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

sldCelu41y throughout Inc rest Oh Inc per
Torrance. He did his best to fiirt with
Sophy, who, however, did not encourage
him, but though she kept saying, Don't,
Mr.. Barker" you shouldn't say such
things" and "Do be quiet" he went on
saying the things-jokes he thinks them
and he wouldn't be quiet. He talked
to the girls next to him, whom | am sure
he had never seen before, and, though
they had so plainly resented the adj
yances of the Objectionable Character,
didn't seem to mind Barker bit, while
even the deVotees, as l have called them,
smiled indulgently at him when he made
fun of the play.
How is it that Barker can do such things
with impunity? Ii / had talked to those
girls, which, of course, l would not have
done without an introdu etion, they would
probably have snubbed me, and if they
hadn't Sophy would have been vexed,
yet she simply beamed on Barker. AS
for the other people they would havetold
me they had paid to listen to the actors,
or something equally cutting, yet they
let Barker chatter on without murmur.
How IS 1t, say?
But to proceed The drama dragged
itself to an end at last. The education
gentleness of Gladys proved
too weak to Withstand her natural tend
ency to homicidal mania inherited from
her maternal great-grand father, who
once, when in liquor, shot man of the
Barker species. She killed all her hus-
bands-she had three, L think-aud most
of her children, and was led Oft to dur
ance, more or less vile, while the few sur
vlving characters shook their heads and
sighed. Then the curtain went down
and we went out to catch, as l thought
bus for our suburb; but Ireckoned with
out Barker.
Now, you two would like a bit OF sup
PERI" said he.
"Oh, yes, Algernon. please. 1 am so
hungry" exclaimed Sophy, who always
was inclined TO speak impulsively.
My dear" L demonstrated, there is
no time. The last bus leaves st. PauFs
Churchyard at l1:30."
st Paul's Churchyard," broke in Bar
ker In his overbearing way. "What on
earth is the man talking about? Your
buses pass this corner"
ION! Mr.. Barker, don't you know we
save penny each by walking to st.
PauPs?" said SOphy. very properly, l
thought.
Barker burst into his brutal laugh.
Though anxiety to save penny is not a
thing to laugh at, l was not surprised
at Barker-but why did Sophy laugh too?
Really, women are incomprehensIble.
oh! hang the expense for once" he
said. You can get up here and Pill
stand the extra two d. There'll be lots
of time"
l shuddered as thought of the num-
Der of trains l had been dragged into by
the collar all through Barkers idea Of
the period of time that amounted 10
"lots."
But all the perforated bun places are
closed.' 1 objected.
"Oh! bother perforated buns" retorted
Barker. Its my birthday, man, and, if
Miss Bell graciouSly consents, we will
sup tonight on something stronger than
perforated bun. The 'Gargantuan is
just opposite"
1t was not Barker's birthday, unless he
had one in March as we'll as August, and
though the "Gargantuan' was just oppo-
site, do not approve of that luxurious
restaurant. 1t is perfectly respectable, Of
course, but-but-well, l don't think it is
exactly suited to people of limited, if suf-
tlclent. incomes and quiet tastes, espe-
clalIy when they are about to marry. Its
spaclousness, and its decorations, and its
walters and appointments generally, tend
to make a girl disconnected with the
humble neatness of her future home. 1t
was all very well for Barker to say, and
Sophy to agree with him, that it was only
once III a way; but there is prOVerb
about the thin end of the wedge, and
even as we crossed the Strand to reach the
"Gargantuan" L was full Of dismal fore
bodings that Sophy would some day ask
me to take her there again.
| didn't enjoy my supper bit. We
only had steak and bitter beer, and won
dered how Barker dare order such SIM
pie 1are from such a waiter in such
gorgeous saloon. / was sure that the
waiter and some of the customers, too,
were laughing at us because we were not
III evening dress. OF course it WASH done
openly; walters seem to know by instinct
that Barker will tip them, and our man
was outwardly most polite, but 1 doubted
his sincerity.
Sophy, too, behaved badly, or perhaps
L shonId say foolishly. Evidently un-
conscious of the ridiculous figure we were
cutting, she seemed delighted with every
thing, and showed her delight SO plainly
that everybody must have noticed she
was not used to that sort OF thing.
Isn't this nice, Algernou?" She said.
Why didn't you bring me here the last
time?''
Hush" 1 whispered. Don't speak
so loud. Those people at the next table
are listening to every word we say"
Then she laughed and turned to Barker.
'Mr. Barker" she said, don't Won
think Algernon is painfully shy?"
l was sure the waiter heard that. so |
blushed and looked at her reproachfully.
but without effect. The thoughtless girl
joined forces with Barker, and they leased
me till L could hardly eat.
/ hate being leased, and | am afraid I
lost my temper, but just as l was going
to say something sharp we finished, or at
least they did, so l rose hastily from the
table and maze fo- the door. Barker had
taken off his overcoat, quite Needless of
the probability of having to tip a second
waiter for helping him to put it on again.
and so he could not follow me immedi-
ately. Sophy did, but when we got to the
vestibule she proposed that we should
wait there for Barker, as it seemed rude
to leave him.
My nerves had been so completely up
set that | didn't care what it seemed, and
told her she could stop ii she like ed, but
l was going down the steps to look for a
bus. l went and she stayed, staring
about her in an independent way as if the
place belonged to her. l felt somewhat
relieved when / reached the bottom step.
and so escaped to some extent from the
curious gaze of the people lounging about
the vestibule. Barker has told me scores
of times that people do not look at me,
and that my fear that they do is nothing
but fancy. But, if il is, what difference
does that make? The fancy, if you be-
heve in it, is as bad as the reality.
Now, Sophy is a very pretty girl, and
about alone as she was-en-
tirely through her own fault, of course
she became mark for all eyes, and
presently some half-tipsy fellow came up
and spoke to her. She looked at him in
and he not only spoke again,
but caught her by the arm. Then she
is just the sort of girl who
puts herself i'll the way of npleasautness,
and then screams when it comes-and l
on the bottom step in an agony
OF nervousness as to what would happen
next
should have fastened TO her help, but
the man was very big, and as he was
in evening dress, I felt sure the SYM
pathies OF the bystanders would be with
him. | did not want to get into trouble