The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-11
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CHAPTER XXI.

The Distressing Adventure of Mrs. Bines.
The fame of the Bines family for de-
spising money was not fed wholly by Per
civars unremitting activities. Miss Psyche
Bines, during the winter achieved wide
and enviable renown as a player of bridge
whist. Not for the excellence of her
play; rather for the inveteracy and size
of her losses and the unconcerned cheer
fulness with which she betrayed them.
She paid the considerable sums with an
air of gratitude for having been permitted
to lose them. Especially did she seem
grateful for the Jealous tutelage and
chaperonage of Mrs. sDrelmer. s
Everybody in New York plays BRIDGE |
my DEAR and Of course you must learn = I
that capable lady had said in the begin
ming.
but I never was bright at cards. the |
girl confessed, ...and I'm afraid couldn't |
learn bridge we'll enough to interest you
good players
"Nonsense!" was Mrs. Dremers as
surance. Bridge is easy to learn and
easy to play. I'll teach you, and I prom
Use you the people you play with shall
| never complain"
Mrs. Drelmer, it soon appeared, knew
what she was talking about.
Indeed, that we'll informed woman was
always likely to. Her husband was an in
tellectual delinquent whom she spoke of
largely as being ''in Wall street. and in
!
| up appearances his wife had long been
| the more dexterous performer.
4 She was apt not only to know what she
1 talked about, but she was a woman of re-
source, unafraid Of action. She drilled
/ Miss Bines in the rudiments of bridge.
i If the teacher became subsequently, much
i the largest winner of the pupils losings,
it. was perhaps, not more than her fit
recompense. For Miss Bines enjoyed not
only the sport Of the game, but her man
ner of playing it, combined with the social
prestige of her amiable sponsor, procured
i her a circle of acquaintance that would
otherwise have remained considerably
); narrower. An enthusiastic player of
! bridge, of passable exterior, mediocre
} skill, and unlimited resources, need never
want in New York for very excellent So
,ciety. Not only. was the western girl re-
, ceived by Mrs. Drelmer's immediate cir
Gle, but more than one member of what
}, the lady called ''that snubby set'' would
now and then make a place for her at the
card-table. A few Of Mrs. Drelmers in
Inmates were so wanting in good taste as
to intimate that she exploited Miss Bines
= even to the degree Of an understanding
! expressed In bald percentage, with GER
tain of those to whom she secured the
: girls society at cards. Whether this
8 ill-natured gossip was true or false. it is
certain that the exigencies of life.ion next
. to nothing a year, with a husband who
could boast of next to nothing but family
had developed an unerring business sense
; in Mrs. Drelmer: and certain 1t also Is
: | that this winter was one when the ap
I pearances with which she had to strive
were unwontedly. buoyant.
Miss Bines tirelessly memoriZed rules
She would disclose to her placid mother
. that the lead of a trump to the t1lirt
s hands go-over of hearts is of doubtful ex
: pediency; or that one must follow sui
: with the smallest, except when. you hav,
only two. neither of them better than tn,
jack Then play the higher first, so tina
! when the lower falls your partner ma,
I know you are out of the suit and ruff It.
81 Mrs. Bines declared that it did seem t,
her very much like out and -out gambling
} But Percival looking over the stubs of hi
II sisters check book, warmly protested he
( innocence of this charge. :3s
81 Heaven knows sis has her slortcom
} ings," he observed, patronizingly in tina
d young woman's presence, but she's n
{ gambler; don't say it, ma, beg of you
s She only knows five rules OF the game
} and judge it's cost her about three thou
I sand dollars each to learn those. And tn
{ only one she never forgets is, When il
: doubt. lead your highest check. Blu
} don't ever accuse her Of gambling. Poo
I girl If she keeps on playing bridge She
4 have writer's cramp; that's all I'm afrai
5 OF. see there's g. new rapid fire chez
book on the market, and an improves
I fountain pen that doesn't slobber. II
4 have to get her one Of each"
Yet Psyche Bines' experience, like he
brothers, was not without a proper leave
Of sentiment There was Fred Milbrey
handsome, clever, amusing, knowing ever
one, and giving her a pleasant sense {
intimacy with all that was worth Will
I in New York. Him she felt very friendl
to.
Then there was Mauburn, presently t
be Lord Casselthorpe, with his lazy, high
pitched drawl; good -natured, frank, carry
I ing an atmosphere of high-class BIRTHS
g worldliness. and delicately awakenin
within her while she was with him a sens
4 of her own latent superiority to the i1lstl
2! tutions Of her native land. She like