The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-09-25

in conversation apparently of the
most obsorbing nature. After half an
hour or SO, Carbury arose to go.
II suppose [ must agree" remarked
Laxington; "but you are terrible fell
low to deal with"
Cali right" answered the other;
'shalf when she's engaged and the 9TH
er on the. wedding-day. Man alive it
will be the making of you'll"
A couple of days later Captain Car
bury contrived that Miss Laxington,
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
that Laxington 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 nice GIRL" said Byng,
in his usual languid manner; "But how
about the father?"
"Oh, Laxington's all right; CANDLES
and races bit, but he always settles,
and has never been caught cheating.
What more can you expect nowadays ?"
Byng was obviously impressed by the
probity of his father in law in posse.
''Ill call on Lady Carraway," he an
swered; and the subject dropped.
Byng duly vitited Her Ladyship, who
was naturally delighted to see him, and
he made himself exceedingly agreeable
to the fair Constance. That young lady
heightened the favorable impression
she had already made on him, for, al
though inexperienced, she was clever
girl, and very soon discovered the pet
weakness of her admirer. In fact, by
the time he left the house he began to
think that Carbury was man of un-
usual discrimination, and that he might
really take into consideration the pros
pect of his matrimonial advice. Miss Lax
ington was charmingly unsopoisticated,
and at the Same time he thought he
could discover in her indications of a
soul-that is to say, of a disposition to
appreciate his genius, and to share his
philosophical yearnings without any
symptoms of boredom. So for a few
weeks everything went well. Byng was
obviously facinated, and, without being
too CONSPICUOUS in his attentions, he
followed Miss Laxington's movements
with considerable persistence, and
monopolized her society, whenever they
met Suitors of the detrimental type
accordingly drpped off in despair, and
the engagement was looked upon by
the quidnuncs of society as practical
ly accomplished fact.
Ascot drew near, and Byng invited
Lady Carraway and her fair charge to
share his box and drag for the meeting.
This was for him very unusual step, for
he generally left the selection and the
entertainment of his guests to the in
defatigable man-of-all work.
Carbury therefore saw that matters
were reaching critical juncture, so he
thought it advisable to make few in
quiries about the pecuniary position Of
Mr.. Laxington. He did not succeed in
hearing much Laxington had been
losing somewhat heavily on the turf,
but he had paid up; and in the matter
of cards he did mot seem to have been
doing either any good or harm. So
Carbury felt for the present no particu-
lar anxiety about his little commission
duu WdS SdplSllcu W LOU VIC COuI DC ou al1S
patrons love affair run as smooth as
might be.
Ascot came and ', ent; Byng was Ian.
guidly assiduous in his devotion to Miss
Laxington, while the young lady, per-
fectly dressed, conscious of looking
lovely, and fully aware of the envy,
hatred and malice which her good
fortune stirped up in the bosons OF
her fair rivals, never enjoyed her
self more thoroughly or excited
more admiration. With the Cap
tain however, things went somewhat
badly He betted rather more heavily
than usual, and lost his money and his
temper. Byng bored him terribly.
and he grew irritated by Miss Laxing-
tons exceeding sweetness. He sought
consolation in creature comforts, and
ate and drank to an extent which would
infallibly have aroused his patrons dis
gust, if that gentleman had not been too
much occupied to notice it.
Monday might found Captain Car
bury at the Lawn Club. He had paid
up his losses with some difficulty, and
felt irritable and dyspeptic. He saw
Laxington there, and it occurred to him
that he might as well find out If that
gentlemans luck had been any better
than his own
Laxington seemed anything but
pleased to meet him, and responded to
his friendly greetings with the curtest
of mods.
"By the way, old man," began Car
bury, as plan of action occurred to him
" want to ask you a favor"
Laxington was evidently in vile
temper.
"You've come to the wrong shop for
that, my boy!" he sneered. ~
"Had bad week, I suppose" said
the Captain quite unmoved. "Well, I
was going to ask you to lend me e5OO,
only for week; fact is, I have been
rather hard hit. Beside, you'll owe me
more than that in fortnight I fancy.
That little affair of ours may be settled
any day"
sI can't lend you $780," growled Lax
ington, cor 500 pence either; and as to
what you call our little affair, I have no
idea of what you are driving at"
"What the deuce do you mean Didn't