The National tribune., 1888-05-17

No doubt this was humiliating confession.
But Walter did not cure himself of his folly.
During the Autumn he sought Mrs. Laming
tons drawiug-room again and again, whenever
he knew or thought May Templeton was to be
there. The night oil was abandoned for the
ballroom glitter. The courts were left to get
on as well as they could without him, while he
strolled in the park or made morning calls. 1t
was very silly of him. He was % and she was
not q he had graduated in the university of
life while she had only just left school-but
there-the explanation can be left unsaId, and
no excuse can be offered.
One morning he found Mrs Harrington in
her sitting discussing with May the latest
marriage in their circle of acquaintance. The
bridegroom was young artist still living hand
TO mouth on the Bloomsbury dealers. The fail
ing of his friend was an occasion for Walters
philosophy.
"Moncrieff must be mad. He is ambitious
aspires to be Independent, yes, famous as an
artist Yet he rashiy enslavcs himself for an
income by taking wife and setting up an
Enlistment Why couldn't they have waited
until he could be independent of pot-boiling
and superior to dealers ?-she inspiring him
and he striving for the future. But no, arrived
at maturity, he has rushed into marriage and
probably doomed himself to life of mortified
ambition"
Walter delivered himself of this exordium
with much feeling, for it was his constant en-
deavor TO convert Mrs. Lamington to his utili-
taTianism 1t was not Mrs. LamingtOn, but
May, however, who replied to the attack
=" Mr., Digby, l dctest your doctrine. Is it not
heresy to the poetry of youth? Marriage to
the truly ambitious mind do not use the
word in its ignoble sense-is not matter of
pounds, shillings and pence to be entered into
at the most GOnvenint season, when the we'd
ding cake can be the most expensive and the
break fast the most elaborate the honeymoon
Il ! ! Al. l. l.,
gTandest. Marriage, if it really springs from
pure love, must come at the psychological
not the political moment"
May paused and blushed as if ashamed of her
vehemence.
"You take the correct poetical view of it.
May; but what about the practical?" inquired
Mrs. Lamington who was not sure that pOetical
considerations would have any effect upon
Walters stoical spirit, even though they were
pleaded by May Templeton.
' ] attack Mr.. Digby," May smilingly replied,
on the practical as well as the pOetical aspect
of the subject. He rightly speaks Of a wOmau's
inspiration 10 mans effort, but cannot this
/ inspiration be conveyed in the love of wife
as well as of a fianCee? Does the love which
lures men to inspiring tolls in the inflated
! language OF Claude Melnotte, cease or diminish
with the honeymoon? Would the inspiration
be less efhCacious or sustaining because it would
| be always ayailable?"
Much more did May say in her warm advo-
cacy, every word Of which so entered the soul
of Walter that as he was leaving he could not
refrain from saying
You have completely conquered me, May,
! by your elOquence. / am a convert TO your
views from this day"
He left the house with very pleasureable
/ sensation. He could not help thinking that
/ there was hidden significance in Mays words
the first sudden manifestation of her feelings
| for him. And naturally during the next few
! days he was afflicted by alternating hopes aud
/ fears The fourth put him out Of his suspense.
/ He was alone with May for a precious half
! hour at Mrs Lamington's in which passed
! from her lips the only secret which, according
/ to the " Professor at the Breakfast Table" most
women have to tell. Walter was recklessly
happy, aud was anxious TO recant, by his own
act, his former heresy as soon as possible
With this purpose in view, he readily accept
/ ed Mr.. TempletOn's invitation TO a small din
/ ner-p party. He had, through the instrumental
/ ity of the matrimonial mediator Mrs Laming-
/ ton, been present on several such Occas ons, and
/ had eagerly seized such opportunities of inter
! course with May as offered. He had, moreover,
/ become a welcome guest at Mr.. Templeton's
! table, coo-headea, cynical man of business,
who enjoyed, nevertheless, after dinner philoso-
/ phy-by his clever conversation at wine. This
evening, however, when the hostess and her
! lady guests had retired TO the drawing room,
/ he relapsed into astolid silence. He was franz
/ ing his daring request to Mr.. Templeton for the
/ hand Of his daughter and took little heed of
the flow Of soul as it tTaversed finance, politics.
/ philosophy, the play, and finally set on society
small-talk When il reached thus far, how
ever, Walter was startled into attention by a
/ reference to the marriage of the young artist,
/ which had been so philOsophically discussed at
/ Mrs. Lamingtons.
Have you heard about Moncrieff. the young
| fellow / introduced to you the other day, mar
rying the girl who sang so well at your garden
! parties?" inquired an impecunions Bohemian,
/ who acted as a kind Of Boswell in introducing
| Mr. Templeton to people outside the Stock Elk
change and who had been at a loss for some
/ thing TO say.
Mr Templeton, supposing the question was
meant for him, replied in the negative, and did
not seem anxious to have his ignorance in
| formed.
The Bohemian did not, however, intend tc
lose this opportunity Of imparting information
10 his chief, and forthwith began a recital Of
the whole circumstances of MOncrief's mar
riage. The conversation on the topic then be-
came general, and drfted into a similar chan.
mel into which Walter had led it at Mrs Lam.
ington's. Mr.. Templeton remained silent until
directly appealed to to give his opinion.
% have heard good deal about Moncrieff
and think he has acted very foolishly. NJ
TO succeed in making a name for himself And
what is more, no parent should allow his daugh
ter 10 marry q man just entering on the life hC
has chosen for himself if he wishes to see hel
the wife Of some one more than the mere uni
IN the crowd. The man who claims the hand
Of wealth and beauty should first give some ere
dentias Of his future success"
Mr. Templeton delivered himself Of thi
opinion in an ordinary colloquial manner, bu
it was evident he spoke with some persona
feeling, as his daughter had spoken on the sam,
subject before him.
Walter, who iR silence had followed the con
yer5atiOn with qGickened interest, was quit
unneryed By Mr. Templeton's interposition
He thought that he must be deadly pale. he fel
SO sick at heart This was the answer Of tn
cold, matter-of-fsct man of the world to th,
generous and ieryent sentiments Of the daugh
ter.
Mr.. Templeton's summing up meeting Will
general concurrence, the conversation soo
drifted into other channels. Walter was agail
thrown into the agonies Of doubt and despaii
he sat silent aud moody, much TO the surpris
Of his acquaintance 1T the table, asking OF him
self whether, after all, these men were not RICH
aud May mistaken. Should be not do some
! thing TO show himself worthy of her befor
+ binding her 70 him by the bonds OF marriage
! He bricdess barrster without a settled in
come for week, had no business to ask Nj
] Templeton 10 give his daughter into his keep
I ing. He ought 10 give proof Of his worthines
: Of the trust These Arguments would doubt
/ less have weighed little with him were it nc
Il