Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-25

conception of what the agony was all
about, nor had his uncle's win any
thing whatever TO do with his consid-
erations. They Were carried on upon
lines of pure and >unadulterated in
stinct-just as a young duck pokes its
fat bill about in a stupid search for
the delicious mud which il has never
seen nor heard of, except in the sweet
babble of some soft nursery clucking
over it's pipped egg.
81 wonder how the thing should be
brought about" Stanton muttered, as
he lay on the sofa in the library, smok-
ing and dreaming.
Even then the innocently stupid fell
low did not dream that he was doing
precisely what everyone was bent on
having him do; if he had, he would
not have done it. In fact, he never
even fully realized how the thing was
done, it was so quickly and easily &C
complished when once he turned his
attention that way. But that was i'm
material. It was surely done. He I'M
questionably became engaged, and it
was great relief TO him to know and
to have others know that so much prog
ress at least had been made towards
the relief from society which he sought.
The really strange thing about it
was that it was a love-match. At least
the Lombards all said so, and every one
admitted that they were the last peo-
pie In the world to be influenced by
any mans millions-which proved to
be the case, little later.
The immediate effects of the engage
ment were not in precise line with the
final results he sought, but he reasoned
with himself: 81 suppose it's fellows
duty to the lady he's to marry to go
with her into society, just as it's his
duty to stay with her at home after
they're married." so the poor, deluded
fellow honestly, earnestly and patient
ly plunged into grand whirl of so
cial life at Miss Lombard's side, only
longing to have the transition state
over with, that he might arrive at the
stage where he could be let alone.
Stanton had hardly adjusted himseli
to this when another disagreeable fea-
ture presented itself. Young Lombard
his future brother-in-law, was client
of his whom he had always consid-
cred an ideal business man; but 1t sud
denly appeared that he was also ar
ideal society man. It was simply G
side of him with which Stanton hat
never CHANGED to come in contact. He
insisted upon putting him up at two
fashionable clubs.
SIN already a member of the pro
, fessional club over in the city" h,
said. ''That has some point to it. Blu
what's the sense of social club?"
"It's a good place to meet the fel
lows and kill an hour or two of an even
ing now and them" Lombard urged.
But haven't time enough as it is
without killing any," Stanton objected
, Still, he allowed himself TO be put ur
: There was really no help for it;
occurred to him, too, that there wa
= a certain underlined duty which fellow
owed to the brother of lady he wa
I about to marry; and Lombard took
upon himself to see that, after he wa
= once well inside. he was not Above
G to become dead letter.
s ats astonishing what a difference
j makes with a fellow whether it's bus
& ness or society he's at" Stanton t,
Elected, as he watched young Lombar,
at the clubs. 'He has u wonderful fl
e cility in adjusting himself and PEI
/, meating everything. / haven't a b
of it. But it's something u man ougl
e to have, 1 suppose, especially if he
e about to be married. If 1 could onl
e be let alone, I should rather like to dro
b in here occasionally and look on.
Il might pick up some of that facility IN,
e self, in time
d The thing which he abhorred moi
e intensely and received most abHndan
r ly was fattery. Next to that he di
n liked being questioned. 1t is often Il
case with an expert at cross-examin
= tons.
D. One evening at the club Stanton W;
a. fortunate enough to meet a man wi
was not bore. His name was Richal
:. Raymond. He was engaged in the i
ie surance business IN the far west, al
knew the country, even 10 the Pact
coast, with all the wonders and trea
ures of its vicinage, as well as Stantt
knew New York or Brooklyn. He ga
him more entertaining and valuable
- formation in five minutes than he HI
- often obtained at the club in an e
n tire evening.
!. He knew Stanton, too, and said sor
he very clever things about him, but
IA said them in such a clever way tn
IN they were not at All offensive
didn't stop the moment he had sa
" them and bow and smirk and wait
IN broad grin till Stanton had succeed
60 in saying something equally silly
~ contradiction or reciprocation.
Oh Stanton smiled as he sat cOntented
P listening, and commented with hi
Al self: ''If he were to digress to insl
II. ance, now, and ask me to take ouI
al policy in one of his companies, l p,
~ sumo should do it," But Mr.. RS
n mond did not digress. He hardly me
lis toned insurance again. Speaking
he hat he