Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-08
CHAPTER II.-CosT1NuEp.

copyright. 1898. BY J. P. uppincott Col
CHAPTER u.-CoNT1NUED.
Obviously he had not the faintest
conception of what the agony was all
about, nor had his uncle's will 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 it's
fat bill about in a stupid search for
the delicious mud which it has never
seen nor heard of, except in the sweet
babble of some soft nursery clucking
over its pipped egg.
II 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 ac
complishcd when once he turned his
attention that way. But that was i'm
material. 1t was surely done. He un-
questionably became engaged, and it
was great relief to him to know and
to have others know that SO much prog
ress ut least had been made towards
the relief from society which he sought.
The really strange thing about it
was that it was love-match. At least
the Lombards all said so, and every one
admitted that they were the last peo-
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: II 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
~ 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 himself
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 it sud-
denly appeared that he was also an
ideal society man. It was simply
side of him with which Stanton had
never Glanced to come in contact. He
insisted upon putting him up at. two
fashionable clubs.
'Im already a member of the pro-
said. ''That has some point to it. But
what's the sense Of a social club?"
tits a good place to meet the fell
lows and kill All hour or two of an even
ing now and them Lombard urged.
But l haven't time enough as it is,
without killing any," Stanton objected.
Still, he allowed himself to be put up.
There was really no help for it; it
occurred to him, too, that there was
certain underlined duty which fellow
owed to the brother of a lady lie was
about to marry; and Lombard took it
upon himself to see that, after he was
once well inside, he was not allowed
to become dead letter.
cts astonishing what a difference it
makes with a fellow whether it's bust
ness or society he's at" Stanton re-
fected, as he watched young Lombard,
at the clubs. ''Hc has a wonderful IA
cility in adjusting himself and per-
meating everything. I haven't a bit
OF it. But it's something man ought
to have, I suppose, especially if he is
about to be married. If could only
be let alone, 1 should rather like to drop
in here occasionally and look on. l
might pick up some of that facility my
self, in time
The thing which he abhorred most
intensely and received most abundant
ly was tiattery. Next to that he dis
liked being questioned. It is often the
case with an expert at cross-examina-
tons.
One evening at the club Stanton was
fortunate enough to meet man who
was not bore. His name was Richard
Raymond. He was engaged in the in
surance business in the far west. and
knew the country, even to the Pacific
coast, with all the wonders and treas
urcs of it's vicinage, as well as Stanton
knew New York or Brooklyn. He gave
him more entertaining and valuable in
formation in five minutes than he had
often obtained at the club in an en-
tire evening.
He knew Stanton, too, and said some
very clever things about him, but he
said them in such clever way that
they were not at all offensive. He
didn't stop the moment he had said
them and bow and smirk and wait on
broad grin till Stanton had succeeded
in saying something equally silly in
contradiction or reciprocation.
Stanton smiled as he sat contentedly
listening, and commented with him
self: 'If he were to digress to insur-
ance, now, and ask me to take out
policy in one of his companies, 1 pre-
sumo I should do it." But Mr.. Ray
moud did not digress. He hardly men
toned insurance again. Speaking of
,,;nar,1s however he said that he had