New-York tribune., 1901-10-20
TEDDY'S AIRS AND GRACES.
By MABEL MURRAY HICKSON.


"G-good Lo-dr said Teddy. "and I tn thought
you were gentleman
Wilfred de Bohme Files ncked the ash from
his cigar-the cigar with which, ten minutes
before. Teddy had provided him.
"Ohr' he said II make few pretensions- The
men I meet take me at their own valuation"
"N-not a very high one I should think" vent
ured Teddy.
The man in the armchair looked at him
aectively That depends" he said You. at
least, valued me a gentleman and expect
the word gentleman signifies to your mind
everything Of the most desirahle?"
He leaned back in his place. blowing a cloud
OF smoke toward the ceiling. Teddy threw the
window open and thrust his head into the cool
night air He felt choked. sitting: like .
stunned child who, suddenly and without provo
cation. has been slapped on the cheek by one
whom II held in confidence and esteem Any
anticipation OF i'll usage was utterly foreign
to Teddy's SUNNY. optimistic nature; all the
harder. then. this first lesson. rendered by .
man for whose social qualities he had enter
taired genuine, il boyish. enthusiasm Even
now in spite OF reiteration. he could hardly
conceive Elles's threat genuine
II a lovely night: great. clear moon
rode i'm the sky. Below. the close shaven lawns
lay pool-like-dim and shadowy. Teddy jerked
his shoulders into the room again Then you
really n-mean." ne said. that if d-dOn't pay
that two hundred before next week is over
you'll t-teu my father and ask him for the
money!
That's what 1 said" responded Files quietly.
''Bbut it d-debt of honor and I
t-told you how my father hates gambling" said
Teddy, his stammer accentuated by nervous
perplexity. Even now he doubted the evidence
of his senses. Fellows weren't blackguards. lie
what he said; some explanation must be forth
coming other than that glaringly apparent
Wilfred de Bohne Files took the cigar from
between his lips and examined it critically.
MY dear boy" he said. you have mentioned
your parents little popularity more than once
in my hearing; 1 am also aware there exists
only one person Ipon earth for whom you en-
tertain the smallest feeling of fear or OF re-
serve. That person is your father. and upon
his dislike for gambling propose TO trade
want the money and mean TO have it."
Teddy's mind worked convusively lie
so young as to be incredulous OF misfortune be-
fore it fell upon him. yet not old enough to
know that somehow other our greatest per-
plexities solve themselves in the of
time. Two hundred pounds, He had already
this year Outrun the constable. Aubrey might
be able TO lend him a little ready money bit
such sum as this was beyond even his
brothers generous resources Teddy
accustomed to debt; he writhed in it's degrad-
ing clutches.
rs there such providence as a money
lender" suggested Files. breaking a protracted
silence.
No said Teddy decisively. I'D rather be
shot than tell the governor I've been gambling
but even that would be b-better than b-bor-
rowing from the Jews"
He squared his shoulders against the window
frame and fell into calculation The elder
nan got out of his chair and strOlled round the
room. watching him furtively. yet with keen
curiosity. Presently he stopped before the
Wantel shelf to examine the photographs
grouped upon it. a dozen prominent cricketers
and athletes. sigaed for the most part by the
originals; equal number of pretty girls in
every diversity of fascinating costume. and set
apart from the rest. the portraits of two women.
neither of them young, neither of them pertcu-
larly beautiful VET possessed of an individual
ity Impossible svcrOok. Each of these photo
graphs. unjkc the rest in the room. was
mounted in a fliSree silver frame while be-
tween them. from slender Venetian vase.
fumed heads. The effect, almost shrinelike,
afforded a smile to Teddys creditor.
IF not the Jews. how about these foster
mothers?' he suggested. lightly touching
OF the frames with cigarette stained finger.
Their advice. as 1 understand from your con-