Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-25
Gales aud Sketfhfs.
fLondon World.]
THE BEST MAN.
CONTINUED from yesterday. }

/ Continued from yesterday
! The old gentleman was in amazing
! form. He doffed his broad brimmed white
hat with Chesterfield courtesy. promptly
| installed himself beside the rustliDg white
frock. and laid himself out to reeale Miss
Harry with somewhat reckless anecdote
of his own early coaching days and nights
/ ("sugar and spice'' sort of conversational
puddine) all the way TO Richmond. His
nephew vainly attempted an occasional
cut in from his seat behind. No use; and
the moment he permitted himself to wear
but for an instant certain frown that
Harry well knew, his fate was sealed.
Why men will put their stupid heads into
the mouth of lionesses. 20 have them
promptly snapped off, is one OF Time s
insoluble problems. Occasionally she
threw a short monosyllable over her left
shoulder, where nestled the orchid spray
poor Art had sent her that morning. but
she devoted herself to Lord Arthur aine.
The temptation was irresistible. Uncle
and nephew were new team TO drive.
and she hustled them along merrily. Art
tried in vain to console himself with an
other white frock beside him. To his hor-
ror she turned out to be of poetical turn
of mind, spite of her pretty face. and
somewhat brusquely refusing 10 offer an
opinion on the last volume of morbid
verse called Hymns of the Hemlock. "
he sulked and had a hard time of it. His
outraged namesake High Art and all her
| followers were for the moment amply
avenged for the many insults offered to
them, and as for the little Introduction
Demon (who was perched invisibly in the
horn basket behind he almost laughed
| his little black tail Off.
Although frequently piped unto Gn the
shape of invitations,) the old lord did not
dance and so he was not in the Caledonian
ball at at Willis rooms that night, with a
red collar tackled on to his dress coat, pre-
tending to be a postman. But Lord Art
was there in the full bravery and panopy
of the Queens Own Orkney islanders, of
which gallant corps he was sort OF hon
orarv sub-lieutenant. Harry was there, as
a matter Of course, and before he knew
well where he was, they were dancing
their annual reel Ca wierd, barbaric thing,
in which the performers touch the floor
gingerly with their toes. as if it were red
hot, and look regrettully over their Shout
ders at their left legs when they are not
engaged in tying them into true
lovers knots. and snap their fingers
and cry"HOo!" at exciting intervals But
the rhythm of the reel didn't touch Arts
sternness; and when he led Harry out for
a lemonade under the famous Sir Joshua in
the ante-room. he had lost his wonted
smile. and looked inclined for war, and
sat by her side like sulky Scandinavian
god. The Queens Own OI's wear. as
you know, costume more archaeology
cally accurate than artistic.
why has the good uncle of the angry
nephew not come to the gay dances?"
Harry inquired, Ollendorfiianly. Weren't
those roans simply stunning, and hadn't
we good timer"
mo, hadn't good time, you know
that; and. forgive me. you are getting
shockingly slangy."
Harry opened the violet windows of her
soul-wide open-and said nothing.
You devote yourself to my uncle
can't help that" Art went, on, and then
the peal of tiny bells tinkled softly. but
then you are never serious for moment
Life is all a reel to You why don't you go
to Girton and be Wrangleress or some
thing, or have mission, or go SUM
ming'-anything to stop this frittering and
trivoiing away your young lifeP'
Art was getting ridiculous. and he knew
it; still he tloundered on.
This London whirl is so empty and
shallow. See here. Harry. perhaps I've
no right to speak, but let me give you just
a little piece of my mind"
II wouldn't give me very big piece, if I
AIT. \, ~
very much to spare" said she of the volet
eyes; and then he got cross, which was
foolish. of course.
What pleasure can it give you to fret
me sop he growled Like all the rest
of them, | suppose"
If there's one observation that a woman
dislikes more than another, it is that Just
recorded. To be classified, 10 be maze
one OF a group whose ways and habits are
understood as if they were bacteria or
blackbrds to be summed up as $50 like
n woman" are statements and criticisms
as a rule, uttered by men in anger and
listened to by women with contemptuous
INDICATION and so there was row royal.
and it pivoted on slangliness in general"
You men," said Harry. "who insist on
applying your racing, ard cricketing. and
boating metaphors to all the events of this
life, and to teach us to do the same.
haven't an ounce OF the pluck of the 'sSe-
rious Johnnies, who have the courage to
use words out of the ordinary smoking
vocabulary because they know what they
mean. which the idle and ignorant don't.
Do you know, you and have spent wears
talking abject nonsense to each other?'
and there was just faint flush as she
spoke. In the pause Art had qualms of
conscience, and his eyes wandered round
the room.
What do you think of thatp'' he said
suddenly indicating the Sir Joshua before
them. He knew she was a fair Judge OF
pictures, and waited for an honest verdict
to turn the talk into less stony and per-
turbed channel.
Witt the rapt gaze Of a seraph Harry
looked upward, and murmured softly,
downright ripping."
1t was too much for him, and after her
own lecture, too. Ripping? you ought
to be put on baby ruskins and water for a
fortnight. The good old uncle would not
admire the young girls discourse;" and
then he hummed to himself an ill-advised
stanza commencing Grabbed age and
YOUTH" and laughed, till suddenly the
violet eyes turned into steel-blue. like
those of Glaueopis Athene. and as the
valse began Miss Horton rose. and flashed
out. what right have p"-then her
partner came and carried her off. and in
I a..