The record-union., 1899-07-24
MR.. NESTOYN'S NOTEBOOK.

Mr. NestOyn's notebook was a stand
ing joke among all his friends and ac-
quaintances. Whatever happened, If
an old friend were mentioned, any
good thing said, in season and out of
season, forth came the notebook, with
the invariable remark, II must just jot
that down."
But although many had seen the out
side of that book, to none had it been
permitted to look within. Did I say to
none? Well, on one memorable Occa
sion another pair of eyes as well as
Mr.. Nestoyn's had looked upon a page
of that precious volume-another hand
had written one word within. And
this is how it came about:
Mr.. Nestoyn was a bachelor He
was-he is one no longer. 1t is doubt
full whether he keeps notebook now.
There was a tradition among his
friends that some years ago, when
Dick. Nestoyn was quite young, some
trouble connected with a romance came
into his life. What actually happened
none knew exactly, except that the
romance had a disastrous ending, and
the trouble changed bright, rather
careless lad into a strictly methodical
man, with a strong objection to the So
ciety of women.
He lived quiet, uneventful life, in a
well-appointed house in a riverside SUBJ
urb. MethOdical and monOtonouS each
day came and went, one day much the
same as anOther-an early rising, a
lonely breakfast a short walk to the
station, possibly a chat with friend
in the train on the rapid journey to
London, few hours of not very inter-
esting work at the office, and then the
return to the lonely house And so
Mr.. Nestoyn's life went on, the monot-
ony slightly broken occasionally by his
dining with some of his bachelor
friends at their rooms, or by his giving
a recherche little dinner at his we'll
ordered though slightly prim suburban
residence.
To these dinners only the unmarried
were invited, for if among the select
circle that Mr.. NeStOyn honored with
his friendship any one took unto him.
self wife, thenceforth that man was
Mr.. Nestoyn's friend no longer. Ac-
quaintance he might be, for Mr.. Nest
oyn did not go to the length of not re-
turning nod, or even holding a few
words of conversation with a former
friend who had married. but never
again would he be asked to partake of
a dinner at the Willows, nor henceforth
did Mr.. Nestoyn darken the doors of
that mans residence
But to every rule there is an excep-
ton. Just as Phil Marsden, Mr.. Nest
Gyms chief crony. was wondering what
line his friend would take when he.
OIltl Mo-. IL
his practice so as to feel justified in
making an offer of marriage to a GER
tain charming widow, Jack Cranborne,
apparently the most determined bach
elor of the whole set. suddenly an
nounced that his banns were to be pub
lished at the parish church on the very
next Sunday
And all round the little coterie went
the whisper: Now Dick Nestoyn will
give up Jack Cranborne''
But, strange to say, Dick Nestoyn did
not give up Jack Cranborne when he
had a wife. He used to say, by way
of excuse. that Mrs. Cranborne was
not like other women. Why he said
or thought this no one could under
stand, the general opinion being that
Jack Cranborne's wife was very much
like other women. So it came to pass
that many pleasant hour was spent
by Mr.. Nestoyn at Riverside, the home
of Jack and Violet Cranborne
One evening, just as he was turning
into the gate of that snug little dwell
ing, he was accosted by Phil Marsden,
who began in commiserating tone:
Il really grieve for you, Nestoyn. I
suppose your visits to Riverside will be
in allegiance for a time
How so?" Queried Mr.. Nestoyn.
MY dear fellow, surely you have
heard that Mrs. Cranborne's sister is
coming Tomorrow, to pay her a long
visit"
"Oh! ah! yes! I have heard some
thing about it; but in what way does
it concern me?"
ell, you, as prOfeSSed woman
hater, can scarcely go constantly to
house where young and lively girl is
staying; it would be so horribly incon-
sistent"
Miss Helen Montgomery may be
neither young nor lively
Possibly, no. answered the doctor,
as he turned away with a chuckle at
the familiar way in which Nestoyn had
pronounced the lady's name.
The very next day the two friends
happened to meet again not far from
Riverside. s'-+ @s
Surely you are not going to the
Cranbornes' to-day? The sister only
arrived about an hour ago." began
Phil Mardsen.
WELL you see," answered the other,
Jack will like quiet pope with me-
1t will serve as an excuse for him to
get away from the women's chatter
ing"
few days later, as Mr.. Nestoyn was
returning home from town, carrying
basket of the choicest flowers, whom
should he see on the platform but Mars
den. Avoidance was impossible; SO he
bravely made the best of it. and ad
vanced toward the doctor, greeting
him with these words: You will come
to my picnic on Saturday eh, Phil?"
Your picnic on Saturday? You go
ing to give picnic-you? No, I think
not; bachelor picnics are not to my
mind
But I am inviting Mrs Beechcroft."
Are you? But she won't come. She
is very particular and would, I ara
sure, highly object to being the only
lady"
But she won't be; others are COM
ing; at any rate, have been invited"
That is to say, Mrs. Cranborne and
her sister,"
Yes, they have been invited. and
Others replied Mr.. Nestoyn, with dig
nifty.
In the mean time the subject of Mr..
Nestoyn's picnic was being discussed