Gilpin observer., 1910-07-14

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 horsewoman and one of the best
judges of horseflesh 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 II you
are positively identified with some
particular pastime, even to the extent
of making it fad. May inquire
what is your favorite diversion?"
yachting, by all MEANS" said VIII
frid.
Excellent! Could not be better!"
exclaimed Mr.. Passavant. None but
man of large resources can-ah-
indulge in yachting to any extent"
81 am thinking of building boat, "
said Wilfrid diffidently. what
would you adviser" '14
1.-The very thing, my boy; engage
the most expensive designer and the
most famous builder, and your repu-
tation is made. An excellent notion
-ah!"
Really, my dear" said the lawyer
in narrating this little Chesterfieldian
episode to Clara, Il begin to have
hopes of young Stennis; he is most
tractable and receptive to-ah-sen-
sible IDEAS"
So it came about that the rather
blase Clara anticipated with no little
interest her first meeting with the
new man.
Stennis mad 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 trifle nervous. At
to take her in to dinner. Inwardly
he was greatly perturbed, for he real
lied that he was on view; but Clara
Passavant excelled in social tact, and,
taking 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
cessfully on the whole, for by dint of
keeping careful watch on what the
others did he was able to avoid any
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 ascribed to some
what different geographical environ
ment by those not cognizant of his
social pedigree.
He will dol" 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 young mans
peace of mind than beautiful, well
gowned, and well-mannered 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
cleverly responsive to the touch-and-
go topics of current conversation and
remarkably well-informed as to gen.
eral knowledge. In truth, he was a
better-educated man than her father.
SO far as wide and desultory reading
was concerned; he had been nick
named "the walking encyclopedias" in
the old days of office and boarding.
house life. Yet his mental bill-of-fare
was like ''picked-up" dinner-it con-
tanned little of everything. But II
he had only known it in those early
days as he came to know 1t 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
tolerates the man who knows enough
to see its blunders and not enough
to keep still about them.
CTO BE CONTINUED)