Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-10-21
CHAPTER v.--contInued.

subject of music at their third or
fourth meeting she found she had
touched the dominant chord of Will
frids nature; being no mean execu-
tant herself, they at once met on com
mon ground. She found that he had
seen most of the modern operas Cat a
dollar admission) and some others OF
which she had never even heard. and
he laughingly confessed to the pos
session of a tenor voice.
But you know what the great Won
Bulow said about tenors. Miss Pas
savant?'
No; tell me, please; something
spiteful, am sure"
Judge for yourself; he said that a
tenor was diseased"
Clara laughed "That recalls Her
vey's-was it Hervey's ?-clever gem
eralization of the human race" she
said. you know he divided us up
into men. women. and curates."
THAT was certainly rather severe
on the gentlemen of the CLOTH" COM
mented Stennis, unless he had in
mind the old saying. about the last
not being the least"
Upon another occasion they were
discussing the feminine passion for
fine clothes.
Women dress to please them
selves" valiantly asserted Clara,
championing her sex.
"Are you sure?" said Stennis. mo
true woman would be content with
such simple motive as that; 1t must
be something far more complex"
For instance?" she asked, with
one of her challenging glances which
dared him to do his best or say his
worst.
4 think they dress to please them
selves first; secondly, to please the
men; and. thirdly. to make other
women envious.'
For shamei" was the laughing re-
tort, tapping him with her fan; time
enough to be cynical when you get to
be as old as papa"
Such little verbal passages at arms
as these-and there were many of
them as time passed, for upon Stennis
was conferred the freedom of the
house in Park avenue after that initial
dinner-served to put them more and
more at their ease and to cement their
friendship. The rather shop-worn So
ciety woman Of eight or ten seasons
discovered new sensation; in match
ing wits with Stennis she was sure to
strike responsive fire in him every
time, nor was 1t certain that In so
doing her own wings were not in
danger of being singed: she certainly,
and perhaps unwittingly. revealed to
him oftener than to others a softer,
more womanly side of her nature
On Stennis' part he ever delighted
to be with her, because she possessed
the happy knack of educing his bright
est thoughts; she became his social
mentor and the arbiter of his slowly
forming tastes. He really wondered
at himself. after an evening in her so
ciety, when he recalled the consumed
ly bright things he had said, and he
began to take no little pride in his
social and fashionable progress. For
he was everywhere voted a success.
His wealth. his pristine freshness, his
total freedom from the too frequent
vulgarities of the newly rich, made
him everywhere welcome; he was put
up at two or three good clubs; start
ing with . few valuable introduce
tons from the Passavants, his circle
of acquaintance widened rapidly. and
not the least surprising feature of 1t
all to Stennis was the ease with which
he assumed his place among the elect
of New York society. 1t was as
though he had been to the manner
born.
So the winter passed. In high links
and perpetual holidays" and the
young spring found Wilfrid firmly
seated In the society saddle; fairly
launched on his career as one of the
jeunesse doree; popular alike with
men and with women; invited every.
where. and apparently as happy as
the day IL long.
True. thus far he had not realized
any Of his pet projects. except to lay
the keel of fine schooner-yacht--he !
had been too busy socially-but there
was, as he told himself. plenty of
time.
Nor must It be inferred that the
glamour of these newer interests COM
pleteiy eclipsed the memory and
the influence of Eunice TreFecca.
Throughout that winter WiIfrid was a
constant and even regular visitor in +
far-away old Greenwich.
To the girl he carried full accounts
Of his social progress. sketched for
her his constantly widening circle Of |
friends and acquaintance. and spread
his daily life before her like an open
page. Thus far there had been no
snbterfuges. no secrets between them.
And II. as was to be expected. he
little OF the exquisite IN
dress. and became q tribe dandified In
affecting or having acquired
the society drawl and new style Of
hand-shake, which he unsuccessfuIIy !
endeavored to transplant to the arid [