The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-19

and hence. the hunting Of Byng went
merrily ON.
He liked to talk to women about pict-
ures, about poetry, love, transcenden-
tai philosophy and matters generally
mystical and ethereal. He found them
30 much more tolerant than men, and
SO much less apt to detect his utter and
CHASTITY ignorance of nearly every SUBJ
ject upon which ho conversed. Men, in
fact, considered Byng an affected min.
compoop, and only endured him for the
sake Of his wealth. ,
"Why the deuce don't you marry, Ad-
derley?" remarked Captain Tom Car
bury one day.
Tom Carbury was Byng's man-of-all
work and devouted adherent. He had
lived upon him for some years, and it
was only when h.s eccentricity and van
ity became utterly wearisome. to the
practical henchman that he limited at
matrimony.. Carbury, moreover, did
not see why he should not make pref
ty good thing out of his patrons mar
riage by iudicious arrangement with
the BRIDES family.
"My dear Tom," answered the tran.
scendentalist, "where can I find wom-
an with kindred spirit; with soul
above the common things of earth; one
who can really sympathize with my
own idiosyncrasy?"
"Blcssed il l know" answered the
Captain, terribly puzzled by his patrons
words; "but, if I were In your shoes; 1
should get rather sick Of being hunted
about by all the old dowagers Of Lon:
don and ogled by every girl who comes
out. Ishould marty one of them Just
10 spite the rcst:"
II certainly cannot marry them oil ("
mused Byng, languidly. "Well, Car
bury. I'll think about it."
The Captain also determined to think
is over, for, as stated, he was getting a
little tired Of his position. He was q
thick-set, bull-necked man two or
three and forty, very fond of good liv-
itg, and devoted to London and Paris.
Byng, on the other hand, protested to
aespise frivolous amusemenos, live like
an anchorite for months together, and
was in the habit Of occasionally. rushing
off to wild and uncivilized parts of the
globe, where the unfortunate Captain
was forced to submit to very unwelcomc
privations. A journey through Tartary
had brought the Captain to the verge
Of rebellion, and though he did not like
The idea of quarreling with his bread
and butter, lie felt that he could not
endure many more such terrible expert
ences, SO he began to look about him
for helpmate suitable to the errant
philosopher.
His difficulty naturally lay in the
abundance of material from which he
had to make the selection. After ma
ture consideration, however, he decided
in favor of q certain Miss Constance
Lexington. She was exceedingly pref
ey, it was her first season, and her only
Iear relative was her father, gem
tleman whose pedigree was much long
er than his rent-role. Beside, Mr..
Lexington, as tho Captain knew, was
by no means overburdened with cash,
and was not likely to have any hesita.
tion in arranging some little scheme by
which Carbury might share in the adj
vantages Miss Lexington would derive
from brilliant marriage.
"What deuced pretty girl your
daughter is !" said the Captain one even
ing to that young lady's father, as they
sat in the smoking-room of the Lawn
Club,
"Think SOP" inquired the other, who
knew that Carbury was not likely to
make such remark out of pure good
nature.
"Might marty any one,n continued
the Captain thoughtfully.
darlington began to prick up his ears,
and said, eyes, I think she ought to
do we'll"
After alittle more preliminary fenc.
ing, Carbury began to approach the
point.
"she doesn't know Byng does she ?"
"No, and I shouldn't think it much
use if she did. He's not marrying
man, is le?"
well, I don't quite understand what
constitutes marrying man," rejoined
the cautious Captain; but these things
do happen all the same. should be
very glad myself to see Byng married to
Q nice girl" he added, significantly; "it
would do him q lot of good"
Lexington drew his chair closer to
Carbury, and the two became engaged
in conversation apparently of the
most absorbing nature. After half an
hour or so, Carbury arose to 20.
Il suppose | must agree" remarked
darlington; "but you are terrible fell
low to deal with"
"All right" answered the other;
"half when she's engaged and the 9th
er on the wedding-day. Man alive it
will be the making of your
A couple of days later Captain Car
bury contriyed that Mss Lexington,
chaperoned by her aunt, Lady Cara
way, should be introduced to the
philosophical Byng at house in Gros-
venor Square.
"You might do worse than marry
chat Lexington girl" remarked the
Captain to his patron the next morn
ing; young and lovely, and all that;
got no inconvenient brothers; and you
wouldn't be plagued with mother.in-
law. Not much money, but that
doesn't matter to you."
She seems o nice GIRL" said Byng,
in his usual languid manner; But how
shout the father?"
"Oh, Laxingtons NIL right; CANDLES
and races bit, but he always settles,
and has never been caught cheating.
What more con you expect nowadays"
Byng was obviously impressed by the
probity Of his father -in-law in posse.
B .'Tll call on Lady Carraway." he an
swered !; and the subject dropped
& Byng duly vitited Her Lad ship !. Who
1as naturally delighted 10 sec him, and
NJ made himself exceedingly agreeable
~ the fair Consta lance. That young Iady
~ ths iayoyal,lei ipapfesiiioir,
= &, ..aI !. e z. \ lSl' y. { q.