The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-12-28

but not in just the same way, and the
old man felt it and smiled to himself
as he drove away, muttering something
about Hopkins boy" being an uncom-
monty fine fellow. These young men
all occupied places in his mind as some
body's boys.
Up in the hall above the man who
took Hopkins hat and coat felt warm
ed by the kindness Of his manner.
The servants always felt that wy
about him after they got accustomed to
the sternness of his face. 1t did not
matter that they had no business to
note the difference in their treatment
by those who commanded their serv-
ices. The fact was that they did, and
tonight the stolid looking servant no.
ticed that Mr. Hopkins face was even
more austere than usual, and he felt,
too, that the other thing, the thing that
somehow or other would raise Mr.. Hop
kins up above the plane occupied by
the other members of the club, was
more marked than ordinarily.
AS Hopkins passed on into the room
a man stopped him and exchanged a
few words with him about an engage
ment which, he said, circumstances
forced him to break, and then went
away thinking what a very disagree
able fellow Hopkins was, and it was
some minutes later before his sense OF
justice added to the harsh verdict the
saving word sometimes
The fact was that Leonard Hopkins
was very much out of sorts, as he put
it to himself. 1t was characteristic Of
him in moody fit to be especially
courteous to old General Dodge and
particularly considerate of the serv-
ant and, in his quiet way, viclously
disagreeable to the first man of his
own age and degree whom he met. He
felt that the man was fair prey, and he
made the most of it and seemed pacl-
fed by it afterward and sorry the next
day.
Hopkins walked back through the
rooms to one in the rear and took
seat ut table where Russell Carroll
and Philip Maltby were chatting and
smoking and they hailed him pleasant
ly and looked at their watches and
went on with their talk. The three had
met by agreement to go to the church
together, where they were to perform
the duties of ushers at the marriage of
their old friend, Tom Borroughs. A
young fellow with a noticeably good
natured face and bunch Of violets on
his coat sauntered up and, leaning over
HOPKINS chair, made some light and
some rather serious remarks about the
wedding and joined with Carroll and
Maltby in saying nice things about
Miss Fielding and metaphorically pat
ting Tom Borroughs on the back, very
tenderly for men, and Hopkins sat 81
lently Ticking the ashes from his ciga-
rette and carefully fitting glass that
stood on the able until the liquor ran
. down close to the edge and threatened
to fall on the table and did not.
Finally the man with the good ma
tured face turned to go and paused to
say in parting:
"Well, for those who like weddings
this is the kind of wedding they
ought to like There is something
about it that makes one feel comfort
able all over / really don't believe
there is even an old aunt to come up
from the country and wear queer
clothes and spoil the artistic effect"
And he laughed and went away, and
Hopkins turned slightly in his chair
and watched him co. smiling in per-
functory sort of way until Maltby at
tracted his attention with an abrupt.
"Well, what is the matter with you"
and Hopkins replied with an attempt
ed laugh
"Oh, nothing-that is, not much. l
need something to understanding
like brandy, say" And he called
waiter, while Carroll mumbled some
thing about being glad that he knew
what he needed, and Maltby added
vicious thrust about the man who took
weddings seriously, and they all laugh
ed and emptied the glasses.
Il am not going to have anything
but smiles about this thing tonight"
continued Maltby. Il am in meas
ure responsible for its success and pro-
pose to see it go off with the flags fly
ing and the band playing, and 50 on.
1t will be time enough tomorrow for
you to think about the difference be
tween BorrOrghs the bachelor and Bor-
roughs married"
ooh it was not Tom | was thinking
Of" responded Hopkins thoughtfuly;
lit was another. Well, whatever 1t
was, I'll think of something else. You
See l have been rubbed the<wrong way
today. | went down with the governor
to see his patients in the slums, and II
there was anything that was grewsome
or pitiful or sorry that we overlooked
1t must have been out for the day.
Then went to the Parkhlls to dinner
just plain dinner, as they are al
ways telling you: no wine and not very
much to eat and, by way Of converse
ton, n good deal Of wandering around
among the skeletons and tombstones of
the past and protests against the pres
ent and proposed lodgings of the
future, and so on. | know that they
are awfully nice people, and l am sorry
for their misfortunes, and sometimes
do not mind their dinners. But it all
went against the grain today" And
Hopkins pushed his chair back impa-
tiently and rose to 60. the others fol-
lowing his example.
"St. AIMS church, Belden," Hopkins
called to the coachman as he followed
his two friends into the carriage, and
when they were seated Carroll threw
his head back, laughing heartily, and
commenced story to explain the fun