Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-06-23
Org. A week later I heard he had gone

story. A week later heard he had gone
abroad"
AddenbrooEe pm, his arm about Lydia
and drawing her head to his shoulder, |
stroked her hair backward and forward |
with his kind hand
Her recital had panied him. He knew
the perfdy of his sex, but this particular
offender bad gone beyond all recognized |
limits; limits whicn, IN his own person.
Johnny had always refused to recognize
The thought of the misery inflicted on his
proud, sensitive. passionate Lydia made
him sick with anger and speechless with !
sympathy. He rose at last and, buttOning
~ his coat, tried 10 speak ia tones of ress
surfing cheerfulness.
"By the by, Lydia, Fleming has come
back. You remember Lawrence Flemingp
They are making qnite lion of him on
account OF his new book. He's Just the !
sort of man to enj ~ beiag lioniz i'd"
Lydia looked at him speechless, and he
went on:
81 expect that he will be turning up at
my rooms in thu course of a day or two
He left portmanteau with my landlsdy
before he sailed. Good night, my own
dear girl" Aud he held out both his
hands.
Lydia looked at him sharply and with
rising vexarion.
She had 'ouRd out long ago that subtle
hints were quite thrown away upon John
ny; but surely, surely he muGt know the
truth.
Either he was the most cOnsummate &C
tor Or the dsnsest person living.
1t WAS impossible to entertain seriously
the idea of Addenbrooke as a cons1mmate
actor.
A]denbrooke had rooms III Cover sereet;
a sitting room and bedroom, divided by
folding dOOrs. The whole apartment had
begun life ss what house agents call spa
cious double drawing-room, and bore the
marks Of its former state of existence
The msntelpiece, which now supported
hest of bottles, variously shaped and
filled, was of white marble, heavily carved
summoned up to the imaginative mind
visions of gilt clocks and candlesticks IN
der glass shades
The walls, hung with white wa.ered pa
per, were divided into panels by strips of
gold beading, and from the ceiling
shrouded chandelier depended from
twelfth cake like decoration in white and
gold plaster.
Addenbrook ad drawn his writing Ia
bic, with the lamp on it, close to the fire,
and had setcled down to q long nights
work. 1t was the evening following L.
dia's confession, and he was too busy to
] 4. O. T,L ~ a.
the thought of this, then plunged into the
pile of papers, which not only covered tn
table, bat overlooked into several neigh
boring chairs.
He had not been long at work when the
door was flung open, and man entered
the room.
"Still in these gilded halls, Johnny I"
said a voice, which Was not quite so drawl
ing nor so full of quiet humor rs the
speaker seemed to intend.
Fleming, by all that's wonderful -
cried AddenbrOoke, rising with extended
hand.
The new conner was a large, heavily
built young man, with dark hair, and a
complexion, originally f1O1id, burnt Grim
son by the African sun
He was distinctly handsome, though the
lower part of the face was q trihs heavy,
end there WAS lack of foIsh about the
eals and nostrils.
"Sit down." said AddenbIoOke, clear
Jog chair and resuming his own seat.
Examinations, ughW Fleming fl czed
with his large finger at the papers on the
desk fits not your own exans., it's
other peoples, poor old JOHNNY
Fleming had the greatest contempt for
examinations, in which, indeed, he rad
cOnspicuOusly failed to distinguish himself;
the less brilliant AddenbrOOke having
commonplace knack of getting into the
6rst cass, which is often the way with
your dul, plOdding fellows.
These two men had been friends, after
shiop, since their first term at the uni
versity. In those days Fleming bad been
raw, unhappy, self conscious young man,
subject 10 miserable, hideOus fits of shy
mesa. and secretly ashamed Of the paternal
glove shop.
Now, perhaps, he wss too fond of talking
about the glove SHOP; of drawinl jJcose
comparisons between himself and veil
known glover's son of Stratford-On-Avoni
aad the only remaining mark Of shyness
was certain emphasis OF self confidence.
Addeabrooke's affection for him was rather
survival from earlier days than anything
elee. though Johnny, it must be owned,
was uncritical and, like many persons,
imposed a far less severe standard Of con
duet on his friends than on himself
where do you hang out?" asked Ad
denbrooke, gathering together the despised
examination papers.
81 have been down at Twicken ham
with nv people Can't stnnd much OF
that. YOU know. I am looking out fir
chambe somewhere Bond street wayi /
aud Mrs. Baxter il going TO put me up
here for p night or two"
"Ol. good. You know Mrs. Baxter has
that pOrtmanteau Of yours"
''Yes; she's fetching it now, believe.
from the lumber room. There ere some
ospers IN il I want 10 lcOk at to night"
Fleming leaned back in mis- chair, his
svelids dropping moodily, as they had a
trick Of doing, then he said disconteDtedly: |
"Haven't you got anything to tell fell
low? You London people ara sll the same
One goes away anu lives ~hat seems life.
,irne-it's so cram fnll of experience-and
when one gets back, not soul remembers
Il 1t was last week or last year they met
yout at the Jenkinson's dinner party. "
"From what l hear, you've no cause to
complain, Fleming "
''Ob. of course, ones pcstered with IN
vitstions from g lot of silly women one
never heard of ~ grumbled the new lion;
'but isn't there anything in the shape Of
uews7"
"Wen," said AddenbTOoke. slowly,
there is one piece of news, but l don't
know that it's interesting. am thinking
Of getting married"
Addenbrooke had never been shy man;
ne was only very modest, and he had no.
accustomed his friends to take an interest
in his affairs.
Fleming opened his eyes full and stared
aNyau q lglTl 20