Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-03-25

ance the typical New York young club
man setting out, slightly bored, to in
augurate the pleasures of the evening.
Chambers honorarium was SIS per
week He was employed in the office
of an architect. He was twenty-five
years old.
Out of each weeks earnings Chan
dler set aside ST. At the end Of each
ten weeks with the extra capital thus
accumulated he purchased one gentle
mans evening from the bargain count
er of stingy old Father Time. He ar
rayed himself in the regaia of mil
lionaires and presidents; he took him
self to the quarter where life is bright
est and showiest and there dined with
taste and luxury.
This one delectable evening culled
from each dull seventy was to Chandler
a source of renascent bliss. To the So
ciety bud comes but one deDut-it
stands alone sweet in her memory
when her hair has whitened-but to
Chandler each ten weeks brought a
JOY as keen, as thrilling, as new as
the first had been. To sit among bon
vivants under palms in the swirl of
concealed music. to look upon the ha-
bitues Of such paradise and TO be
looked upon by them-what is girls
first dance and short sleeved tulle com
pared with this?
Up Broadway Chandler moved with
the vespertine dress parade. For this
evening he was an exhibit as well as
a gazer. For the next siXty-nine even
ings he would be dining in cheviot and
worsted at dubious table d'hotes, at
whirlwind lunch counters. on sand
witches and beer in his hall bedroom.
He was willing to do that, for he was
a true son Of the great city of razzle-
dazzle. and to him one evening in the
limelight made up for many dark ones.
Chandler protracted his walk until
the Forties began to intersect the great
and glittering primrose way, for the
evening was yet young, and when one
is of the beau monde only one day il
seventy, one loves to protract the plea
sure. Eyes bright. sinister. curious.
admiring, provocating, alluring, were
bent upon him, for his garb and air
proclaimed him devotee to the hour
of solace and pleasure.
At a certain corner he came to a
standstill. proposing to himself the
question of turning back toward the
snowy and fashionable restaurant in
which he usually dined on the even
ings Of his especial luxury. Just then
girl scudded lightly around the cor
ner. slipped on patch of icy snow and
fell plump upon the sidewalk.
Chandler assisted her to her feet
with instant and solicitous courtesy.
The girl hobbled to the wall of the
building, leaned against it and thanked
him demurely.
Il think my ankle is strained" she
said. at twisted when fell"
Does it pain you muchY" inquired
Chandler
only when I rest my weight upon
it. | think l will be able to walk III
a minute or two"
"If / can be of any further service"
suggested the young man. II will call
a cab. orr
THANK you," said the girl softly, but
heartily. Il am sure you need not
trouble yourself any further. 1t was
so awkward of me. And my shoe
heels are horribly common sense.
can't blame them at ALL"
Chandler looked at the girl and found
her swiftly drawing his interest She
was pretty in refined way, and her
eye was both merry and kind, She
was ineXpensively clothed in a plain
black dress that suggested sort OF
uniform sucn as shopgirls wear. Hell
glossy dark brown hair showed its
coils beneath cheap hat of black
straw whose only ornament was a
velvet ribbon and bow. She could
have posed as model for the self re,
specting working girl of the best type
A sudden idea came into the head OF
the young architect. He would ask
this girl to dine with him. Here was
the element that his splendid but soil
tary periodic feasts had lacked His
brief season Of elegant luxury would
be doubly enjoyable if he could add to
1t lady's society. This girl was q
lady, he was sure-her manner and
speech settled that. And in spite OF