, 1884-09-11

box and drag Tor the meeting ms was Tor
him a very unusual stop, for he generally
left the selection and the entertainment OF
his guests TO the interchangeable man-of all
work.
carbury Therefore Jaw that matters were
reaching a critical juncture, 50 be thought II
advisable 10 make a few inquiries about the
pe~cuninry position OF Mr., Lexington BE
did not succeed In hearing much darlington
had been losing somewhat heavily on the
turf. but he had paid up; and In the matter
Of cards be did not scam to have been doing
either any good or harm SO Carbury felt
for the present no particular anxiety about
his little oommiszions AMI Wa satisfied 70 let
the curse Of bis patrons love affair run as
smooth As m git be.
Ascot came and went; Byng w~aslanguidly
aSaiduouY In his devotion 70 Nils Lexington,
while the young lady, perfectly dressed, ron
scious Of looking lovely, and fully aware OF
the eDvy, hatred and malice which her good
fortune stirred up In the bosoms OF her fair
rivals, nsver enjoyed herself mora thor
oughly or excited more admiration With
the captain, however. things went somewhat
badly. He hetted rather heavier than usual,
and lost his money and bis temper Byng
bored him terribly, and be grew Initiated by
Miss Lxington's exceeding sweetness. He
sought consolation In creature comforts. and
ate and drank 70 an extent which would In
falIibly have aroused his patrons disgust II
that gentleman had not been too much &c
cupled to notice him.
Monday night found Capt. Carbury at the
Lawn club. Ho had paid up his losses, with
some difficulty. and felt irritable aud dys-
Ieptic- lie saw Lexington there and 1t oc-
Cured to him that he might a. well find out
II thHr yeutloman's luck had been any hotter
than hts own
......l ...ttl.. H.k -. -.
mCet him, and responded to his friendly
greeting with the curtest OF nods
BY the way, old man" began Carbuiy, as
ID plan Of action occurred to him. II want TO
ask you a favor"
Lexington was evidently In u vile temper.
You've come to the wrong shop for that,
my boyi' he zneered.
Had a bad week, l suppose said the cap
tain, quite unmoved. "Well, / was going TO
nsk you to lend me 500 pounds for a week;
fact Is, I've been rather hard hit
Besides, you will owe me more than that In
a fortnight, l fancy. That little affair OF
ours may be settled any day
II can't lend you 800 pounds sterling
growled Lexington, Tor 500 penoe either; and
as to what you call our little affair, ] have
no idea what you're driving att
what the deuce do you meant Didn't
you promise me a thousand on the day your
daughter got engaged to Byngrv
mo" answered Lexington, II mover did
anything OF the sortlH
why, I've got your 1 o Ur
Very likely; there are a good many OF
them flying about Wish you may got your
money!"
Carbury stared at his rriond In disgust and
amnzement He could not, however, express
his opinion OF him In the sacred precincts Of
"a club, 50 he merely got up with a curt good
night" and left the room.
That's your game, is itf' be muttered to
himself. an DO even with you yet It's
not quite such a certainty as you think"
The next morning darlington evidently
came to this conclusion that he had made a
fool OF himself over night, for he called on
the captain aud explained to him that he did
not mean what he said, He had a devil OF a
temper, he added, and things had been an
noying him. OF course it was all right about
the l o U. The astute captain &C
ceptsd the apology, but he never
theless made certain inquiries, which
resulted in the unpleasant dis
eovery that darlington had lost 1000 pounds
sterling over the Ascot week, and been en-
tirely unable TO sottle.
N nj . prospect for my 1000 poaacs ster-
lingf7 mus01 the captain; but what q fool
he was 10 show his hand
That day Mr.. Byng and his faetotum
lunche1 together alone. and the latter turned
the conver.ation upon Miss Constance.
Have you settled matters In that quarter
yetr' he inquired
Not yet, . said his patron dreamly; -but
1 am thinking OF taking the plunge
"What are you waiting lori Charming
grill No nonsense about her. Likes a good
feed, too. Saw her olt three plateaful Of lob
afo~ eulad on fha ram day "
Three p~.Atesful OF lobster sAladfH cried
Byng.
Certainly said the captain, cycling his
friend malicIously. why shouldn't shell
Must havo a wonderful digestion. 1 couldn't
do It myself
-How horribly material" groaned Byng.
"Oh, nonsense. You don't expect a we'll
grown young woman Of i've feet seven inches
TO live on ar, do youf"
This Il not a subject for joiing, said Byng
severely, and the captain ventlTed no further.
But the philosopher was obviously at ease; he
played with his lunch and maintained a
gloomy silence.
The season wore on, but Mss LAxington's
engagement wAs not yet announced. Peop.e
began to hint that 1t would not come
of after all Lady CairaNay grew
anxious, and other fond matIons took
henrt once again and cherished fond hopes
that tbs prize OF the matrimonial market
might yet fall TO an outsider. Miss Lexington
herself, however, was In no way disquieted.
Her adu,irer was, perhaps, les attentive, but
his was not = nature capable Of enthusiastic
devotion She met him constantly. and
could not fairly accuse him Of any definite
neglect, nlie and Lady Carra,vay were often
seen upon his drag, and Byns invited them
both 10 accompany him 10 the Elton and
Harrow match. This SPECIAL mark OF favor
dil much TO resssure her ladyship, for Byng
had often told her that though he was par
t~iculnrly fond Of cricket he iAi never takeB
II drag u Lords, not caring to i'd TO the
number OF Pc pc VIII looked upon the match
merely as an occasion for g~ormandizing,
Irritation and the display Of elaborate COS.
TUNES,
The day came Lady Carraway and heI
charge hsd been instructed to DO on the
ground In good time for lunch, So they made
their appearance shortly after l o'clock. The
drag was tenanted only by Carbury and q
few male friends. Byng, as the captain ex.
planned, was watching the gnme from the
roof OF the I%avilion, and had left word thai
he was to be sent for as socn as his faiI
friends mad arrived.
A footn an was accordingly despatched for
him, and in a few minutes he clamberei VI
70 n seat next TO Miss Constance. He wa.
somewhat prsoccupied and silent, but THU
was easily accounted for by die absorbing in
forest which he evinced in the fortunes OF th,
game. Carbury watched him with sons
anxiety. Since their conversation on tn,
lobster salad question the lady's name hae
been sci iom mentioned between them
and he began to fear that Byngi
marriage would really AXE plnc
without any p~scuniAry advantage tt
himylf. Presently, as the bell rang for thu
luncheon interval. Byng left the drag am
talked for n minute or two With his butler
NJ N rLana n;-r l.