The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-01-27

| Nugilnk,
fBut seriouslyn persisted Lady NIL
dred, ~ don't like to think OF that child
IN the thick Of such crowd. He has one
OF those wicked little Shetland ponies, too,
which might oyerpower hill at any mo.
ment"
Summing, with his mout full Of but
tered toast, was understoc to say that
he would like TO see the posiy that could
overpower him.
Lord Staines chuckled. "He can take
care Of himself-tlust himl All the same,
| think Bracknell might 90 out with the
boy.n
| Summing, having swallowed his toast,
informed us that his father never rode In
London. "And mustn't ride with
mother when he's there, y he added,
pointing greasy forefnger at Beau
champ.
"Ehf-whatf-who7" calculated Lord
Staines, pricking up his ears.
And Summing did not mend matters by
continuing, In his lisping, childish treble,
Before he came there was another
gentleman, but ! think he's gone away
now. Mother says not TO ride with her
when there's gentleman"
would he be SO very much In your
wayy' asked Indy Mildred, turning to
Beauchamp, with just the faintest touch
OF disdain In her voice.
mot the least in the world, v answered
the young man. II am very sorry If l
have prevented Lady Bracknell from TAX
ing him out, and the next time-if there
Is next time-I'll make point Of re-
questing the faror OF his company. But
really, don't ride with Lady Bracknell
very often" !"
"Eyely day. said the relentless Sun
ming emphatically.
This was little embarrassing, but
Beauchamp, though young, was man Of
experience, and his serenity was not cas-
lily disturbed. you don't mean to say
SOY" he exclaimed. Pm very much
ashamed OF myself, and I'll apologize 10
Lady Bracknel the next time see her.
But that is just the sort OF stupid thing
that I'm always doing. She good nat
nredly asked me to ride with her one day,
and suppose ] must have kept on going
ever since from force OF habit. I'll tie u
Knot in my pocket handkerchief at once,
so that may remember to forget TO go
Tomorrow"
l don't Know whether he was only anx-
ious TO stifie suspicion, or whether he still
contemplated the possibility of an ultimate
unicn with Lady Mildred; but he made
the next quarter Of an hour, and when be
took his leave Lord Staines, who had evi-
IDENTIFY been alarmed for a moment,
seemed 70 be quite reassured.
Jim, after we had left the house to-
gether, informed me casually that he con-
sidered the manners and customs Of saw
ages very superior upon the whole to those
OF 30 called civilized Christians, but de-
clined to enter more fully into the subject
when invited TO do So ''It doesn't mat
ter; only that's my opinion he said.
am not acquainted with the customs
OF savages, except by hearsay; but our
own. ! freely admit might be improved
upon. One very tiresome custom, which,
fear, has become almost epidemic among
us Of late, Is that Of entertaining long
suffering spectators with tableaux vivants.
Beauchamp had the honor of figuring in
the only tableau OF the evening which his
hostess proposed to grace personally; that,
namely, in which her ladyship, as Andro-
media, with her beautiful bare arms
chained above her head and her bronze
hair ripping down over her shoulders, was
rescued from destruction by very saxon
looking Perseus. ! ventured to suggest
that Braeknell might represent the mon
ster, but this was considered to be prop
osition OF doubtful taste, and as no one
else volunteered to undertake that un-
grateful part, we had an appalling creature
constructed out OF inanimate materials for
the occasion.
II only 1t had been permissible to make
use Of an inanimate Perseus into the bar
gain, ] should have been sfared much
mental wear and tear and a grieyous
waste Of time; for Beauchamp declared
that he was physically incapable OF stand
ing on one leg for sixty consecutive sec
onds, and II was obvious that unless he
stood upon one leg he would spoil the
whole thing. had to put him through q
somplete course Of gymnastics, and even
q L l.. l. IL