The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-26
CHAPTER XXI.
THE DISTRESSING ADVENTURE o.
MRS. BINES.

THE DISTRESSING ADVENTURE OF
MRS. BINES.
The fame of the Bines family for despis-
ing money was not fed wholly by Percivars
unremitting activities. Miss Psyche Bines,
during the winter, achieved wide and envi-
able 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 cheerfulness with which
she betrayed them. She paid the consider
able sums with an air of gratitude for hav-
ing been permitted to lose them. Especially
did she seem grateful for the jealous tute-
lage and chaperonage of Mrs. Drelmer.
Everybody in New York plays bridge,
my dear, and of course you must learn"
that capable lady had said in the beginning.
But / never was bright at cards." the
girl confessed. land I'm afraid L couldn't
learn bridge we'll enough to interest you
good players
''Nonsense!' was Mrs. Drelmer's assur-
ance. Bridge is easy to learn and easy to
play. I'll teach you, and 1 promise you the
people you play with shall never complain"
Mrs. Drelmer, it soon appeared, knew
what she was talking about
Indeed, that well-infOrmed woman was al
ways likely to. Her husband was an intel
lectual delinquent whom she spoke of large
ly as being 'in Wall street." and in that
feat of jugglery known keeping up ap-
pearances," his wife had long been the more
dexterous performer.
She was apt not only to know what she
talked about but she was a woman of re-
source, unafraid of action. She drilled Miss
in ba of h~iI he
teacher became subsequently much the
largest winner Of the pupils losings, it was,
perhaps. not more than her At recompense.
Eor Miss Bines enjoyed not only the sport
of the game, but her manner of playing it,
combined with the social prestige of her
amiable sponsor, procured her a circle Of
acquaintance that would otherwise have
remained considerably narrower. An en-
thusastic player of bridge, Of passable ex-
terror, mediocre skill, and unlimited re-
sources, need never want in New York for
very excellent society. Not only was the
Western girl received by Mrs. Drelmer's
immediate circle, but more than one men,
Der of what the lady called that snubby
set would now and then make place for
her at the card table. A few of Mrs. Drel-
mers intimates were so wanting in good
taste as to intimate that she exploited Miss
Bines even to the degree of an understand
ing expressed in bald percentage, with GER
tain of those to whom she secured the girls
society at cards. Whether this ill-natured
gossip was true false, it is certain that
the exigencies of life on next to nothing a
year, with husband who could boast Of
next to nothing but family, had developed
an unerring business sense in Mrs. Drelmer;
and certain it also is that this winter was
one when the appearances 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 third hands go-over
of hearts is of doubtful expediency or that
one must follow suit with the smallest, ex-
cept when you have only two, neither of
them better than the Jack. Then play the
higher first, so that when the lower falls
your partner may know you are out of the
suit and ruff it,"
Mrs. Bines declared that 1T did seem to her
very much like Out-and-out gambling. But
Percival, looking over the stubs Of his sis
ters checkbook, warmly protested her inno-
Heaven knows sis has her shortcom-
ings. he observed. patronizingly, in that
young woman's presence, but she's no
i
only knows five rules of the game, and /
judge it's cost her about three Thousand
dollars each to learn those. And the only one
she never forgets is, When in doubt, lead
your highest check But don't ever accuse
her of gambling. Poor girl if she keeps on
playing bridge she'll have writer's cramp;
that's all I'm afraid of. l see there's new
rapid-fre checkbook on the market. and an
| improved fountain pen that doesn't slobber.
I'll have to get her one of EACH"
Yet Psyche Bines's experience. like her
hrn uyoC tkn,,<
of sentiment. There was Fred Milbrey,
handsome. clever, amusing, knowing every
one, and giving her pleasant sense Of init
macy with all that was worth while in New
York. Him she felt very friendly to-
Then there was Mauburn, presently to be
Lord Casselthorpe, with his lazy, high
pitched drawl; good-natured, frank. carry
ing an atmosphere of hish-class British
worldliness, and delicately awakening with
In her while she was with him a sense of
her own latent superiority to the institu-
tons Of her native land. She liked Mauburn,
too.
More impressive than either of these, how
ever. was the Baron Ronault de Palliac.
Tall, swarthy, saturnine polished man of
all the world. of manners finished. elabo-
rate and ceremonious, she found herself
feeling foreign and distinguished in his
presence, quite as If she were the heroine
of a romantic novel, and might at any in
slant be called upon to assist in royalist in
trigues The baron, to her intuition, nursed
secret sorrows. For these she secretly wor-
4
with her and her mother, which he was fire.
quently gracious enough to do he ate with
a heartineSs that belied this secret sorrow
she had imagined. But he was fascinating
at all times, with a grace at table not less
| finished than that with which he bowed at
| their meetings and partings. 1t was not
unpleasant to think of basking daily In the
shine of that grand manner even if she did
| feel friendlier with Milbrey, and more at
| ease with Mauburn.
If the truth must be told, Miss Bines was
| less impressionable than either of the three
! would have wished. Her heart seemed not
| easy to reach: her impulses were not in
| his family a suspicion that she was singu-
| larly hard-headed, and the definite informa-
ton that she had "a hob-nailed Western
| way of treating her admirers.
| Mauburn. too was shrewd enough to see
that. while she frankly liked him he was
| for some reason less favorite than Baron
| De Palliac.
! GIRL he told Mrs. Drelmer. She's really a
| dear and awfully good fun, but she's not 8
| bit Silly, and dare say she'll marry some
| chap because she likes him, and not be-
cause he's anybody. you know
Make her like you," insisted his adviser
ION my word, wish she did. And I'm not
| so sure, you know, she doesn't fancy that
Frenchman, or even young Milbrey."
| III keep you before her." promised Mrs
| Drelmer, land l wish you'd not think
you can't win. her. 'Tisn't like you"
| Miss Bines accordingly heard that IL was
| such pity young Milbrey drank so, be-
| cause his only salvation lay In making a
rich marriage. and young man. nowadays
| had to keep fairly sober TO accomplish that
Really. Mrs. Drelmer felt sorry for the poor
| weak fellow. "Good-hearted chap but he
| has no character, my dear, SO I'm afraid