The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-07-07
A CLUBMAN,'S IDEAL.

Baddington knew it wasn't his fault,
but it was deucel hard just the same.
He was young, had IL pot Of 0 and
was good looking. Yet in all his %
years he had never excited Il grando pas
sion; in fact. he had never been kindled
himself to a wildly adoring dream of one
fair mi whose kiss should be like
an electric touch, to send his blood throb-
bling to his temples and make his soul
palpitatc like the dickens.
And this was the great aching void in
his life. Charlie Baddington was wor-
ried with this idea. He used to hear the
fellows at the club talk about things of
that kind, and they, all Of them, were so
much more successful than he in having
affairs. OF course he could take q Casino
chorus girl to ONeills and open cham
payne. or have a drinking round in the
Figaro with u "Black Crook" French
lady, who could assume such an I'M
broken horizontally with her eyes on
the stage of the Academy, but that was
SO easy and so cheap-in its sentiment,
not i'll cold cash-that Baddington's
ycarning was not satisfied. He wanted
to be loved for himself, to win a fair
creature without having his pocketbook
do all the wooing. All the other fellows
at the club seemed to have had several
a~tfaires de cnur. In fact, it seemed
mere way. lie diversion, an episode with
them too cOmmo to be notable.
He left the club at 1870 that Sunday
evening, and as he started up the avenue
this old thought began to fernlent in his
mind. He had a great deal of Ruinart
in his stomach, and that was rather a
stimulus to fancy. His desire rolled
around III a haZy atmosphere, which
seemed to soften outlines and intensity
color. There was n slight roll in his
walk, too, but at that time there were
few people abroad to mark it, and it
seemed q physical rhythm that Graded
the ycarnin" of his soul to u sort of
peaceful hope.
1t was one Of those hay nights when
everything swims in a violet atmos-
phere. AS he was passing a large house
his heart gave II sudden jump. There
stood the very realization of his dream
in the window. Somewhat back. but
looking forth IN tine warm, dusky night.
charged with diIfused moonlight.
Tall. fair. 50 wrapped in contempla-
ton, white as the calyX of an Easter
lily and ROBBED III immaculate draperiCs.
In fact, she might have risen from her
couch and clad III vcstal snowincss of
slumber robes have come TO look forth
and ease her heart by silent communion
for awhile with nature.
Baddington felt that if lie could only
win her attention at such II moment it
would be the needed turn in Fortunes
wheel. He braced up and essayed Il
sprightly air. In fact, he darted a bold,
languishinS glance ut the lovely creature
as he was passing and in desperate bold
ness lifted his hat.
He felt sure that there was a slight
movement, as if she had gently waved her
hand. Nothing bold, II sweet maidenly
gesture, prompted by some sudden emo
ton of the heart. He could not distin-
guish it well, as she stood some distance
within the room, but he felt it must be
SO. 1t was so, he was sure
He made his way home with a wild
satisfaction in his mind. If he had ex-
cited an interest in that pure, graceful
creature, standing there in her virginia.
whiteness, into what might not the game
develop. The other fellows had never
struck such a romano as this.
He thought a great deal about the mat,
ter tho next day. How could he APP
proach this divinity who came in her fair
nesst to m with the lovely leaccof
II night? Perchance she felt somG yearn-
ing like that in his own breast and had
stolen from her cosy chamber in that still
hour to breathe it forth by that look up
on the sweet peace Of the world. Who
could tell what impression he had created
as he passed before her vision at that mo
mcnt? If he had been moved, and he had
deeply, why might not a kindred feeling
have stirred her soul! Why not! There
was no im~probability in that.
: The thought Of n personal" suggested
, itself. Twill the fair one in white wir
: noticed AN admircr Saturday evening bc
. at the same place Tuesday il An acqnaint
ance DC dcblrablci' But that seemed
> cOarHc. Charlie had AN idea that shop
girls, fortune t~cllcrH, dry goods clerk
. and such were the authors Of "pcrson
. alg." No, This wha Ideal or nothing
v and no rude jar must come 10 disl"dg'
the first dcli""t" ~ ".rln" H2of auniqII'
sentiment.
~ riG had r~"ipHlLrd him there WIS
? chance, t.o might bG tli'Io again the ncx
night. IL N'uiI wand"r by and nee
he whilcd nwnY tho rio" hours wIiIi tn
fellows nL the 'lu, iuuI rmtunl"d MOI