The herald., 1893-07-09
A CLUBMAN'S IDEAL.

Baddington knew it wasn't his fault,
but it was deuced hard just the same.
He was young, had pot of money and
was good looking. Yet in all his 25
years he had never excited grande pas
sion; in fact, lie had never been kindled
himself to a wildly adoripg dream of one
fair woman, whose kiss should be like
an electric touch, to send his blood throb-
bing to his temples and make his soul
palpitate like the dickens
And this was the great aching void in
his life. Charlie Baddin. .rton 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 Casino
chorus girl to O'Neill's and open cham
pagne, or have drinking round in the
Figaro with "Black Crook" French
lady, who could assume such an I'M
broken horizontality with her eyes on
the stage Of the Academy, but that was
go easy and SO cheap-in its sentiment,
not in cold cash--that Baddirgton's
yearning was not satisfied. He wanted
to be loved for himself, to win fair
creature without having his pocketbook
90 all the wooing. All the other fellows
at the club seemed to have had several
affaires de cnur. In fact, it seemed
mere wayside diversion, an episode with
them too common to be notable.
He left the club at 80 that Sunday
evening, and as he started up the avenue
this old thought began to Torment in his
mind. He had great deal of Ruinart
in his stomach, and that was rather
stimulus to fancy. His desire rolled
around in hazy atmosphere, which
seemed to soften outlines and intensity
color. There was slight roll in his
walk, too, but at that time there were
few people abroad to mark it, and it
seemed physical rhythm that cradled
the yearning Of his soul tn sort of
peaceful hope.
1t was one Of those hazy nights when
everything swims In violet atmos-
phsre. As he was passing large house
his heart gave sudden jump. There
stood the very realization of his dream
IN the window. Somewhat back, but
looking forth on the warm, duslry night,
charged with diffused moonlight.
Tall, fair, 30 wrapped in contempla-
ton, white 80 the salyx Of an Easter
lily and robed In immaculate drnperiesl
In fact, she might have risen from her
couch and Glad In vestal snowiness of
slumber robes have como to look forth
and ease her heart by silent communion
for awhile With nature.
Baddington felt that if he could only
win her attention at such a moment it
would be the needed turn in Fortunes
wheel. He braced up and essayed q
sprightly air. In faot, he darted bold,
languishing glance at the lovely creature
as he was passing and in desperate bold
ness lifted his hat.
He felt sure that there was slight
movement, as it she had gently waved her
hand. Nothing bold, a sweet maidenly
gesture, prompted by some sudden emo
ton Of tho heart. He could not distin-
guish it we'll, as she stood some distance
within tho room, but he felt it must be
so. It 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 virginal
whiteness, into what might not the game
develop. The other fellows had never
struck such romance as this.
He thought a greakdeal about the mat
ter the next day. How could he ap-
koach this divinity who came in her fair
ness to commune with the lovely peace of
the enight? Perchance she felt some 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-
ment? If he had been moved, and he had,
deeply, why might not a kindred feeling
have stirred her soul? Why not3 There
was no improbability in that.
The thought of Personal suggested
itself. "Will the fair one in white who
noticed an admirer Saturday evening be
at the same place Tuesday if an acquaint-
ance be desirable?' But that seemed
coarse. Charlie had an idea that shop
girls, fortune tefers, dry goods clerks
and such we've the authors Of Person
ais" No! This was ideal or nothing,
and no rude jar must come to dislodgs
the first deliests upspringing Of q unique
sentiment.
If she had remarked him there was q
chance, she might be there again the next
night. He would wander by and see.
He whiled away the slow hours with the
fellows at the club and consumed moro
champagne than usual to beguils the
time Of waiting.
At 1:15 he staxted forth. His brain
was hot, and his heart was beating quick
" as he drew. near the house. Another
moment and he could penetrate into the
room on the first door with his feverish,
filmy gaze.
Yes, she was there! The same white
robed dream. He rubbed bis eyes: It