Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12
CHAPTER ".

CdAPQER Nv.
Is 1t necessary for me to say that didn't get
more than forty winks sleep the whole night
think not Any man who happens to have
an altogether charming daughter, . girl on
whom he has lavished money, who has all the
accomplishments which fit o young woman to
shine in society, to be the special admiration of
select circle, the leader in every charitable
association, young woman cminently deserv-
ing to have her name appear in the court Jour-
nal as the beautiful and accomplished daughter
OF the eminent London merchant, Norman
Worthistan, will know how felt Now. doubt
less, you have heard the old saying that man
who smokes thinks like a philosopher. Well,
have an old saw that beats that clear out Of
sight. 1t is this: The man who can shave
himself neatly and smoothly can think like
a philosopher. So the moment the day
light came I arose and, drawing the cur
tam aside, let in flood Of that de-
llclous light which carries such q healing
balm to the tired hearts of the invalids who
swarm to this part of the world. Then began
to shave working n soft white lather and ap-
plying 1t to my heated skin with the hand o. an
adept at the art of Kidding the human face of its
barbs and prickles, and, as my keen-edge6 Shelf
neid razor gllded caressingly over my cheeks,
L thought what a fool I'd been to get angry with
my darling Sylvia. She's flower of the parent
stem, delicate, but high spirited and a bit stub
born wlthal. | should have smoothed her down
just as am smoothing myself down this very
moment should not have taken matters SO
seriously. l think I've told Won the weather
was delicious; the weather Is ALWAYS delicious
here. No wonder the people of this country
are not to be compared to us Englishmen: they
can't help it, the weather makes them SO. Too
much sunshine will ruin anybody's DISPOSE
ton.
At last had finished dressing myself and
walked out into the garden to wait for Maria
and Sylvia. was bit nervous. Suppose they
should refuse to be comforted? Suppose they
should receive my advances coldly and indif-
ferently! You can never tell what a woman is
going to do until she has doue it. grew more
nervous every moment and began to pace up
and down the white sanded walks. hat in hand,
trying my best to keep my face from growing
rcd. tor l wanted to be perfectly calm, per-
fectly at ease. Suddenly tall and elegantly
dressed young man confronted me- His broad
shoulders, blond beard, button-hole bouquet
and general appearance told me that he was a
young Engishman. l suddenly recollected
having seen him in the dining room, and had
noticed. too, that he was making eyes at my
Sylvia bowed; he bowed.
Mr.. orthlstan OF Worthistan 4 Co., Lon
don, believe" he remarked, stretching out
his vigorous English palm and giving me
most cordial grip.
'.The same, at your service" said I.
my name is John Puddleford of Puddleford
pilates, rs Leadenhall street, London"
"Ah yes, know your firm BIZ reputation"
l replied. The LEADING, London house in tina;
line. Delighted to meet you. Mr.. Puddleford."
Thanks, returned the young man. bowling
very low II have the honor of knowing yous
charming daughter, but" and here Mr.. Puddle
ford came TO a dead halt and colored up some
what
Suddenly the whole truth broke in upon nv
mind like flash of lightning. Young Puddle
ford was in love with Sylvia, but hesitated TO
speak because his father and he we're dealers
in bone dust and American phosphates. Here
was genuine modesty for you. / felt like clasp
ing the young man to my breast. Bone dust
and phosphates! Who dares say that dealing
in bone dust and phosphates is not quite as
noble calling as buying and selling palm oil?
Why the hand of Providence had brough,
about this meeting The materials which our
two houses dealt in had a genuine affinity
for each other. The bone dust had soaked
up the palm oil, SO to speak We we're
already COMPLIMENTARY. more, friends. We
fitted into each others heart just rs the bone
dust licked up the palm oil. knew the Pud-
dlefOrds to be a very rich firm, and as for the
junior member, who stood in my presence, be
was young fellow of most gallant bearing. 1t
seemed to me that had never seen e band
somer fellow. Why. Hampton was nowhere.
How could Sylvia hesitate n moment as to
where she should place her affections. espe-
cially when came to coax. to plead, to call
her by all the pet names which We had invented
for her when she was a child. 1 would drop
tear if necessary to bring her to terms.
With these thoughts in my mind made q
jump for Puddleford, just as a wrecked sailor
reaches out for life buoy. l wrung his hand
l called him My dear Puddleford, told him
to speak out, that the bone dust and palm oil
had already united into homogeneous mix
ture and that it was high time for our thoughts
our feelings. uur-but 1 could ray no more,
could only gasp out: "Speak, my Gear Pud-
dieford, speak,
.'As l was going to say, sir" he resumed,
"this fellow, this Ugh Ampton, sir
But let him get no further. This delicious
allusion to Hampton's vulgar habit of drop
ping his h caused me to burst out Into fit of
most immoderato laughter. should have top
Piled over if young Puddleford hadn't encircled
me with his strong arms; and there we stood
while we laughed and laughed until We were
red in the face and quite out of breath
ugh 'Amptoni Ugh 'Ampton r. repeated,
gurgling and chuckling and giggling until it
almost seemed as If must expire from my
own excessive jollity.
But at last quoted down bit and gave
young Puddleford chance to state his case
Go on, my dear boy. 60 on" l murmured
hoarseiy. You love my daughter Sylvia, aud
what you want mo to do is to get Ugh 'Ampton
out o: the way"
''Hexactlyf' said Puddleford gravely, and
then began roaring again.
''Oh, don't, don't, Puddleford, beg Of You
Don't" cried, wiping away the tears
well, you see, governor" be went on even
more gravely, "'ere's 'ow matters stand do
love Miss Sylvia, but feel that IL would be
'ardly worth my while to hotter 'er my and 40
long as she's hunder the Influence of this Mr.
Ugh 'Ampton.''
As Puddleford came 70 halt looked him
square in the face, and, to my more than hor-
rOr, saw that the young fellow was not AZ I
had, thought, ridiculing Hampton's habit Of
dropping his his, but was absolutely and actin
ally conversing in his own natural everyday
style. Bounding up from my seat gave 3
smothered cry Of despair and rushed into the
house and upstairs to my room. / threw nv
self into an easy chair by the window You
could have strangled mo with Q cotton thread.
In fact, was ready to die. Il seemed to me
that Hampton stood on one aldo of me and
Puddieford on the other, and that they werc
piling their his up with the fiend-
ish intent of smothering me be-
meath the heap. I was now ON the |
other sido Of tho garden. The sun was we'll M
by this timo and the blue bay In front Of the |
hotel and the jagged peaks Of the Esserel in the
purple distance made up lovely scene. I was
appeased by its beauty and a. sat there voices |
flowed IN upon me from the veranda Just below |
me One OF them, cioar and distinct recog-
nizod ct once a. that fellow Hampton'a Against |
my viii, somehow. caught what the man was
saying.
He was At Eton with ME at nrst, you know,
and after that at Christ Church"
The fellow'a impertinencel A born advent
urer, no doubt! Trying to palm himself OF |
s1v> L. u -