National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-15

Quiet suin in sculling boat by himself
in tho afternoon. lt was, therefore, with
a faint sensation Of relief he heard Baynes
tell tho captain Of the launch 10 stop mt
Kingston TO pick up some moro people.
| Any chance, no reflected, must he for the
! better, and DO was curious TO sec Mrs.
| Bnks. At Kingston accordingly no
| looked out with considerable interest.
| The lady was there, attended by o very
woil.turnod ont footman, bearing rugs
and other Becessarios. She was passably
good looking, and, to all appearance, not
more than live.and.thirty, so MountfOrd
promptly rot introduced.
Tho steam launch proceeded on its
cour8o. accompanied by tho usual curses
OF boating and lishiug men. The Stock
exchange young men INDUCED in bolster
Gus horscplay aud violent Irritation with
the riparian young ladies; tho Curats,
whom he was not signing his songs, de-
voted himself TO the hostess; Bhynes was
occupied by the cares Of hospitality, and
lIouutford was left in uudisturbed pos
session Of Mrs. Binks. attention. He
speedily found out shat hor special weak
ness was the question Of social position,
and consequently nc chatted freely about
tho various litlcd individuals with whom
he was in the habit Of assoCiating. Tho
NllNN WAS NFlhbuhlt lHltNt1tthf huh
inquired about his own people.
"rhe Monntfords' are very old poo
pie" he said, with perfect truth, for
Dehrott is terribly certain avenger of
this species of ialsehouds. Tho peerage
became extinct by the execution of the
last liu0al descendant. We have always
been loyal and conservative"
ron, yes" she sighed, all the best
people are
"Bnks must have been terrific cad,
muscd Mourtford.
Good family is a great advantage, in
spite of what the radicals say" she con
| tinucd. Now, neither my husbands
family nor my own are anything but
bourgeois, and Binks is such terrible
AnmoW
Mrs. Binks's Frouch accent grated upon
Mountford's sensitive ear, but he gal
lantly replied:
after all, family is nowhere compared
to personal advantages and as for names,
tho rose would smell as sweet you
know"
The widow sighed, and wAs evidently
| impressed.
In the course of tho day Mountford
made an excellent use of his opportunities,
aud when the launch stopped ut Kingston
to leave Mrs. BinkB they parted on the
understanding that he WAS to call at her
house in P0rtInan square and renew the
acquaintance ut tho earliest opportunity.
Mountiord was as good as his word. lilo
called at POrtman suuaro-in fact, ho
called frequently. lie also paid visit
70 Somerset house, and inspected tho will
Of the latu Josiah Binks-tho perusal of
which Afforded him every satisfaction.
So fnr as he could see there was no very
formidable rival in the field, There were
several old fFiCnis Of Mrs. Binks's hus-
band who would havo gladly cOnsoled his
sorrowing rclict, but mono OF them found
favor in her eyes. They were all of the
city, and her aspirations were towards the
west. She knew very few people in her
neighborhood, so Mounttord had many
opportunities for private interviews, which
the widows companion, the elderly and
discreet Miss Bowsor. was too astute TO in-
terrupt by her presence.
MountfOrd had made mp his mind to
propose, and was only waiting until
decent interval had elapsed since the be-
ginning Of their acgua intanco in order 70
take tho plunge. He was in this frame
of mind when one day, on entering the
well known mansion, he met couple Of
unfamiliar figures descending tho ample
staircase. The ono was tail and moager
the other stout and short. Tho tall man
was evidently parson, and wore Il some.
what meek and dOwntrodden air; his
companion seemed bustling and self
important. Mountiord stood aside as
they left the house. aud promptly inter-
rogated the butler, whose good Offices he
had taken care to secure, as to the mean
ing of this unwontGd incur5ion. In an
swer, the man handed him couple of
cards. On the one he read, LORD Slumly
Eitzfudge;" on the other, "Rov. Septimus
Cruci!orn, curate Of St. Gemini, The
Docks, $. H."
1.-THE devil ~ murmured Mountford, as
he hurried up stairs.
The widow greeted him as usual with
much cordially.
81 have had two such interesting wish
tors, Mr. Mountfori. Lord Slumly Fitz-
fudge and Mr.. Cruciform. They have
been talking so charminGly about the
poor creatures in the East End who have
such horrible places to live ill., and moth
ing to cat. really feel quite guilty in
not having done anything for them with
all my money. OF course you know Mt
least ono of my visitors; you who know
everybody
II thinl; l have heard Of Fitzfudge,"
replied Mountiord, who had q very dis
tinct recollection Of that eminent noble
mans name in connection with several
extremely doubtful companies. But
of course they did not appeal in vain to
your generosity, Mrs. Bnks?"
II gave them all had, only $40, but
have promised TO attend meeting next
week to discuss what wo ought to do.
Lady Sapphira Polkington Is coming, and
very likely the Duke Of Mewsford will
be there. They all seem to bo charming
people," concluded the widow with
sigh.
Mountiord looked at her with some
thing like alarm. The prospect of asso-
ciating with lord and Of meeting real,
live duke, TO say nothing Of minor per,
sonages, was evidently dazzling one for
the widow. But it was full OF danger for
Mountlords plans. Air. CruCiform was
needy curate, Lord Slumly wGs by no
means we'll oil, and was widower with
live unmarried daughters. The time had
come for action.
"How long have / known you, Mrs.
Binks" he inquired in his most insinu-
ating manner
About three months I think" she
answered. but why do you ask ?"
81 was only wondering why it is that
some acquaintances ripen 80 quickly. l
seem to have known you for years. For
give me, but do you not share this in.
describGble sympathy in some small de-
gree y
At this highly interesting juncture
Mountiord heard rustic aud discreet
"Iem ~ which warned him of the ap-
proach Of Miss Bowse..
Mr.. Dockit wishes to see you, Mrs.
Binks," she said "Iiis business is very
important"
Dear me, how tiresome !" replied the
widow with sympathetic glance ut
MOuntford. Some city business, l sup
pose. You can't think what a nuisance
it is for an unfortunate woman to be
bothered with all these money matters"
"If could only take these worries Off
your handw murmured the barrister, as
he took his leave.
"You will come again tomorrow ?" she
rop1faJ