Middletown transcript., 1897-08-14

she could only gasp out her pleasure.
"Oh. it is lovely /! / did not think
anything could be SO bright in this gray
England of ours" she exclaimed.
s'AlI England is not Brixton," ex-
claimed Bulwer. lightly. 81 hope that
we shall seeEsany scenes as bright as
this together" sSd as be spoke q
light flashed into bis eyes as he bent
them upon her, and MabePs heart
trembled with pleasure. She thoaght
that at last he was going to ask her to
share his lot in future, and remained
discreetly silent. But Bulwer made no
further remark, and, settling to work
with the sculls, padded the boat down
the stream.
Presently he broke the silence again.
+" You will find the people we are stay
ing with very different from the Brix-
tonians, Mabel, +" he said. SIT will be
quite a new experience of life for you. 7"
He seemed somewhat at loss to ex-
plain his meaning in reply to ths girls
Ques' ion as to where the difference lay.
Is Mrs. Walls a very clever wo-
MANI. asked Mabel, referring to The
hostess she was about meet.
mo; oh, no." replied Bulwer.
" Clever. OF course, but nothing ex-
ceptional. you know. She is just like
the rest of them, and you must prepare
to be shocked q little. You see, in
Brixton people take such narrow views
of life. Men and women of the world
are accustomed to take a much broader
outlook upon things"
"What things ?" demanded the. girl.
"Things generally, you know" re-
piled Bulwer, vaguely.
Mabel began to wonder little. She
wondered still more during the next
two or three days she spent on board
the houseboat Irene, and something
very much like distrust began to take
possession of her. In two days her ex-
perience of the manners and customs
of the society to which Bulwer had in
truduced her led her 10 some very
curious conclusions. She decided that
the ladies consumed more champagne
than was good for their health, and she
found that brandy and soda was i'm
variably considered the thing to drink
In the early morning. She learned
that it was correct to address the most
casual male acquaintance as g. dear boy"
and 10 refer TO loId otherwise than by
his Christian name was TO confess one
self outside the pale of civilization.
She learned, too, that the only subjects
upon which a society lady could con-
verse with any degree Of fuency was
upon matters theatrical or sporting,
and when deeply interested in either
Of these questions her language had an
adjectival facility viii ch was somewhat
to mere Rrix tOnian.
Still Reginald was very att entive.
and laughed away Mabel's scruples.
She had very little time to think, either.
Each day was full Of incident, and in
one continual whirl Of light and life,
seemed to end before it had we'll begun.
Before breakfast was finished it was
time to take the punt and make their
way to a point Of vantage ON the course.
Scarcely an hour seemed to pass and it
was time to return 10 lunch. Then the
punt again, tea at another hOuseboat,
and finally drift down the river and
reposeful half.hour in the backwater
before Hambledon Lock before dinner.
After dinner, gossip and music, with
out and within, filed The evening, until
eyes refused to remain open longer.
That was the order Of things until the
last day of the regatta.
Meanwhile jim Todd h ad been going
disconsolately about his business in
town. AT first be lad determined to
remain away frcm Htnlty altogether;
but, as each day PASSED, he relalstd d Of
his intention, and at ,las TN lie nom.
ing of The last day, he dem I'd his fam
nels and followed iht rest of The plea
sure-seekers. A, least he would be
able to get glimpse Of the girl who
had thrown him over. He did not bear
her any ilI-will there was not par
ticle of malice in the whole of his body.
Ii she seemed unhappy, well, he would
bear it as best he might, and take up
loyalty the position of friend, if he
were allowed to do so. In spite, how
ever, of the fine day and the life and
movement Jim Todd felt the reverse Of
happy. The general gsyety only in-
creased his gloom. He was outside it
all, and, to crown everything, he did
not catch glimpse of Mabel. So at
length wearying of the babble Of
laughter and music, he got out his
sculls and left the course behind, de-.
termined to find some secluded spot
Where be might rest and brood over his
lost happiness.
The quiet spot was more difficult to
find than be had anticipated. Every
corner had its bat and its
pair of lovers. 1t was very tantalizing
to Jim, in his particular mood. He
went on, however, pulling dOggedly
until be reached at last little back.
water which promised retirement,
ard there he pushed his boat In under
the shade of tree and made 1t fast to
one of its branches. He was not un-
disturbed for long, however, for within
half an hour a second boat pushed In
within a few yards Of him, and, though
the leafy screen prevented him
from seeing who The occupants we're,
snatehes of their c0nveFsatio reached
bis ears. He was about to move, when