The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-05-01
Hathorne made up my mind that I was

EatnOrne maue up my mlnu UnaJ L was
going to profit by it.
He began to be attentive to Lofty in the
winter of our last year at school, which
was little early, for though he usually
looked over the buds of each year in the
spring before they came out he rarely took
much notice of them before they appeared
in their Easter bravery. But at whatever
time he applied himself he was sure of sue
cess. Often did Neddy Tryf1eham expert
ence the CALLING pang of seeing girl whom
he had carefully worked up while she was
yet in her bread-and- butter days snatched
away from him before his very eyes by
Bran the Irresistible. Mr.. Boullter was
quite impecunious, everybody knew he was
not serious, and there was not girl in
town who did not adore him and long to
play at believing in him.
My satisfaction, then, can well be inn
agined when one day Mr.. Boullter took it
into his head that he sufficiently desired to
speak to Lofty to stride after her in the
street as she, was walking with me and to
join us both with gay air that proclaimed
that he didn't care whether he knew me or
not. OF course Lofty presented him to me,
and walked along on the inside, greatly
triumphing, and, to my surprise, perfectly
cool. He had on a gray walking coat,
rough and loose, his trousers were gray
and of elegant cut, and it seemed to me
then as if there was something almost di-
vine in the way his collar and cravat har-
monized with his sunburned neck and crisp
golden hair He naturally directed most
of this conversation to Lofty, and at inter-
walls only slipped in a word to me. When
we reached the doorstep these was halt.
/ could not go in, and Mr. Boullter de-
clined Lotty's invitation to lunch We
had met him going in the opposite direc-
tion, and though knew that his concern
was only with Lofty, just as he was pre-
pairing to pretend to leave me with her
looked at him. He afterward declared that
gave him broadside "that raked me
fore and aft, assure you, Miss Ethel"
but at the time he behaved with great cool
ness. merely remarking, as if he had in
tended to say it all the time: And if
Miss Jones will permit me, will escort
her home. I am going to my Office, pro-
test, and it won't take me at all out of my
way" wanted horribly to wink at Lofty,
but was afraid to do so, so walked off
without throwing my umbrella up in the
air or indulging In any expressions of tri-
umph.
He was actually by my side, my property
for the time being; on me those eyes were
bent, to me that adorable voice spoke. He
was just trifie more interested than he
had been, but l was rather calm. knew
that this walk was only tentative. He
talked easily about having heard of me
from my friend, Miss Hathorne; limited
that he understood that was clever at my
pen, and said he hoped to see me next win
ter.
,c4 Ill
out much, Mr.. Boullter, " said I. went
on Immediately (forI didn't want him to
think l was "fishing'O. "a young person
who is possessed Of talents as remarkable
as mine are, according to your account,
had better occupy herself in cultivating
them rather than in"-
"Now, don't blackguard society before
you see it," said Bran, interrupting me,
it's quite a jolly place, you know"
~ am very fond of my books, however,"
answered.
'"The proper study of womankind is
man." said he. Then he began to smile.
"If you prefer to study the individual
rather than the race shall be very happy
to give you object lessons"
II Think" said /, ''that should prefer
to begin with race characteristics. Then /
could better understand the individual"
s'I fancy" said he, ethat you understand
both pretty well,n
/ am free to say that I think | did. /
knew instinctivelY that it would be COM
monplace to ask him to be good to me if
did go out; knew that / couldn't make
him want to do SO by asking him point
blank to do it, or by letting him see that I
had led up the conversation to making him
offer to do it, and felt that the true way
to encourage him was to refuse his advances
by word of mouth and accept them by word
of eye.
'Thank you for the compliment" said /,
SIN return for which shall have to accept
your offer of the object lessons-on condi-
tion that you let me choose the object"
Certainly" he replied; II should not
care myself to be the object"
"Ah?" said I. I came terribly near be-
ing afraid that he was piqued, and hasten
ing to say that wished him to be the OBJ
ject, for I did not foresee quibble.
Because" he went on, II should prefer
to be-a-your subject, you know" The
pun was not good, even for pun, bat it
certainly pleased me; and the killing little
way in which he said 'your subject quite
overcame me. Luckily for my presence of
mind our door was just at hand, and
SOAlN tSh Aiiil VI rug uiC uCil, NOOuutSSl
how victorious felt! Unless my unprac-
ticed eyes deceived me, he wanted me to
ask him to come in. But did not do so,
and as he held out his hand Git was un-
necessary, to be sure, but had made eyes
at him) he said:
"When I next come this way hope that
it may be''-
"With an object" said !, finishing the
sentence for him with as much calmness as
possible.
Ny delight was only natural; and my
rest was disturbed that night by dazzling
visions of future successes and glories. Ny
anticipations had formerly been somewhat
vague, but that day felt the full force of
a material, distinct desire, I wanted to
know every man in town so that might
vanquish each one in turn if possible-and
/ wanted, oh. how wanted, to get into the
full swing of pleasure and go it'll That
familiar if vulgar phrase exactly expresses
what meant; and determined that when
/ got the chance l would ego it." and /
think that before finally stopped building
air castles and dropped off to sleep added,
''and with yengeancep
The chance to know more men arrived
sooner than had expected.
Lofty had been permitted by her mother.
in anticipation of her going out, to fill
their country house with young people for
week in the end of June, and the dear
girl immediately wrote to say that she
must of course have me. "As you may
imagine, Ethel, F" she said, 'you and are
to be the mot outs of the team. A GER
tain person. she continued, smay be angry