New-York tribune., 1885-01-04

| In such a voice she might have asked some pupii VI
| her previous Bible class How many sohs n""
Noah ." or State what was the calamity winch
| Defell JONAH"
"The explanation is simple" returned. "rru
dence prompts Mr. D. to protect his daughters III u
case where prudence seems especially needless since
instances are rare here of lady being insultcd OF
| even annoyed In our public streets. Equauy-h
you will pardon my saying SOL should thihK 'hcic
overplus of prudence in taxing such eA'reiDe
| care as to what gentlemen your charming da"gn'oi
may meet at entertainments like the present. "heie
doubt of any genteman's fitness for her acquaiht-
| anceship is to somewhat undervaluo the goou ia''n
| of your host"
| spoke very quietly and with as courteousan ac'
| cent as | could employ; but saw that my words
dealt a sting and did not at all regret this result
| q Has it occurred to you that might have other
| than prudential reasons for wishing to know
| Lilians male friends~ she inquired. with rather
| wIntry smile.
"That Is tho view took of your attitude" said
But of course it is useless for to add that Miss
| Holdridge's admirers must always congratuiate
themselves upon the rule you have set, whae7er i's
| origin"
| al have heard that yOu could turn compliment
| neatly, Mr.. Manhattan" she answered. she
laughed as she spoke but there still frost in her
| voice and her look. "To be frank with you. DO
| not wish that Lillian should meet ecery gentleman
| now in society Or rather. If she meets certain OF
them. prefer that there should be no intimacy. MY
ground and take pride in admitting it's entirely
| a moral ground
| "Ah9 I" said, biting my mustache.
| "Yes-truly, yes The habits, tendencies. occu-
| patOns of some young men of the day distress and
shock Inc. l have always been very particular with
Lillian. do not wish to set myself up as preacher
| of decorum-far DO 1t from me. Mr.. Manhattan. to
assume any such pharisaical part But if society is
not built upon sound. religious. reputable basis it
| surely behOoves every mother to great care IN
| watching tho interests and welfare OF hor child.
| Now, kuow-I positively knOw-that lines oil con-
duct arc pursued by girls of the present time which
| 1t would break my heart If thought my dear child
| could ever fail to shrink frOmW
al should be sorry to find myself on the list OF
your aversions," now said.
| "Oh, but you are not; pray do not for an instant
| think So"
| "But am very much afraid that I am not built
1 upon sound, religious aud reputable basis
| The "pillar of virtue shook her glossy, black
| head quite seriously. "Ah. do not Jest upon snch
| subject ~ she admonished. with what struck me as
the most irritating and lltmed patronage. hare
| heard-f you will excuse my saying it on short
| an acquaintance-that you sometimes show sym
pathy with those dreadful atheistical writers.
scarcely know their names. even-the frec-thinkers:
| | mean who wish to DO away with all religion and
| tell us that we were originally monkeys. and that
| instead of being made by our Lord in seven days.
| the world has been gradually developing for
millions and mill lions of years and that miracles
like the turning Of water into wine were impossible
FossiIcreed Eos what surprise to meet you here to-
night 1 thought usd you had quite given up going
While these latter words of ehusive welcome werc
being addressed to the stately white-neckclothed |
divine DE- took sae sS4by Of aSa
ment regarding the pillar of virtue seemed to |
me, just then, literal truth. At the same time |
could not. without injustice rob Mrs Iioldridge of
sincerity. This did not prevent her from being
very disagreeabe; SO many people are that with
ever much disliked her, as hypocrite; 1t was
not ecessary for her to be order 10 be almost
ysRSsSs wRS a S sS OF haxo a
peared to possess not only the courage bnt the
arrogance and presumption of hers: dhe @ truth & IS
she had begun to assall. with the usual cndgel- ]
flourish of bgoted Ignorance, men with whose
minds and erudition her own compared as n gnat5 |
foot with Titan's.
AS the season grew older this lady became more
and more unpopular 1t began to bo discovered that
her moral views on most onts took the form of
most assiduous and unremttiDg scandals. There |
several powerful danes IN the world OF fashion
ship. and these she induced TO adopt measures oi
strictness and punctilio which am sure they would
not have dreamed of but for her purtanc counsel
linps There is no doubt that she maintained
kind of position by this course. She managed to
make herself hated. but she also managed to make
herself feared / believe il is Balzac who some |
rune and Mrs Hodrldige, who had now become
braved with impunty She was instrumental IN |
cansIng more than one young man to be actually
dropped from the ordinary visiting list IL was
said that sho employed little corps Of detectives
who reported to her the peccadilloes OF their male
friends. and a witty young merry,maker at length
changed the mode OF referring To her as the pilL1r
of virtue by one night mentioning her as the
police headquarters"
10 her own sex she was equally mercess And
W |
tacks were made against any one man or
woman, whose place in life was high and assured.
By this time | had nOurshed decided dOnbts OF her
sincerity Besides, had grown TO bequite intimate
with her lovable and almost infantle daughter.
Poor Lillian was @ n 5er Toweri aa ha
latter part Of January she had got to know my
friend Tom Abernethy very well indeed. and more
than half suspected that the two young people were
genuinely in love with one another.
Tom was in every way desirable match for such a
girl as Lillian Hodridge. He was doing fairly well in
his business as "a cotton-broker he came of an cx-
cellent family; he g0OdloOklng cultivated. |
and of rarely genial disposition there was. in
short nothing matrimoniaIy against him, and |
lslthough lie not what calculating ambition
would call a great pari good deal definitely in
But Mrs Holdrdge lust when his attentions be-
anne marked and pointed chose to lay upon them
her parental veto. saw that Tom was miserable, |
and the pain which 1t now cost Lillian to 'front.' the
gayeties of her first not hidden from me.
though she tried hard 10 let no one discern IL.
l0m" | said to my old classmate at Columbia,
one evening while we sat in "a corner of the club
together, you're gloomy az sexton. and OF course
/ know why" There is certain abruptness-a
sudden ceaving of the ceremOnions ice. rs 1t were
which between such friends az ON ana serves
better than the most careful and guarded approach
Tom turned and looked a hand-clasp ut me with his
mellow gray eyes. You like the girl.' went on,
with the large recklessness, now, Of one who has
made "A successful coup de phrase. :" and I'm nearly
sure she likes you."
q She does Mark" whispered Tom. with an cx-
ced 1utter in his throat that had never observed
here before.
"Ah / suppose you have it from the best Of all
said.
Well. yes"