The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1910-09-15

pOssible to eXtort was that she would
marry him in a year from that time
if he asked her. Pressed for a rea-
son, she at first sheltered herself be-
hind the feminine because" but,
driven into corner at last said that
she wished him to enjoy his freedom
under the new conditions; that he,
must go into gay society and see the
world. she would not think of tying
him down-and much more TO the
same effect.
Finding the girl immovable, and.
moreover, tacitly confirmed in her de-
cision by wise old John Trevecca, VIII
frid rather ruefully took her counsel
as to the bachelor suite. In the Sc
lection of this and many other neces7
sary adjuncts to his new environmenu
he found Mr. Passavants advice of
great assistance, Phineas Carboy
having returned 10 San Francisco,
Everything depends upon the man
ner in which you start out, my dear
boy" said his portly mentor with
return to the paternal manner. In
your position you cannot afford to
ally Yourself with anything but the
very best, from your shoemaker TO
your visiting-lst You must have
man, of course, and a secretary; send
the applicants to me; | will sift them
for YOU. You should have at least
two equipages for town use-a han
som and a brougham, with suitable
horses for saddle and harness. Do you
ride or drive, Mr.. Stennis?"
No, Mr.. Stennis neither rode nor
drove: in fact, he knew or cared very
little about horses,
"Ah, then, there my daughter can
be Of service, she is accounted very
fine horsewonan and one Of the best
Judges of horsehesh in the city. But
you young people can talk that over
together. You will naturally take an
interest in all gentlemanly sports
every man of means and leisure
does. but it will do no harm if you
are positively identified with some
particular pastime, even to the extent
of making it a fad. May | inquire
what is your favorite diversion?"
Yachting, by all means said Will
frid
Excellent, Could not be better."
exclaimed Mr. Passavant. None but
a man of large resources can-ah-
indulge in yachting to any extent
Il am thinking of building a boat,
said Wilfrid diffidently. What
would you advise?'
The very thing, my boy; engage
the most expensive designer and the
most famous builder and your repu'
tation is made. An excellent notion
ali"
Really, my dear" said the lawyer
in narrating this little Chesteriieldian
episode to Clara Il begin to have
hopes of young Stennis; he is most
tractable and receptive to-ah-sen'
sibe ideas"
So it came about that the rather
blase Clara anticipated with no little
interest her first meeting with the
new man.
Stennis had never before owned a
visiting card or donned a dresscoat,
but when he stepped forward to greet
her, in response to her fathers intro
duction, as he entered the drawing
room, she decided in one sweeping
glance that he was irreproachable at
least in costume and manners, even
if the latter were a triile nervous At
the proper moment he offered his arm
to take her in to dinner lnWardiy
he was greatly pCrturbed, for he real.
lied that he was on view; but Clara
Passavant excelled in social tact, and,
taking a liking to him from the start,
before the soup was removed he was
chatting with her completely at his
ease The dinner passed off quite sue
ccssfully on the whole, for by dint Of
keeping careful watch on what the
glaring blunders, albeit rather be-
wildered at the multiplicity of glasses,
and wondering at the possible correct
uses of the different styles and sizes
Of knives and forks and spoons But
he committed no solecisms; he took
wine sparingly; his little errors might
even have been ascrlbed to a some
what different geographical environ.
mcnt by those not cognizant of his
social pedigree
He will do" thought Clara Pas
savant. and put forth all her mature
powers to fascinate and dazzle her
fathers guest-in which aim she com
pletely succeeded. for there is nothing
more dangerous to a young mans
peace of mind than beautiful we'll
gOwned, and wellmannered woman OF
the world in full evening attire. And
Clara was all Of these things. More
over. she could be engagingly gracious
when she chose--and from this night
on she did choose.
She found Wilfrid quickly and even
go topics Of current conversation and
remarkably well-informed as to gen
cral knowledge In truth, he was
bettereduCated man than her father,
50 far as wide and desultory reading
was concerned: he had been nick
named the walking encyclopaedia in
the old days of office and boarding
house life. Yet his mental bill-offare
was like a "picked-up" dinner-it con
tanned a little of everything. But if
he had only known 1t in those early
days as he came to know it later, So
Cially this was rather in his favor
than otherwise Society, with a cap
ital prefix, prefers to be amused
rather than instructed, and barely
tOleratcs the man who knows enough