Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-12-18
you,o ee one less person entitled to make

Vrouio oe one less person entitled 10 make
pointless jests at his expense.
If they had but known it-and really
it was little odd that Moreton did not
know it-a third member Of their small
confederation was similarly incapacitat-
ed. To be invited to huge ministerial
function was no great honor for Mr..
Schneider in those days, although such
an invitation would have made him
quite proud and happy the year before;
but what caused him to exult beyond
measure upon this occasion was the
marked civility and friendliness shown
to him by more than one member of the
existing government. To be sure there
was reason for this, and tolerably
good one.
Mr.. Schneider and his friends had re-
Gently come to the conclusion that man
of his means ought to be in parliament,
and it had been represented to him that
the surest way Of eventually gratifying
| that legitimate ambition would be to
contest a seat which had just fallen va
cant in Scotland. There was little or no
chance Of wrestling this seat from the
! Radicals, but it was thought that their
majority might be reduced, which would
produce a good effect, and of course any
| one who should undertake this forlorn
hope would establish a strong claim
upon the good offices of his party. Mr..
Schneider, therefore, courageously threw
himself into the breach, and was very
properly complimented on his pluck by
| right honorable noblemen and gentle
| men.
Il only wish there were more Conser-
vatives who took your view of their duty
to the party and the country, Mr..
Schneider" a very great man said to him
that evening; and Schneider replied,
with no less truth than felicity, that
such words more than rewarded him for
the labor of fighting an uphill battle.
And no doubt it was natural enough
that, seeing so many kindly and encour-
aging faces around him, and hearing so
many pleasant things said of him. Mr..
Schneider should have felt that he was
sailing on the top of the tide toward
that fair haven upon which his eyes had
Tor some time past been longingly fixed.
"Mr. Schneider and Sybil countess Of
| Belvoir entertained at dinner last night
the prime minister, the French, German
and Russian ambassadors, the duke and
! duchess Of Paddington," etc. Oh, rapt-
urous vision! What remained but to
ascertain the views of Sybil countess
of Belvoir with regard to its fulfillment?
| Then the ardent wooer recollected, as
others had done. that there was one
trifling obstacle to be surmounted be-
fore her ladyship could be approached
with direct offer: but the recollection
did not distress him as much as it had
distressed the others; because, to begin
with, he was under no apprehension of
being laughed at, and. besides, he did
not think it at all likely that he would
be interfered with. Moreton might pos
sibly vote against him, Moreton being
one of those conceited fellows who can
not stand being snubbed by ladies who
fail to appreciate their fascinations; but
as for Lord Guise and Mr.. Thorold. they
would surely be forced to admit the
suitability of the match. Rank on the
one side. wealth on the other-what
more would you have: There was no
question of sentimentality about the
business.
1t so chanced that he was able to do
no more than exchange few hasty
words with Lady Belvoir until just as
she was leaving. when she passed him at
the top of the staircase with smile and
familiar little nod. But after she had
descended a few steps she paused and
glanced back at him over her shoulder.
"By the way" she said, Twill one see
you again? am off for the country. you
know
Indeed, I did not know it," answered
Schneider in dismay. You don't start
Immediately, l hope. When may call
upon you? When shall I find you at
liberty? II have so many things that
l want to say to your
$50 many as that? Wednesday about
8 o'clock, then; but don't be later, or
you may not have time to say them all
before somebody else comes in. Good
night"
There was perhaps shade of mockery
in her tone, but what did that matter
when her eyes expressed nothing but the
tenderest kindliness? Schneider watched
her tall, graceful figure until it disap
peared, and felt that he was indeed a
happy man. 1t was all very well to tell
Lord Guise and other heartless world
lings that he was desirous of marrying
her for the sake of her social position
but to himself he could admit the exist
ence of less discreditable reason than
that. Lady Belvoir would probably
have been quite touched if his thoughts
could have been revealed to her.
fro BE CONTINUED