The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-20
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THE LADY-KILLER.
BY Radcliffe Martin.

Happiness reigned at SINNERS I'm
| perial boarding house at Douglas. The
house was full, yet not too full, and no
poor visitors slept on shake-downs on
| the top of the water cistern. Every
| thing seemed TO be going as merrily as
wedding bells-could one choose
more appropriate smile when the
lady-killer came.
Sir William Meggs in particular had
had a gorgeous time. He had made the
acquaintance of the prettiest girl in
the house, who CHANGED to sit at the
same table at meal times Violet Man
vers was not indisposed TO be friendly
with Mr.. Meggs. Her mother, a stout
elderly lady, was not an eXacting chap
erOne, and was quite ready to trust her
daughter to the charge of such a re-
spectacle young gentleman as Mr..
Meggs. So being sympathetic souls, the
young couple went everywhere togeth-
er. They were seasick in the same sail
ing boat, they gravitated to the floor
or the same skating rink-when Mr.
ernest Burrows came to stay at the
boarding house.
Mr.. Burrows was tall and dark and
slim. He had a mustache and Ian
gushing dark eyes, which the fair sex
pronounced to be soulful" At the first
glance all the ladies wished to have
him at their feet in a somewhat diff
terent sense. And to Mr.. Megg's hor-
ror, when Mr. Burrows first appeared
at meal Miss Manvers shot sIv
chances at him from time to time. Then
the dreadful newcomer had easy WAYS
or dropping into talk with ladies. Di
rectly after breakfast he had somehow
contrived to be on excellent terms with
MIS- Manvers; a minute later he was
paying delicate compliments TO Violet
MANNERS, whilst Mr.. Meggs stood awlx-
wardly beside them and wished that
the laws Of good society would hermit
them to Stay Mr.. Burrows on the spot
AT dinner Mr.. Meggs sat in sulky 81
fence and by way of livening him nm
Mrs. Manners said, tactfully: "Wbv
can you be bright and cheerful like
MI. Burrows, Mr.. Neggs ?"
L wouldn't be like him for fen
thousand dollars" Kissed Mr.. Meggs
but his remark was lost in the sensa-
ton that accompanied one Of Mr. Bur-
rows Savings:
Yes, one of the tunes the pierrots
played this morning I've never heard
since l was at the war-banjo by the
camp fire. you know"
The ladies' attention to Mr.. Burrows
redOubled. Not only was he a charming
companion, but he was hero. Mr..
Meggs instantly felt that he hated the
entire race Of Beers. who having had
legitimate opportunities of shooting
this obnoxious person, had disgrace
fully neglected them
Miss Manvers moved her chair
slightly away from the unfortunate
young man and said: Perhaps, Mr..
Burrows. you will be kind enough to
play for us in the drawing room this
EVENING""
Really" protested the ladykiller. Il
can only pick out a tune in the rough
est way"
He was overwhelmed by feminine
chorus. 1t became evident that all the
ladies felt that Mr. Burrows played
beautifully, and that il was their ar
dent desire that he should play for
them that evening. Mr.. Meggs rose and
| left the table in fury He would have
punched the banjoist's head had he not
been restrained by the profound phi
losophic reflection that Mr.. Burrows
might insist on doing a bit of head
punching on his own account.
Mr.. Meggs retired to his bedroom in
anger He waited there half an hour,
gloomily meditating on the faithless-
ness of woman and the loathsome i'm
becility OF men with dark moustaches.
Then the stunning of a banjo was
heard below. He snatched his hat and
went down the stairs. He paused for
moment at the open drawing room
door and saw an ecStatic circle OF la
dies seated around Mr.. Burrows.
Mr. Meggs leaped into the street and
wandered toward Douglas Head. There
he stood in utter misery-the only
lonely man. around him were hundreds
OF loving couples; the sound of kiss
ing fell perpetually on his ears-an in
terchange of Iabial microbes was pro-
ceeding that would have appalled, a
scientist not a slim waist was there
but had an arm around it; and on
every mans shoulder rested a charm
ing head.
He walked disconsolately back to the
clearinghouse, marching straight up
stairs to bed and dreaming of killing
Mr.. Burrows in dozen different ways
When he woke in the morning he
thought or leaving the boardlng-hOusel
at once, but unfortunately he had paid
for his board in advance, and there
was a week Of the time still to run.
So he resolved to play the part of the
gloomy cynic and show total indiffer-
ence to all the charmers at the board
ing-house. A postcard on the break
fast table reminded him that an uncle
OF his was coming to the Island, and
that he would have to meet the after
noon boat. So at 8 o'clock he went
down to await the steamers arrival. !
He soon spied his uncle's red face on
the deck, and FASTENED to meet him AT
the gangway.
Mr.. Sanders was a por0y, genial
person. He slapped his nephew on
the back and said; "'Avin' a good
time, WHIP"
YES" said Mr.. Meggs, in tones
which implied that he would get
about as much enjoyment at a Gene