Evening star., 1896-07-04


mere recreation and amusement are the
principal ends of social meetings and so
oial intercourse, and that when man goes
to party he goes in the hope of enjoying
himself, without Interior objects. To have
penetrated beneath this superficial 1uds-
ment constituted. in philosophical View
the chief distinction of BOBBY Baines. He
perceived-or at least acted as If he per-
ceived-that society was, when properly
treated, at once the fairest and the most
fruitful field for young mans activity.
Other men worked from 10 to 6 and played
from to midnight or so much later as
seemed good to them. BaineS dallied with
the hours Of daylight, the scene of his
dalliance being the offices of the board of
trade, and toiled strenuOusly from dinner
time till returning dawn. The hours were
lorg. but the work cengenial, and it
was done in the spirit of enthusiast.
To Baines invitation to dinner was the
voice of conscience, and a card for re-
ception the finger of duty. The flesh might
be weary and desire might fail, but he
went still to his long lat homes and the
= dances followed after.
Such devotion did not go without its re-
= ward. If you stroke the most scornful cat
with patience in time the cat will purr.
Baines stroked society, and in due course
society purTeu mus II Tell out thal tne
Joe Baines of the little vicarage in Here
fortisnire. the Booby Baines of Rugby and
Cambridge-for Rugby originated, AMI
Cambridge, to its disgrace, adopted the
ribald nsme-blossomed forth into the Mr..
j. Addinston Baines a young man of in
finite and graceful culture. highly regarded
In drawing rooms and possessed of an
= hcnored place in houses of high repute.
Those who had not watched the process
might be paTdCned if they marveled at the
result. The means We're so simple, the
product so magnificent. Mr. Baines sue
cess illustrated to perfection the principle
of the parsimony of nature.
As every evening, this evening, he
stood before his dressing table tying his
white tie. and resolving, as Homer says.
many things In his heart. The thoughts
came at random; first he admired the sit
OF his shirt, then the arch of his nose,
then the curve of his chin; next he hum
ned a verse of French poetry and smiled
at the recollection of NJ Coquelin in his
latest part: for Booby was a great French
man In the middle of his amusement he
caught sight of his money the table. and
was suddenly reminded that he was very
hard up He SrOared against his dura
~-noverca. the hoard of trade; gloves and
coats. cabs and stalls mount up; his coun-
try undeTpaid BGCby Baines; he could
hardly live on what ne got But his face
briskteEed again: 1t was a pleasant house
to which he was going. Mrs Swayne per-
haps hardly understood him, but one can
be admired without being understood, and
Ad1ie SWayne. at all events, was a most
attractive girl, fu:l of esprit and espie-
Cleric and many other charming importa-
tiOns. That was a thirg to he considered.
For A6die liked him very much, and ne
liked Addie very much, indeed. and Addie
had eight hunjred pounds a year.
Now ii chancellor the luck of Mr..
Baines was constant-that he could not
have chosen happier moment for pay
ing his attention to Miss Swayne. For
r.. 81 I
told her before dinner tnat Mr. Baines
was no genius-he had put it even more
bluntly-and that he was surprised at
girl Of her good sense liking to talk to
him Accordingly, after dinner. Miss
Suayne, moved half by pique, half by un-
easiness. made room beside her on the
sofa and be gal to question Mr.. Baines.
skilIfulIy ard deIicateIy, ninting great ad-
miration for him; and at last she said:
. "Oh. you were at Rugby, were you? Mr..
Caxton was there. too, wasn't he?"
''Mr. Caxton was there answered Booby
Baines
Il suppose you got all the prizes at
school. didn't yCu?' she asked.
We'll no. 1 don't think 1 did, smiled
Baines
did Mr.. Caxton get any?"
"Oh. yes. Caxton was the sort of fellow
who would set prizes"
why didn't you. Mr.. Baines?" pursued
Addie. still sEnarting under the professor
outrageous observation
Well" said he. Observation-Disclosures it
was thing which needed explanation
II wouldn't restrict myself to the school
subjects. / took wider range"
Adde'S face frightened. She shot tri-
umphant glance at the unconscious pro-
ressor.
You couldn't drudge, I expect" she said.
almost fondly.
Il suppose not. 1 went in for literature
and so on
'And were there no prizes for that sort
Of thing?"
II don't remember. Miss Swayne. And
then think / developed rather late
"Oh. yes. of course" she exclaimed,
cheerfully. When you went to Cambridge,
you mean?"
"Yes-at least during the time there I
formed my mind"
and carried everything before you?"
"Oh, there were no examinations in my
favorite subjects"
How unfalr,' cried Addie, Indignantly.
r $50 l didn't do great things in the
schools
II almost wish. Mr. Baines, that you
could have cared about something they
did examine Must to show them what
YOU could do. you know But it was all
right when you came to London?
When | came TO London2"
Yes; at the-what is it?-the civil serv-
Ice, you know.
'oh. yes; l managed that, Miss swayne,
Last shot. though.
Did you fail before them she asked.
: "Oh. yes: twice 1t was the stupidest-
sort OF examination"
I
there. either?''
Hardly likely" laughed Mr.. Baines with
a shrue of his shoulders.
AdGie Sw&yne glanced at the professor,
and then back at Mr.. Baines' handsome
profile.
Well" said she after this second glance
81 call it most awfuIly clever of you to get
In in spite of having everything against
you But / should like everybody to know
how clever yCU are
I'm afraid you're partial Miss Swayne."
'Oh, no. I'm not. They Will know some
day. won't they?
Perhaps" smiled Baines. nysteriously.
when it comes OUT said she, with a
bright glance.
''HuSh, that's a secret
Have you got far in it?''
"Oh, no; nothing but just the idea
won't you tell me what it's about2"
II couldn't. indeed. unless Mr.. Baines
stopped Addie blushed. There was a long
pause. Then Addie observed, with some
apparent irrelevauce:
II think Professor Martin is a perfectly
horrid old man
why. you said you liked him on Tues
day exclaimed honest Baines.
"Oh, no: you must have mistaken me, Mr..
Baines / really-no, 1 really do not believe
that he has bath REGULARLY.
pCyfn Raj lam nod hut