The Press., 1900-12-13
THE BLESSING OF JIM ROBBINS.
 Under an Inspiration He
 Distinguished Himself. BY W. R. ROSE.
BY W. R. ROSE.

sort of fellow. That was really all be cared to be. What he could do he did fairly well, but he did just as little as was decently possible. At college he had gone in a little for athletics, and made a very creditable record, but he shrank from anything really brilliant. He was a good scholar. too, but was quite willing to rank with the intellec- tual second raters. When he left col lege. he went abroad and dawdled about i'll an aimless way, and came home with few impressions that he cared to mention. Then he went in for society, and there seemed to be reasonably contented. Society amused him and wasn't too eXacting. Society coddled him: he was young, handsome, clever and rich.
 And yet he would admit that he felt little conscience stricken when Anna Goldie gravely asked him one day about his future hopes. There was a look in her eyes that he didn't like when he laughed off the query. It set him to thinking, and thinking was an occupation he rarely indulged in. Thinking almost disquieted him. He avoided Anna Goldie for time, and found that was still more disquieting. And then just as he was thinking he would invite another talk with her on the original disquieting subject she suddenly went away. She went, they told him, to visit an invalid aunt in the interior of the state. She might be gone some time. It was more visit of duty than of pleasure, and it's con- tinuance would depend altogether upon part of the state did Miss Goldie's aunt live? Somewhere near Palmyra.
 Palmyra? That was where Jim Rob bins lived. Good old Jim Robbins. whom he hadn't seen since his last col iege year. Jim was somebody down ill Palmyra. Member of the legislature, or something. He saw Jim's name in the papers occasionally. Jim was a rising man.
 As the days wore along the desire to visit Jim grew upon him. He had 9 standing invitation to come down. at | any time. There was a pressing note in his desk of quite recent date in which he was told of the treat he was missing in not making the acquaint- 1 ance of Jin's matchless wife and equally matchless girls. He wondered if Jim would know the abiding place of | Anna Goldie's aunt. If he was poli tician, he probably knew everybody He decided to go down at once and make Jim a visit, and he wrote to hin to that effect
 | Then he went to the bank and called on his father. And while he was there his uncle Tom came in and the three were closeteG for a long time in his fathers private room. When they came out, his uncle Tom shook hands with him and patted him on the back in his usual hearty fashion. And hi: father shook hands with him in grave fashion, and both the elder men seem ed highly elated. Spencer shook hi: head a little doubtfully as he left them Then he braced up with swift stiffen ing of his fingers and clinching of hi. hands and accelerated his pace. He was going to his rooms to fill his dres! suit case for the visit to Jim.
 He arrived at Palmyra early ill thu evening, He had meant to reach ther, in the afternoon. put the train was de layed. He hadn't told Jim just wha day he would start and so his olt friend wasn't bothering over his non appearance. Spencer concluded h, would look Jim up ill the morning. H. went to the hotel and had his supper After supper he strolled up to tn, clerks desk and inquired about hi friend.
 "Oh, Jim Robbins?' cried the clerk 'Yes, yes. Jim is one of our leadiu; citizens. Has a nice home up on tn West hill. He's a great hustler, Jin is. Going to send him to the state sen ate next fall. Friend of yours?''
 "Yes," said Spencer, ''an old friend Came down to visit him."
 'Tell you what you do," said tn clerk. 'Jim is the chairman, toast master, whatever you call it, of the bi banquet at Raymond hall tonight It's a complimentary feed given ii honor of Colonel Jack Speed, who i home for brief visit, and everybody pretty much, is going. Colonel Spec is our congressman, you know, an he's in high favor in Palmyra. Ho1 Dwight Perkins from somewhere ou west, one of the big national lights o the house, is to be the speaker of tn occasion, and they'll have plenty to ca and good music. Better go over."
 A half hour later Spencer ascende the stairway of Raymond hall. H noticed a number of ladies in tn crowd that steadily marched into tn hall, and he was rather glad to fin that the banquet was not to be of tn usual political for men only character At the head of the stairs he noticed door standing open, and lookin through into the brightly lighted ante room he saw his old friend. The in pulse was too strong to resist, and h. passed in the doorway and held ou his hand.
 Whats the matter with Jim Rob bins?' he laughingly called.
 In an instant his friends hant gripped his.
 Spencer, old man, so glad to SC, you"- He pushed Spencer off littl,
 
 prime" he said. And, by George you are just in time." He laughed al he spoke, and looked at Spencer witt such a comical expression that it in stantly recalled to the latter some amusing experiences of the dear ol( school days.
 l ''What mischief are you up to?' h. cried. But, here, Pm in the way Don't let me bother you. I'll see yol in the morning" And he drew bacl and half turned toward the door.
 Hold on,'' cried Jim, with plung' at him, you don't get away from m' tonight. You stay right here until can properly dispose of you." | Hon. Jack Speed was seated at Jim'i right and Spencer at his left, much t, | the latter's increased uneasiness. Thel