The morning call., 1890-04-30

in a chair, thinking the vagrant thoughts that
are encouraged if not inspired, by the smoking
OF several cigarettes at sitting. Naturally,
IN his case they were not the pleasantest
thoughts in the world; yet when he got up and
stretched himself and went out to dine his mood
had improved 1t was then O'Clock. He re-
turned at five minutes TO 8, so that his dinner,
wherever he got It. could not have been very
elaborate affair. Dropping once more into his
armchair, he abandoned himself to further
thOught-pOssibly TO think OF n more concen-
trated character tnan before. for single cl gar
cite sustained IL, though the long summer twi-
light went through all its mellow gradatlons, ana
finally deepened into complete darkness before
the young man at last rose and lit the lamp. Ihls
done lie carried the lamp TO pedestal desk, and
sitting down nj The desk drew UP his chair close.
There was now an appearance OF settled purpose
In his manner, and his face was full OF cool de-
termination-it wore In fact the identical eX-
preston that the Cambridge bowlers of that
year have such good reason to remember.
Nettleship had not sat down to write, how
ever. Unlocking drawer In the left
pedestal, he took out OF Il handfus OF photo
graphs Of various sizes, which he heaped together
on the fiat part OF the desk, close 10 the lamp.
Without more ado be proceeded deliberately 10
sort the photographs, throwing most OF them
carelesSly on one side but plcklDg out one In
twenty or so and placing II carefully on the slope
IN front OF him. SO might the modern Paris ap-
proach his 1nvidIous task without embarrass-
ment, the fatal apple already packed up and
tcketed Tor the Parcels Post, for the photo
graphs were nearly all of the other sex. But
there were evidences that this selection
of the fairest. In the first place, The grandest
beauties of the civilized world were tossed aside
without q moments thoughts; In The second, the
selected photographs were all OF one woman, III
the various stages OF her gIlhoOd. The eonclu-
slou was maniiestly foregOne. The chosen wo-
man was Elaine McIlWraith.
Her photogI apis he now arranged In one long
row on the slope of the desk In chronological
order from left 10 right. To the disiuterested
philosopher the series would have offered inter-
estIpg Illustrations of The respective improve
ments in photography and the female dress dur
Ing late years quite apart from the graduated
coming forth OF a most attractive flower of girl
hood. Nettleship's reflections, however, were TO
the point. He shifted The lamp from The lett side
OF the desk 10 the tight, and turned up the WICK.
The strongest rays then fell upon the latest
photographs. Upon these young Nettleship
gaZed long and thougltiu!ly. The act was senti-
mental but the expression OF the actor was moth
ing of the kind. IL was not even lender eX-
preston, nor was it on The other hand coldly cal
culatlng-altogetheri II was merely thoughtful.
Edward NetteShip was making up his mind
He did make up his mind al last, and put to-
6eIher the photographs OF Elaine and restored
them 10 the drawer-where, by the way, they no
longer kept theatrical company, or any company
hOweYer-the latest and the beSt-waS kept out.
Ii was tu-leugth portrait In fancy dress, with
an exhaustive hat, milk pail, mllk-stool, and
other pretty properties; and this really charm
ing picture was stuck up forthwith upon the
chimney piece.
aud for all, and for good. The words upon his
lips as lie blew out the lamp were indicative of
an uneompromislDg attitude.
" She would have liked t well enough once"
he said; " she Will have TO lump it now. The
fool of wOmanl
But this, as II happened was scarcely kind to
the lady alluded 10, seeing that Invitation
card for her " AT HUme " on Friday was even
then gTaYltatlng toward Nettleship'S letterDOX.
To be continued.