The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-21
Ills USEFUL EVENING
BY ". R. ROSE.

the passers were growing blurred and IN
distinct. Durham yawned. He was a
a loss how to kill time. He had just fin
ished his dinner, and the evening was be
fore him. There were great houses III
town where he would be cordially wei
come. but Durham had no desire to max,
an evening call. He fancied he would
like something new, some novelty in tn,
form of entertainment. There were til,
theaters, but no true New Yorker evel
goes to the thcaters away from home. HI
remembered being in Cleveland the pre-
ceding summer and how he had enjoyed
himself at picnic to which he was sell
invited. He laughed at the remembrance
and picked up the evening paper again.
And then his CHANGING eye caught this
item:
1.-THE ladies' Of the Barclay Avenue Free
church will give progressive euchre par
ty this evening at the home Of Mrs
James Lemmers, G2 Scr0op court, for the
benefit of the Sunday school library fund
Friends of the church are invited to lie
present and are assured of Il good time.
Take the Rockport car from the square
at 1875"
Durham went to the fair. As he en-
tered tall young man in long Prince
Albert pale young man with thick,
black hair, looked around at Durham and
gave him a pleasant smile and nod Dun
ham nodded back and then went up the
stairs In accordance with the bright faced
young woman's instructions to leave his
hat and coat. AS he came down the
stairs again he heard whir of femin ne
drapery behind him, little shrek. and
a young woman was prccpitated against
him with considerable violence. Dun
ham was quick witted, and his muscles
were tense. Something prompted him to
brace himself suddenly. and the shock Of
contact did not overthrow him.
Dear me-" murmured voice over his
shoulder, 'but that was stupid. l must
have caught my heel on the upper step.
New shoes, you know. 1t was awfully
good of you to be in the way. might
have progressed down every step to the
bottom. It's Mr.. Blossom, isn't it?"
Durham looked around. A pretty girl
with glowing checks, a pretty girl in a
him from an upper step.
"No," he said, at isn't Mr.. Blossom;
it's Mr.. Greer, and Mr. Greer is very
glad that he could be of some assistance
to you during the recent rush"
"Oh," said the pretty girl, 81 thought
it was the minister's friend from the
west. l am May Fleming. You know
Mr.. Chandos, don't your
Durham shook his head
"The fact is, he said, I'm almost an
entire stranger"
He put in the almost because he felt
that lie had some slight acquaintance
with young lady by the name OF Elem
ing.
II will introduce you" she said and
drawing him to the tall young man pre-
scented him in due form and then slipped
away.
Dunham's heart warmed to the young
minister at once. lie looked so earnest,
so kindly, so good.
II do not remember to have seen you
among us before" he said.
"No,' said Durham. "It's the first
time I've been in this part of the city.
I'm an eastern man, New Yorker"
Some Freemasonry of instinct prompted
him to add, Harvard, 'o6."
princeton. 81" cried the minister,
and then they shook hands again. Your
name," said the young shepherd as he
bcamed down on Durham, sis quite ia
miinr one. At least it would be esteemed
50 by most readers of the daily press"
YES said Durham shortly. And he
frOwned.
He was about to add something when
his attention was drawn away by the
pretty girl whom he met on the stairway.
She held salver to him, and from it he
drew card. 1t bore the name Jack"
Durham showed 1t to the minister.
II fancy" laughed the latter, that you
are expected to look up Jill" So
Durham passed about the somewhat
crowded rooms, and. 10, when he found
his "Jilp' it was the heroine Of the stair
case again!
"And Jill came stumbling after" he
nerrily quoted as he thrust his card be-
lore her. And presently they found
themselves at one Of the little tables scat
cred about the room, and when bell
anslcd the playing commenced. Durham
lad never played in just this fashion be-
ore, but be quickly caught the fashion
II it and entered into the spirit Of the
business as If he had found the one occu-
patton that pleased him most. For it
vas business. and serious business at
hat. They played in grave and quiet
ashton, broken in upon only by the jan
fling bell, the swish of garments as the
players progressed and by the coming of
N active small boy who hustled about
With railway ticket punch puncturing
he progression on the players score
ards. There were 20 of these tables,
nd it seemed to Durham as if he would
urely visit them all with his astonishing
I'm of luck.
"How is the climbing. Jack? p inquired
i'll when he passed her for the second
ime. Durham held up his card. oh"
he cried, tits like porous plaster"
At just 10 o'clock the playing stopped,
nd the score cards were all gathered up
y the active small boy, and then Dun
am understood that this meant prizes
lie fancied he had discovered why the
laying was carried on In such q grave |
nd quiet manner.
There were light refreshments served
sAS youAS WokACus uuu buuldul lOulU
hem good. He strove to interest the
eople at the table with him and soon
ad them in jolly mood. He told funny
tories and hummed the latest popular
1ng for the young woman who sang and
i'd clever trick with the cards for the
Dung man who wondered how profess
onals could become SO expert in han
ling the magic pasteboards. When the ,
were cleared away, every
ody was expected to join In social con-
prse, and Durham sought his new
lend, the minister.
"You seem to be having . merry time
I'D the latter.
"That il what I endeavor to do wherev-
: ! co." said Durham, with smile.
and II has required no effort whatever
l the present occasion. This is all de.
ghtful novelty to me-"
You have happy disposition said
le young minister.