The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-29
before

anu SuiiiSu cfSfy tNo
you?"
"Oh, there were no examinations In
my favorite subjects"
"How unfair!" cried Addie, indig-
nantly.
$50 / didn't do great things in the
schools
II almost wish, Mr.. Baines, that you
could have cared about something they
did examine in--just to show them
what you could do, you know. But it
was all right when you came t."
London?"
"When came TO London?" Z.
"Yes; at the--what is it?-the civil
service, you know"
"Oh, yes; managed that Miss
S~ayne. Last shot, though"
did you fail before then?" she
esked.
"oh, yes, twice. 1t was the stupid
est sort of examination"
Didn't they have any OK your SUBJ
jects there either?"
Hardly likely" laughed Mr.. Baines.
with shrug of his shoulders.
Addie Swayne glanced at the pro-
fessor. and then back at Mr.. Baines'
handsome profile.
"Well," said she after this second
glance, IT call it most awfully clever Of
YOU TO get in in spite of having every
thing against you. But l should like
everybody to know how clever you
ore"
"pm afraid you're partial. Miss
Swayne."
"Oh, no, I'm not. They will know
some day, won't they?"
Perhaps" smiled Baines, mysteri-
ously.
'When IL comes out" said she, with
bright glance.
"Hush! that's secret"
''Have you got far in it?''
"Oh, no; nothing but just the idea"
"Won't you tell me what it's about?'
al couldn't, indeed, unless" Mr..
Baines stopped. Addie blushed. There
was long pause. Then Addie OBJ
served. with some apparentirrelevance:
81 think Prof. Martin is perfectly
horrid old man."
"Why, you said you liked him on
Tuesday" exclaimed honest Baines.
"oh. no, you must have mistaken me.
Mr.. Bainesl / really--no, really do
not believe that he has bath regular
ly."
Addington Baines laughed; but we
may be allowed to regret this proof of
the power of prejudice. For Prof. Mar
tin not only had bath, but painfully
shnmpooed himself with an electric
brush every morning of his life. 1t is
very dangerous TO offend young ladies;
they so often say what they would like
to be true, preferripg harmony of con-
ception to a basis OF fact.
1t will be perceived that Baines and
Addie Swayne were already on terms OF
some intimacy, inasmuch as she had
been trusted with his great secret. To
one other person only had this honor
been accorded---the aforesaid Tom Cax
ton. But Tom knew more than Miss
Swayne. He knew what it was to be
called, and he had tried to understand
what it was to be about. He had also in
his heart prayed that II might never
come into being at all, and had, most
hypocritica,ly, supported Baines' scru-
pies concerning Its publication. These
scruples were due, not to doubt
whether the work would be good
enough for the public, but to fear lest
IL should be too good. Publication
seemed almost to stain the virgin in
nocence of Baines genius, and he talked
longipgly of the superior delights of Al
private circulation among choice spir-l
its. Caxton eagerly seconded the opin-I
ion, thinking that the choice spirits
would be such as Baipes himself, and
might possibly admire the work. But,
Miss Swayne's influence grew stronger;
needs must when beauty drives. Baines'l
scruples were overcome. He started on
the composition of the great work. he
grew sensible of the charms of author.
ship, he dropped hints to an admiring
and expectant world. Yet a pleasant
mystery hung over his labors, and tho
title, when revealed. was not very en-
tightening to the uninitiated. The,
book, when written, was TO be called
STRESS and Striving" and 1t was under,
stood that IL would claim attention by
reason of its style no less than of its
matter. Therefore rapid progress could
not be expected; every facet of the d-
amond must be polished. Besides, poor
Baines was in such request. And then
the horrid board of trade consumed so
much of his time!
AT this point the engagement of Miss
Swayne and Mr.. Addington Baines was
announced urbi ct orbi.
In the marriage service no mention