The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-09-06
miscellaneous.
AN M. P.'S INFATUATION.


The general impression among Jim
Percival;s friends was that he might
have done good deal better for him
self than he did in his matrimonial
ventures.
An NJ. P, with a safe seat and de-
cided abilities, young, good-looking,
| we'll connected, but having only a
| limited income. he was just the man
who should have married money, and
| this is exactly what he had not done.
He met his wife in Paris during a holt
day trip. She was a pretty, vivacious
Irish woman, ladylike and attractive,
| but she had no fortune, and was of no
particular family. the NJ. P S friends
shook their heads over the match, and
all felt convinced that before long he
| would find out what mistake he had
| made.
There could be no doubt that under
the circumstances his marriage was an
imprudent one. With his $500 year
Percival had subsisted comfortably
enough as a bachelor, but as mar
ried NJ p. he found that his income
went simply no way at all. To cut
himself off from society and to live
with his wife in economical seclusion,
was, of course, out of the question. 1t
would have made him unpopular with
his constituents, as we'll as with GER
tain influential friends in town, to
whose good offices he looked for secur-
ing some post in the government when
his party came back to power. And
as he had no profession, but had
launched himself for good or ill upon
| a parliamentary career, it would have
I,,1 h., 70, hi,
chances of political preferment.
The natural consequence followed,
Percival got into debt. He consoled
himself first of all for outrunning the
constable by the consideration that
his party must soon return to power,
and that then he should be able to re-
| coup his present expenditure. But
| the radicals remained lin" session af
ter session; the lookedfor general
election came no nearer, and Percival
began to feel very Luxurious indeed.
He already owed nearly 81, 000-a
crushing liability to Il man with
small income and no capital indeed,
he did not attempt to disguise from
himself that unless something very
unexpectedly turned up he must soon
be hopelessly insolvent. His wife had
long been urging immediate and rigid
retrenchment, but each time she men
toned it Percival shook his head.
The house was in committee on a
bill which was being fought tooth and
nail by the opposition, the urgent
whips had been issued to the members
of both parties to be as frequently as
possible in their places. But there
were many dreary intervals of debate,
when no big division was imminent,
and during those intervals Percival
did not always remain in the precincts
of the house.
He might no doubt have spent
them at home or is escorting his wife
to one or other of the famous social
functions which, for his sake, she re-
ligiously attended. But in his worried
state of mind the dizziness of domestic
evening, or the yet deadier boredom
of political Conversations, was unin-
viting. He preferred to forget his
troubles in more enlivening scenes.
Within mile of the palace of West
minister there is, as all the world
knows, famous theatre of varieties.
1t is under an exceptionable manage
ment it puts forward the strongest
and most enterprising programme of
the kind in London. One evening
during a particularly drowsy debate
| fellow M. p. had suggested to Percival
| that they should run across to the Y.
and seen the rainbow danseuse. Per
cival had complied. After that night
he went to see her pretty regularly.
Just before the dance the stage was
darllened behind doomed a back
ground of murky clouds. gloomy as
the sky before All impending thunder
storm then brilliant blaze of sun
| light burst upon the Swallowed scene,
and whirling wildly in its dazzling
rays appeared the famous rainbow
danseuse What q sight that was !!
How dextrously she managed her mass
of gorgeous draperies, which tioated
all about her, and swirled and spun
like a revolving wheel. At times
nothing but the fascinating hues of
these robes was visible. At other
times a lovely face, crowned with
golden yellow locks, stood out among
them, radiant, spiritual, supurb-and
then, while this enhancing apparition
smiled and the audience clapped and
shouted, rumblings of thunder rolled
light; and amid their gathering
gloom, the rainbow goddess faded
slowly from the scence.
If it had ended with his merely ad
miring this ravishing beauty from
distance, all might have been well.
But such infatuation as Percivafs was
not satisfied to confine itself within
those modest limits. A strong desire
came over him to make her personal
acquaintance. He ought, of course,
to have withstood it. 1t should have
been perfectly obvious to him that, in
giving way to this desire, he was vol
unfairly thrushing himself into the
path of danger.
But he gave way, nevertheless. He
went farther He actually addressed
one or two letters to the young lady.
To his great chagrin she sent him no
reply At last, in desperation, he
procured an introduction to the man
ager of the N, and besought that gen
tlemans aid in his foolish and culpable
project.
Just So" said the manager, rather
coldly. We'll, Mr.. Percival, | will
communicate your wish to the young
lady, and will then let you know her
reply. | cannot hold out hopes that
it will be favorable ; for number of
other gentlemen have desired intro
duction to her, and have all been re-
| fused. You see, she is IL simple, mod
est girl, who is merely using her tai
ent to support her family, and has no
desire for a circle of 1uale admirers.
However, as | said, will tell her that
you wish to be introduced
The following night, when he ought
to have been III his place in the house,
/ listening to the ministerial leaders
statement, he was lowering near the
stage door of the y. He had made up
his mind to follow his goddess home
and SO find out her private address.
Percival had cab waiting for him at
the corner. He noticed another cab
! drawn up opposite the stage door.