New-York tribune., 1902-12-07

Benton an heir or heiress there was no one for
the money to come to but her nephew, Billy.
She was the soul of good nature and her good
heart made lacy of her, when, without it. she
might have passed for cook. But there could
be real Vulgarity about person who, how
ever fat and redfaced and rolypoly and fond OF
bright coiors. was yet overfiowing with the milk
Of human kindness, and so kind that she had
learned simple delicacy in the manner of per-
forming her kindnesSes.
Billy aCored his aunt He vas a fat, white
faced youth, with small eyes and shapeess feat
ures. who gave one the impression of always
being half asleep. His brother officers would
assure you that Billy really quite wide
awake not such fool he looked. and other
things OF the same kind; and generally wound
up by adding THAI he was end of a good fell
low. which true. Billy quite good
fellow his aunt.
He belonged to a very smart regiment which
has usually least u portion Of its quarters
ia town, and is popularity supposed TO exist for
ornamental purposes. although in times Of war
il has occasionally dlsQroved that idea He had
never given his aunt a moments reason for
anxiety about him At his preparatory school,
At Eton, at Sandhurst, he had been invariably
honest and we'll liked, although his best friend
couldn't say he had been exactly brilliant But,
then. what did Billy want with brllllancy, see
ing that he had been born with a gold spoon in
his mouth2
Mrs Benton's one desire unsatisfed was TO see
Billy married. and well married The desire to
have Bill, son in her arms corollary to
the first She wanted to see the succession TO
the brewery assured: that once done, she was
fond Of saying that she would be ready to de-
part in peace.
she anC Billy quite understood each Otner-
She must have BIRTH Billy" Mrs. Benton
had often said to him 1T is just the one thing
lack II she has birth. don't care if she
hasn't second garment TO her back
Billy would assure his aunt that he quite
agreed with her Still, he was slow TO give her
her hearts desire Numbers Of the young
women Of the aristocracy, unexceptionable in
every way, were ready TO share Billy's great
fortune But, somehow. Billy's little affairs al
ways hung fire. and year after year Mrs. Ben
tons going in peace was postponed
One day Billy was taking a short cut from
Piccadilly to Portman Square where Mrs. Ben
tons great townhouse Was
He was passing through a quiet street nearly
given over to milliners. modstes and other per
sons whose rrcvince in life il IS to make ladies
beautiful Something drew him To stand before
q bonnet shop. He had never done such a thing
az bis life 5efore-at least, when he was alone
but Fate working out its designs with him
Suddenly, between an osprey and a blg bow OF
panne, he saw a face that, as he described II
10 himself knocked him silly. 1t wasn't that
il WAS so beautiful. Billy had run the gantlet
OF many kinds Of beauty. 1t was a girls lace,
pale. with very blue eyes 1t was framed IN
pale fair hair, silky like a childs. The eyellds,
long and half closed gave the eyes q langulsh-
ing look The mouth was thin and humorous
the lips family scarlet
feeling he said afterward, as though ne mao
been shot through the heart Then he h1ted
his hat and passed on. But after that ne 5ooh o,A
20 haunting the quiet street and Mime Eioole
windows .,,
He didn't know in the least what TO do. Billy
had never been Lothario- His feelings TOWARD
the face in the mlners shop we're not AT an
Iothario-like He wanted 10 know the owner
Of the face as he knew the young ladies IN PARK
Lane or Grosvenor Square But how to SET
about il?
Al. last the thing was done for hlm; one even. n
ing OF summer twilight, when Billy ought 10
have been dressing for a particularly smart diil-
ner but on the contrary, was haunting the
gray street where the blinds had just peeh
pulled down in front of the hats and costumes
The little door by the side Of Nine ElodleS Shop
opened and there came out the face OF ms
dreams II under soft white ha', WIN
hi1le cOrvoIyIllus in it 1t SurmounteG a loHs
blue coat which Billy would not have found
aIniss in his world
The girl was not alone. She was keeping very
close TO q large, red faced girl, with a mucn
more fiamboyant taste IN costume VINO looheo
a person OF character and decision AS fhey
passed close to Billy, who had drawn hlfnSelI
hack in the shadow of the shop fronts, the REQ
faced girl suddenly pulled up sharp IN rom ONT u "
him He noticed the other girl tug at her sleeve
in q terrified way. But the red faced girl was
not TO be hindered-
Il say" she said Billy, you're straight
aren't you?"
She pronounced il strife but won't repro
ouce the dreary pronunciation.
81 hope so" said Billy, lifting his hat
sust hook IL Violet is not one Of the wrong
sort"
Billy was dreadfully disturbed, quite as much
rs If this coarse remark had been made before
the most innocent girl of his class He
saw the checks Of the other girl flush with a
T.ainfiIl red and then fade to more than their
11sual whiteness He began to pour out an in
coherent disclaimer OF anything but the utmost
respect for Miss Violet. II she desired ii, ne
1or,1d sro agay and never come back again.
STOW .hat," said the red faced young woman.
Lnexv Won were straight the minute set eyes