The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-06

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quite new experience of life for you"
He seemed somewhat at a loss to ex-
plain his meaning in reply to the girls
question as to where the difference lay.
SIS Mrs. Walls a very clever wom-
amp" asked Mabel, referring TO the
hostess she was about to meet.
"No; oh, no." replied Bulwer.
"Clever, of course, but nothing ex-
ceptional, you know. She is just like
the rest of them, and you must pre-
pare to be shocked little. You see,
in Brixton people take such narrow
views of life. Men and women OF the
world are accustomed to take 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
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
troduced her led her to some very Gu
rious conclusions. She decided that
the ladies consumed more champagne
than was good for their health, and she
found that brandy and soda was in
variably considered the thing to drink
in the early morning. She learned that
it was correct to address the most cas-
ual.male acquaintance as "dear boy"
and to refer to lord 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 fluency was
upon matters theatrical or sporting,
and when deeply interested in either OF
these questions her language had an
adjectival facility which was somewhat
alarming to a mere Brixtonian.
Still Reginald was very attentive, and
laughed away Mabels scruples. She
had very it'll, 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 well begun.
Before breakfast was finished it was
time to take the punt and make their
way to point of vantage on the course.
Scarcely an hour seemed to pass and 1t
was time to return to lunch. Then the
punt again, tea at another houseboat,
and finally drift down the river and
reposeful hour in the backwater before
Hambledon Lock before dinner. After
dinner, gossip and music, without 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 had been going
disconsolately about his business in
town. At first he had determined to
remain away from Henley altogether;
but, as each day passed, he repented of
his intention, and at last, on the morn
ing of the last day, he donned his fl M
nels and followed the rest of the pleas
ure-seek ers. At least he would be able
to get glimpse of the girl who had
thrown him over. He did not bear her
any ill-will; there was not a particle of
malice in the whole of his body. If
she seemed unhappy, we'll, he would
bear it as best he might, and take up
Loyalty the position of friend, if he
were allowed to do 30. In spite, how
ever, of the fine day and the life and
Jim Todd felt the reverse
of happy. The general gayety 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 laugh
ter and music, he got out his SOULS and
left the course behind, determined to
find some secluded spot where he might
rest and brood over his lost happiness.
The quiet spot was more difficult to
find than he had anticipated. Every
sheltered corner had its boat and its
pair of lovers. 1t was very tantalizing
to Jim, in his particular mood. He
went on, however, pulling doggedly
until he reached at last little back
water which promised retirement, and
there he pushed his boat in under the
shade of tree and made it fast to one
of its branches. He was not undis-
turbed for long, however, for within
half an hour second boat pushed in
within few yards of him, and, though
tie leafy screen prevented him from
seeing who the occupants were, snatch
es of their conversation reached his
ears. He was about to move, when
suddenly he heard woman's voice
meullOu lut udut VI mdptl SOurtuOpc
coupled with that of Reginald Bulwer.
Jim lay still and listened, and as he
lay his blood began to boil in anger.
But not for long did he lie quiescent.
Putting the scraps together convinced
him that his suspicious were more than
correct. He pushed his boat out into
the river and once more settled himself
to the SOULS. A shout made him look
over his shoulder. He had been work
ing off his anger by strenuous exertion
and driving his light outrigger fast
against the current. He was going
straight back to Henley and the Irene
to confront Bulwer and to take Mabel
home. In one glance he saw punt
narrowly escape being run down by a
big launch only to be caught in the
swirl of the water and ANONYMOUSLY
capsized.
Half dozen vigorous strokes took
Jim to the spot. Brief though the
time had been, he recognized the oc.
cupants. One of them, the man, in
tent only upon his own preservation,
was striking out for the bank, the girl
was not to be seen. Jim hesitated not
a moment, but, balancing himself