The Portland daily press., 1892-09-07

taking cue from the rack and testing
the balls on the nearest table.
'Heriol Peyton, old boy!"
"Why, Carroll Meredith! Is that your
The greetings were simultaneous, as
their eyes met; and the last conner
grasped Fitzhugh's hand warmly, as he
queried:
ssWhere in thunder do you come
from? Haven't heard OF you since we
parted in Paris last year"
''Yet I've been over here three
months, and been a good deal in socie.
ty-"
Damn society,"" calculated Carroll
Meredith, with perfunctory profanity;
adding, with largely-lac<ing respect:
whats in it, anyway? A lot of green
girls and greener SHIPS, or, worse yet,
old boys and girls playing young. !
hate mutton dressed lamb fashion, Pey'
ton. Got sick of it long ago. By George!
you're old enough to know it all through.
too"
.'Stopl No allusion to my age" Fitz-
hugh laughed. "Come, let's have glass
of wine to the jolly days in Paris"
"Um-um!" Meredith shook his head
rather ruefully. .sCan't do 1t, old boy.
Never drink anything now. Why, I've
tasted nothing but coffee since I got
home. You know my love for It? Well,
I'm the moral bachelor of the club now. .
"You always were; but now you look
it," the other laughed back.
."That's exposure. just back from q
duck hunt" Meredith retorted, with a
| quick glance in the mirror. '"That con-
| founded nose Of mine colored like a
| meerschaum years ago; but am regu'
| lar Father Mathew. now"
"Well, try carom game while we
| talk" Fitzhugh proposed. II suppose
| your morals won't blush If drink a
| glass Of champagne? I've been at q
| swell musicale; but it was too union
there to suit my taste, SO I slipped of
before supper. Carroll. why does Mrs.
| Gray"
The other man had crossed to tho
rack. At the name, the cue he grasped
hung half suspended, as he wheeled
and stared at the speaker.
Pardon me- the other continued,
courteously. 81 had forgotten thai
Gilmor Gray was your cousin. But,
| really, to us the bluecoats must CRATE q
bit. 1 suppose there's good reason TO,
it sometimes diplomacy, convenience
or what not; but I don't care for toe
much of it myself"
Carroll Meredith glanced cautiously
and quickly about the room, then into
the hall, approaching the table az
though about to say something serious
Then, suddenly changing his mind, he
asked, bluntly:l
/ "Why didn't you go across, them
You're virginian. great rider and q
crack shot. Mosby needs men; so does
Stuart. But perhaps my question is
ssNot the least in the world" Fitz
hugh replied, suavely. I've only
been back awhile, and I'm SO deucet
lazy, you know. Besides, there's moth
ing doing across just now. In the
spring I will be in my native state
| And, Carroll"---he drew closer, looking
steadily in the others eyes, and hi,
voice grew vibrant, with q solemn ring
in tiff the end does not show me
worthy of my name and race, may YOU
all-may God Himself-curse the trai
tors grave in which ie."
| The Marylander extended frankly
his strong, brown hand, as he said
warmly:
1 pardon my swkwardness, Peyton
I'm blunt, rough fellow, not one o.
you society men, but I'm man enough
TO recognize another when meet him
I know you're all right, old boy. The
fellow that out-boxed, out-wrestled and
outran me at Charlottesville, that tooA
away my prettiest partner at Mabille
could never funki I'll hear of you yet
Here, Samy' he called to the negro I'D.
vancing with the wine cooler. s'brine
another slasst -Peyton, old fellow, III
take just one drink to your coming
shoulder strsps!"
The clock on the mantel chimed
eleven as the two men drained their
glasses. The Virginian's black eyes
shot one anxious glance at the dial
then, as they rested on the frank, ruddy
face Of his companion, something crept
into them that was not all pity, nor yet
wholly contempt For Meredith snacked
his lips crying with laugh:
"A-ah!s that coca to. The spot! By
Geergelf lie lilso rsin after drought
It's your plays Here, Sam, ell this up. =
And he drained another. foaming goblet
of the ice-cold wine
Somehow Fftzhugh played very bad
billiards, missing easy shots under his
friends Rood-natured banter.
Hang It, my nervesaxe out OF gear,
he cried as he lost q simple carom.
''Finish that fzz, Casrolls It's q wom-
an's drink at the best I want 9
bracer. Here, Samr' -he struck the
; gong on the mantel-"bring me some
cognac." sg45s-4.
"Finish nothingr' the other player
J retorted 'That bottles empty already
Bring two cognacs. Sam. Damn it
bring the bottlc!" -..---
II fro BE Continued