Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-11-27
III.
FORTUNATE MR.. SCHNEIDER

- W& |
she dreu aside her dress so as to mdke
room for him.
Little Mr.. Schneider was one Of those
fortunate mortals whose lot appears, |
and may we'll appear, enviable to the
rest of humanity. His wealth was
practically boundless; he had no estates,
no relations, no duties, or worries, Or
responsibilities Of any kind; and il he
had also no mentionable% ancestors that
Is but q very small misfortune In the
DAYS in which we live. Nevertheless, like
ninety nine-hundredths Of our perverse
race, he was not satisfied, and the reason
Of his dissatisfaction was that, In spite
Of all his lavish expenditure, he had not
yet succeeded in taking the society Of
the British metropolis by storm.
This feat he was ~passionately, patheti-
calIy DESTROYS Of accomplishing, and
there Is nc saying what price he would
have considered too heavy to pay for the
privilege of admission into those inner
circles on the edge Of which he lowered
with longing, wistful eyes. His ambi-
ton was not q very exalted nor q very
sensible one, but at least 1t was harm
less; and, in truth, little Mr.. Schneider
was a harmless little man, though, Of
course, he would not have liked to be 70
described. His impression of himself
was that he was q terrible fellow, and
that the pace at which he lived was
enough to take anybody's breath away.
The pace at which he drove was GER
tainly calculated to produce that effect
upon those who sat behind him; but this
was because he had not the slightest
control over his horses and wa blessed
with the sublime courage OF ignorance.
It is impossible to say how he man
aged to get his coach in and out Of the
park and through the crowded streets of
London without killing himself and his
freight; probably he might have been
less lucky on q stretch of country road.
That he always found plenty Of people
willing to accompany him on these peril
GUS excursions only shows what risks the
impecunious Briton will face unfinch-
lngly. At race meetings Mr.. Schneider's
sound, rosy face had latterly become OBJ
served by all observers, not so much on
account of the animals he owned, al
though he always had a few in training,
as of the p%rodigious bets with which he
alternately delighted and exasperated
the bookmakers.
That indolent cynic, Lord Guise, took
him up, thinking that some amusement
might be got out of him. Lord Guise
valued London society about as much as
everybody values what is to be had for
the asking. He knew, what many less
highly placed individuals have discov-
cred, that this society is not composed
of specially agreeable or talented or even
well bred units; and that, unlike that Of
most European capitals, It's doors will
always yield to the pressure Of a golden
key. He himself, therefore, did not
care to figure prominently at its gather.
ings; but he was willing enough to fit
little S~chneider's golden latchkey into
the lock for him. Few things tickled
him more than to watch the dealings Of
nobly born ladies with rich parvenus.
The ladies, he had noticed, almost in.
variably have to swallow more dirt
than the parvenus, and if they make
ugly faces over it, as they sometimes do,
that is great fun.
II think you said you didn't know
Lady Belvoir," he remarked one day t.
his protege. Would you like to know
herr
This was very much the same thing az
asking a struggling artist whether hi
would like to know the president OF thu
Royal academy, or q subaltern whether
he would like to know the commander
in-chief; but Schneider, who had studiee
the manner of the best young men o
the day, felt it incumbent upon him Il
dissemble his glee. He looked down q
his boots, sighed YEARLY and putteret
something Of which the word ode
lighted" was alone Ineligible.
"Oh, not unless you wish," said LORI
Guise laughing. II only thought that
a. you are fond Of going to parties, yo1
might care to be invited to hers. Be
sides she has personal merits. Somebod,
said Of some woman Of other that t
know her was q liberal education. Well
its quite an education 70 know Sybi
Belvoir, though I don't say that IL
quite the sort Of education which
should select for my son, If I were IN
fortunate enough to have a son."
II dare say she won't be able to tel
me much that I don't know" observe,
Mr.. Schneider, with . complacent smile
II suppose not" assented Lord Guis
gravely. "She sometimes makes m
open my eyes; but then I'm wonderful
ly innocent for my age. Well. then, II
introduce you to her at Paddingtol
House tonight. By the way, are yo1
going to Paddington Houses Not had
card2 Never mind; you car dine witt
me, and we'll go on there together. Tina
will be all right"
Schneider had much ado to keep him
self from Jumping for Joy. Hitherto h
had derived little social advantage iron
his intimacy with Lord Guise, but thi
was an offer Of which he somewhat e1
sggerated the generosity and signif
cance. The Duchess Of Paddington wa
agrest lady, and the duke was grea
even among dukes, but perhaps the
were q little too great to be exclusive.
At any rate when they threw ope
their magnificent ballroom the crow
which poured into IL was apt to contai
quite as many nobodies as celebrities
There was not the least fear Of their OF
jecting to the entrance OF any uninvite
guest for whom Lord Guise might &c
ft to make himself responsible. Nc
realizing this, Mr.. Schneider arraye
himself with more than usual care, an
joyfully accompanied his kind sponsc
20 the big house Of which the outside
known to all Londoners and the indd
to not . few. His reception was mo-
gratifying, for the duchess shook hand
with him, and the duke, he was fAttere
10 find. knew quite well who he was.
i've often seer you At Newmarke
Mr.. Schneider" said that good nature
magnate; ''in fact you are aracing MAJ
believe, are you notY"
"Oh, only In q very modest way" u
swered Schneider, who was Doubt,
whether he ought not TO say lyon
grace" but decided that IL would |
safer to omit that eeremonious form
address.
"H'ml / don't know about modes
you're the terror ,ok the ring, they e
me. As for me, I've been racing al N
life and never had . bet; but I'm exec
tional, I suppose"
The duke was exceptionally wealth
and could therefore afford to race wit
mt haffinr INIT Schneider. not Hiking