Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-02-23

to put tCa and the evening paper beside him
and 10 make up the Gre, which cracked on
with cheery companionablo sounds through
tho lamplit evening and far into the night,
CHAPTER IT.
Two or thrco days afterwards kendall, In
looking over his engagement book, In which
the entries wero methodically kept noticcd;
Afternoon tea, Mrs. Stuart's, Friday" and
at onco sent OF a note TO Edward Wallace,
suggesting that they should go to the theatre
together on Thursday evening TO SEQ Miss
Bretherton, "for, as you will sec," ho wrote,
at will be impossible for mo TO meet her
with q good conscience unless have done
my duty beforehand by going to SEQ her per-
form" To this tho American replied by
counter proposal. "Miss Bretherton," he
wrote, "ofrers my sister and myself box
for Friday night; 1t will hold four or flve;
you must certainly be Of tho party, and 1
shall nsk Forbes"
Kendall felt himself q little entrappcd, and
would have preferred to SEQ tho actress un-
der conditions more favorable TO an inde-
pendent Judgment, but ho was conscious that
o refusal would be ungracious, so no accepted
and prepared himself TO meet tho beauty
In as sympathetic frame Of mind as pos
sible.
On Friday afternoon, after long and
fruitful days work, he found himself driving
westward towards tho old fashioned Ken
sington house Of which Mrs. Stunrt, with her
bright, bird liko American ways, had sue
ceeded in making considerable social cen
ter. His mind was still full Of his work,
phrases Of Joubert or Of Sten6hal seemed TO
be still floating about him, and certain sub
tleties OF artistic and critical speculation
were still vaguely nrcuinu themselves out
within him AS no spe,i westward, drawing in
tho pleasant Influences of the spring sunshine.
and delightinp his eyes In the May green,
which was triumphing more and moro
every day over tho grayncss OF London, and
would soon havo reached that lovely short
lived pause of victory which Is all that sum
mer can hopc to win amid tho dust and
crowd OF a great city.
Kendall was In that condition which Is
proper TO mon possessed OF the true literary
temperament, when tho first fervor Of youth
for moro living Is gone, when tho first crude
difficulties OF accumulation arc over, and
when tho mind, admitted to regions Of an
ampler ether and diviner air than any she
has inhabited before. feels tho full charm aud
spell OF mans vast birthright OF knowledge,
and Is seized with subtNr curiosities and
further reaching desires than anything she
has yet been conscious Of Tho world Of fact
and Of idea Is open, and the explorers instru-
ments arc rs perfect as they can bo made.
The intoxication OF entrance Is full upon
him, and the lassitudo which Is the inevita-
bic Nemesis OF an unending task, and the
chill which sooner or later descends upon
every human hope, are as yet mere names
and shadows, counting for nothing In the
tranquil vista OF his life, which seems to lie
spread out before him 1t Is u rare state, for
not many men arc capable of the appren-
ticeship which leads TO it, and breath Of
hostile circumstance may put an end TO IL;
but In Its own manner and degree, and whilo
1t lasts, 1t is one Of tho golden states Of con-
sciousness, and n man enjoying 1t feels this
mysterious gift Of existence to have been
kindly boon from some benelcent power.
Arrived at Mrs. Stuarts, Kendall found q
large gathering already filling tho pleasant
low rooms. looking out upon trees nt either
end, upon which Mrs. Stuart had impressed
throughout the stamp Of her own keen little
personality. She was competent In all things
competent In her criticism of a book, and
more than competent in all that pertained 10
the niceties Of house management Her din.
ner parties, Of which each was built up from
foundation to climax with the most delicate
skill and unity OF plan; her pretty dresses,
In which she trailed about hor soft colored
rooms, her energy, her kindliness and even
the evident but quito innocent pursuit Of So
cial perfection In which she delighted-all
made her popular and 1t was not difficult
for her to gather together whom she would
when she wished to launch social novelty
On the present occasion she was very much
In her element. All around her were people
moro or less distinguished I'm the London
world: here was an editor. there an artist.
Junior member Of tho government chattel
over his tea with foreign minister, and a
flow Of tho usual London chatter Of a su-
perior kind was ripping through the room
when Kendall entered.
Mrs. Stuart put him I'm tho way of a chair
and Of abundant chances of conversation,
and then left him with shrug Of her shoul,
ders and q whisper. "Tho beauty IL shock.
ingly latel Tell mo what shall do IL all
these people are disappointed.n In reality
Mrs Stuart was beginning to be restless
Kondal had himself arrived very late, and
as tho talk flowed faster and the room filled
fuller OF guests eager for tho new sensation
which had been promised them, tho spirits Of
the little hostess began 10 sink Tho minister
had surreptitiously looked at his watch, ant
a tircsomo lady friend had said good-by in
voice which might have been lower. and witt
q lament which might have been spared
Mrs Stuart set great store upon tho success
OF her social undertakings. md To gather ,
crowd OF people 10 meet tho rising star o.
the season, and then to have TO send then
homo with only tea and talk 10 remember
was ono OF those failures which no one with
| any self respect should allow themselves d
! risk.
However, fortune was onco more Kind I