The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-22
BARKER.


has been the bane of my existence. We
were at school together, and he made me
break the rules so often that was never
free from punishment, or ever able to
come within measurable distance of the
hight of my anbition-the gOod-conduct
prize. When I demonstrated with him
he said it did not matter, only mutfs
ever got conduct prizes; but it did matter.
My aunt had promised to give me SOW
ereign the first time I brought home
prize, and, thanks to Barker, she has that
sovereign still.
Later in life we found ourselves in the
same Office in the city. Barker attached
himself to me on the strength of our old
school-fellowship, and again made my
life miserable. He is bumptiOus, self
assertive, healthy, athletic sort Of man,
is Barker, while l am modest and nerV-
Gus. He forced himself upon me, and
then did the most reckless things mag
Unable without thought of what the con-
sequences might be. He would, even
without ticket, enter train in motion
sooner than miss it, and, what was worse,
il | was with him he would drag me after
him. If / ventured TO hint that we were
breaking the bylaws and might be sum-
moned, he laughed and said it would be
ever he did that he should not have done
would be all right-and l must say he was
lucky.
The ticket-collectors always took his
word and his money without even hint
ing that he had been trying to detraud
the company, and porters have actually
aided ana abetted him by opening doors
and saying, Come along, SIR" when
they ought to have stopped him--but then
Barker always tips porters.
lie had tandem tricycle., too, and he
made me go for rides on it with him. AS
soon as we were out of town he didn't
care much what he did. If we passed a
nice park or a wood, he would propose
that We should turn in and have a smoke,
and when pointed out that there was a
board up threatening trespassers with
prosecution he would laugh, and, as
usual, say it would be all right. lie al
ways left the lamp behind, assuring me
that we should be back before dark, but
we never were, and Tor the last mile or
two | used TO ride in fear and trembling,
though we were never stopped. believe
Barker bribed the police.
Luckily L consulted my doctor about
tricycling, and he said l was too nervous
Tor it, so Barker had to find another VIC
tim. l joined a lawn-tennis club-Bar-
ker said tennis was all right when men
played alone, but that women turned it
into babies game, so / thought | should
be free from him there-and through that
/ became engaged to Sophy Bell. We
had been engaged some time when we
had little discussion about going TO the
theaIer, which led to-Dut you will see
what it led to if you read to the end; So
without further explanation, l will re-
produce as much OF 1t as concerns my
story.
Really, Algernon, 1 don't much care
about going at all" said Sophy; but
there were tears in her eyes as she spoke,
and knew that she did care therefore l
spoke firmly, but mildly insisted upon
my point
THAT is nonsense" 1 said. "You
know you have been looking forward to
1t for months. Three weeks ago you
asked me whether l had got the tickets
yet"
Yes, but then she began, and
stopped. Then, apparently recognizing
how foolish she had been, she sighed and
added: "Never mind, dear. pll go if
you wish it,
''Of course 1 wish to give you pleas
ure, Sophy," I replied. And, really.
"Ohi for goodness sake, don't begin all
that over again." she interrupted, speak
ing with a tartness that surprised me.
Its settled now, and l will be ready
by hal.-past six. Mind you are not late,
SIR"
But, Sophy," L protested, 'if l come
down for you 1t will cost me threepence
each way, and, besides, there is no time.
The doors open at 1870. ana we ought to
be there at least three-q uarters of an hour
before that. suppose you meet me in
front of st. PauPs at e. We can easily
walk from there"
She gave me a glance the meaning of
which l could not fathom, then sighed
again, and said she would be there. l
explained to her how by starting in
md L ~ Of ,a
she could save penny in bus fare, and
we parted in the usual manner.
AS l walked home | thought that, per-
haps, had made a mistake in ever tax
ing SOphy TO the theater at all. Probably
l never should have done so, but, when
we were first engaged, a man who owed
money to our firm had sometimes given
me orders. They were always for two
and 1t had seemed a pity not to make use
of them, but, unfortunately, | never told
Sophy that did not pay for our places,
and when that man died suddenly l
found myself pledged, on the strength of
promise from him. to take her to see
Gentle Gladys" at the lrreproachable
Our engagement had reached the practi-
cally-sentimental stage, when money
saved should mean furniture bought, and
! hoped she would cordially fall in with
my suggestion, that on this occasion we
should go To the gallery.
She disappointed me. | am not mean
man, but L do object to paying eight
shlilings when you can get practically
the same article for two, and | could
not make Sophy understand that the
gallery IS, practically. just the same as the
upper circle. She said she thought l
could afford something better, and though
told her II was not question of what
l could afford but of where we should get
the best value for money, she maintained
that looking at the matter in that light
took all the pleasure out of (which is
absurd; for what can be more exhilarat-
ing than the thought that you have made
better bargain in amusement than your
neighbors.
1t was this tendency towards obliuuity
of economic vision which made me sorry
! had accustomed her to think l was in
the habit of spending money unnecessa-
rily, and l wished l had, at least told her
about those orders. 1t was too late, how
ever, to do that now, so l met her outside
st. PauPs as per arrangement, hoping
that practical experience Of the gallery
would convince her that, considering
everything, especially prices, it was the
best part OF the house.
The usual trequenters of the Irreproacb-
able gallery are as respectable as the the
ter itself, which, of course, is saying a
great deal. but that evening, unfortu-
nately, an Objectionable character had
thrust himself in among them, probably
by mistake, and. still more unfortunateIv
he sat just i'll front us. We had veTy
good places in the middle of the secOnd
row, and, as l told Sophy, we ouCht to
enjoy ourselves thoroughly if We could
manage to ignore our disreputable neigh
Dor.
Unfortunately again. he would not AL
low himself TO be ignored. l believe he
meant We'll. too, and have no doubt he