The Republican., 1899-11-02
Because of Ideals
"NHAY I walk home with you?" he

III n L Ndlh llOll6 Will NOu. llC
IHl asked.
1t was past eight o'clock on wet
winter night, and they had just come
out of church, where the vicar had
been discoursing eloquently on the So
cial equality of man.
The girl looked up at the sky, opened
her umbrella and said: Yes"
'You think he was right?" The man
nodded his head in the direction of the
building they had just left.
Not at ALL" said she, with little
toss of her head. 81 think he was all
wrong in general"
'But in particular?'
"You and have nothing to do with
particulars" she remarked, kicking
away a stone which lay in her path.
eve are particulars" briefly.
"No, we are not" retorted the girl.
eve are most decidedly generals. My
father is Gen. Carwithen, my grandfa
ther was Gen. Carwithen; your father
is-a general dealer" This latter was
said under her breath.
The man did not contradict her; he
merely asked her if it made any differ
ence to themselves.
81 think we are, and always shall be,
as far apart as those two stars" she
said, sadly.
The rain had ceased, and two watery
stars twinkled feebly in the gloomy
sky.
Il am nearly home now," she said,
after little silence. "You had better
not come any farther. Good night
The man apparently did not see the
hand she held out. He said good night
laconically, but he turned and watched
her until she was out of sight.
Once home, she flung herself on the
bed in an agony of despair. The man
found his friend awaiting him on his
doorstep.
"Hulloa! You look a bit down in the
mouth, Needham. l knew this bust
ness wouldn't work satisfactorily" he
said.
IT'S working splendidly." answered
the other.
'Then what is ito" asked his friend.
Randall Needhap gave little laugh
and shrugged his shoulders. "The tale
is as Old as the hills, Arthur" he said.
81 am in love"
'Phew!" calculated his friend.
so, it's all right" said Needham.
"She is perfect lady" Arthur glanced
round his friends study. Violins and
bows galore Uttered the room; music
was the dominating passion of the mans
life.
'She doesn't know" he asked.
mot she!" answered Needham. "She
thinks my father is general dealer IN
only heaven knows what! But I'll
make her own she loves me before she
does know. No one here has ever
guessed my story. l am poor violin
teacher, pure and simple"
Not so simple, either" Grosvenor
laughed.
The two men had brought out their
pipes and sat putting away at them to
their hearts content.
Look here, ] met an old woman
know in the street to-day" went on
Grosvenor. 81 told her 1 was staying
with you, and she asked me to dine
there; she turned up her lofty nose
with scorn at the bare idea of you
joining her select party at table. No
one is good enough for Mrs. Ranter;
she has her precious girls future to
think of, and you are not an eligible"
"Ranter!" echoed Needham. why,
that's the name of my best pupils
mother. Are you going?"
l. i
Grosvenor.
Mrs. Ranter is one of the most ar
rant humbugs on the face of this earth.
Nothing short of title is worth any
thing to her." said Needham.
so, l know her." returned the other.
81 think she would sell her soul for
position"
IF she had one," added Needham, and
they both laughed.
"How did that general dealer idea
get about?' asked Grosvenor. He had
stopped smoking to refill his pipe.
80, don't know!" answered the
other. II expect Mrs. Ranter is at the
bottom of it, and 1 haven't contradicted
it because it served my purpose we'll"
lou were always rum chap, you
know" said his friend. 81 can't think
how it is people don't see through you"
Needham paused in the act of putting
some coal on the fire. 81 have always
had my ideals" he said. "One of them
was to be loved and married for myself
alone. My father being out in Canada
made it easy for me to sink my identity.
And I've had an ideal existence, too"