the other hand. pro-
fessed to despise frivolous anusements, lived
like an anchorite for months together, and
was In the habit Of occasionally running OH
10 wild and uncivlized parts of the g,obe,
where tho unfortunate captain was forced
10 submit TO very unwelcome privetions.
A Journey through Tartary had brought the
captain to the verge of rebellion, and though
he did not like the idea OF quarreling with
bis bread and butter, he Alt that he could
not endure many more such terrible expert
l,t tsnra tn tpnr n hru,t i'm
helpmn.e suitable to tho crrant philosopher.
His difficulty naturally lay in the abund-
ance of material from which he had to make
the selection. After mature consideration,
however, he decided in favor Of certain
Miss Constance Laxington She was exceed
insly pretty it was her first season, and her
only near relative was her father, whose
pedigree was much longer than his rent roll.
Besides, Mr.. Iaxington, as the captain
knew, was by no means overburdoned with
cash and was not likely to lave any hesita-
ton in arranging some little scheme by
which Carbury might share in the advant-
ascs Miss lAxington would derive from
brilliant marriage.
"What deuced pretty girl your daughter
ls!' said tho captain ono evening to that
young lady's father as they sat in the smok-
lng-roou OF the Lawn club.
Think sor' inquired tho other, who knew
that Carbury was not likely to make any
such remark out OF pure good nature
might marry any one," continued the
captain, thoughtfuliy.
Laxington began to prick up bis ears, and
sald. "Yea, think she ought to do we'll"
After little more preliminary fenciny,
Carbury began to approach tho point. "she
dossnt know Byng, does she''
NO, and shouldn't think IL much use II
she did He's not marrying man, is herr
Wei, don't quite understand what con-
stitutes a marrying man." rejoin"d the cau-
tious captain; -but these things do happen all
the same. should be very glad myself to
see Byng married to nice girl, he added,
significantly; ut would do him lot of goodl"
Laxington drew his chair closer up to Car
bury, and the two became engaged IN con-
versation apparently of the most absorbing
nature. After half an hour or so, Carbury
ar 70 to 70.
u suppose must agree" remarked Lax
ington but you are a terrible fellow to deal
with"
"All right" answered the other; "half
when she's engaged, and the other on tho
WSnUinR Gay. AuH dh'c, ~ VIII po lAe iAoA-
ing Of your
A couple of days later Capt. Carbury con-
xived that Miss Lexington, chaperoned by
her aunt, Lady Carraway, should be intro
duced to the philosophical Byng at the house
in Grosvenor square.
"You might do worse than marry that
Lexington girl" remarked the captain to his
patron tie next morning; "young and lovely,
and all that: got no inN'nvcniont brothers,
and you wouldn't he plagued with mother
in-law. Not much money, but that doesn't
lsatter to you"
"She seems nice girl" said BynE, in his
usual languid manner "but how about tho
father"
"Oh, Iaxington's all right; sombles and
races u bit, but he always settos, and has
never been caught cheating. What more
can you expect nowadays"
Byng was obviously impressed by the prob
ity of his father-n-law in posse.
"I1l call on Lady Carraway," he answered
and the subject dropped.
Byng duly visited her ladyship who was
naturally delighted to sac him, and he made
himself exceedingly agreeable to the fair
Constance That young lady heightened the
favorable impression she had already made
upon him. for although inexperienced, she
was clever girl, and very soon discovered
the pet weakness of her adnirer. In fact,
by the time ho left the house ho began TO
think that Carbury was a man of unusual
discrimination, and that he might
really take into consideration the
prospect of following his matrimonial adj
vice. Miss Lexington was charningly urso-
phiSticated, and at the slme time he thought
he could discover in her indications of the
possession of a soul--that is to say, of a dis
position to appreciate his gon!us, and to share
his philosophical yeornings without any
symytoms OF boredom So for few weeks
everything vent well. Byng was obviously
fascinated, and without hong too conspicuous
IN his attentions he followed Miss l.axngtoE's
moveme Us with considerable persistence.