The San Francisco call., 1905-04-02

." Gordon. do you remember
that first dinner al Melbourne House
the. day after your speech in the
Lords? You gave me a carnatiOn
am told your ladyship likes
all that is new and rare-fOr the mo-
ment.' All. that meeting was not only
for the moment with me. you know
that 1t has lasted ever since have
never heard your name announced that
IL did not thrill every pulse OF my
body. I have never heard q venOmous
word against you that did not sting
me, too
Gordon held the letter in a candle
flame. and dropped il on the salver- As
il cracked TO mass OF glowing tinder.
step fell behind him He looked up 70
see Moore
Tom" he said. his brow clearing. Il
am IN one OF my most vaporish mo-
ments-"
Moore seated himself on a chair
arm and poked the blackening twist OF
paper with his walking-stick- He
smiled an indulgent smile OF prime
and experience
From which I conclude" he an
swered sagely, that you are bound 10
Drury Lane greenroom instead OF 70
Lady Jerseys this evening.
Gordon's lips caught the edge OF the
others smile.
You are right I'm going TO let Jane
Clermont brighten my mood She IS
always interesting-m0re so OF the
stage than on They are only hothOuse
roses that will bloom at Lady Jerseys 5
Jane Is wild tiger-lfly- She has all
the natural wit OF the De Stael-a pity
IL must be wasted on the pit lOungerS,
Heaven only knows why i ever go 10
their Ladyships' Internal functions at
Il Eo~
Here am. eternaiIy stalking 10 parties
where shan't talk. 1 can't hatter. and
/ won't iisten-except TO a pretty w0m-
an If one wants 10 break q command
ment and covet his neighbOr's wife, it's
all very well But 10 go out among
the mere herd. without a motive. a
pleasure or a pursuit. OF no more use
than q sick butterEy-it begins 10 pail
upon my S0ul-
poking the charred paper The ashes
fell apart, and tiny unburnt blue COZ
ner showed-it bore the familiar device
OF a cOckle-Shell. His lips pucksred in
a thoughtful whistle Aloud he said:
Why not adopt the conventional
remedy"
Pm. too lazy TO shoot myself"
There's more comfortable medi-
cine than that
Cordors's smile broke into a laugh
"Wedlock. Ell? Reading the country
newspapers and kissing ones wife's
maid To experience the superlative
felicity OF those foxes who have cut
their tails and would persuade the rest
10 part with their brushes 70 keep them
in countenance. All my coupled con-
temporaries-save you. TOm-are bald
and discontented- Wordsworth and
SoutEey have both lost their hair and
good humor- But after ALL" he said.
rising. anything is better than these
hypochondriac whimsies- In the name
OF St Hubert, patron OF antlers and
hunters, let me be married out OF hand.
/ don't care TO whom. so il amuses any
body else and doesn't interfere with me
in the day time. BY the way. can't
you come down 10 Newstead for the
shooting season? Sheridan and Hob
house are 10 De there. and my cellar is
full though my head is empty. What
do you say? You can plague US with
songs, Sherry can write a new comedy.
and l mean 10 let my beard grow, and
hate you all"
His companion accepted with alac-
rity- When shall we start3" he in
quired. walking with the other TO his
carriage.
AT noon Tomorrow Gordon re-
piled. TIL then. good night I CON-
mend you to the care OF the gods