Graham guardian., 1913-03-14
CHAPTER |.
My Friend Wissins ls introduced.

MY Frtond WtS9tns - Introouc0o.
~ nlNED with Hartley Wiggins ut
the Hare und Tortoise on nn even
ing In October not very lopg ago
1t may he well to explain that the
Hare aud Tortoise Is the smallest and
m0st select of clubs. whose windows
afford Il pleasant view Of Gramercy
park. Thecll,b IL comparatively young,
aud it IL our joke that we are so fur all
tortoises. creeping through our several
professions without aid from any hare
hasten to explain that lam Chin
ney doctor. Virgins Is q lawyer: at
least | have seen his name IN list Of
graduates of the Harvard Law school.
and he has an office downtown. where
! have occnsipnally found hiu sedately
playing solitaire while ne waited for
some one to take him out to luncheon.
He spends his summers on south
Dakota rNnch. from which be derives
considerable income,
Wiggins IL an athlete. and his surns
mers In the west and persistent train
ing during the winter Keep him lD tine
condition. Az faced him tonight In
our favorite corner OF the Hare aud
Tortoise dining room the physical man
was fit enough, but | saw at once that
he was glupl and dispirited he had
through many years h0nored me with
his confidence. and felt that tonight
after we got well started should hear
what was on his mind. hoped to
cheer him with the story Of q visit
had by chance paid that afternoon to
the Asolando tea room, for. though Wig
gins is most practical person, ! I'm.
agined that he would be diverted by
my description OF place which, felt
sure, nothing could tempt him to visit
! shall never forget the look he gave
me when remarked at about his third
spoonful OF soup:
"Ry the way. | dropped into an ode
place this afternoon -Burne-y ones buns
Rpssetti macaroous and all that sort ot
thing. They call It the Asolando"-
was ambling on. expecting Il
sharpen his curiosity gradually as re
cited the joys Of the tea room. but al
Asolando his spoon dropped. apd ht
stared at me blankly. 1t should b
known that Virgins Is not maj
whose composure is lightly shaken.
"rhe Asolando." repeated. to breal
the spell Of his blank stare. Know
the place2"
He recovered In moment. but b
surveyed me quizzically before reply
ing.
"Of course ! have heard of the Aso
lando. but | thought you didn't 60 |,
for that sort Of thing It's tritie girl
ish, you know"
| sThat's hardly against 1t. ! foun'
the girlishness altogether attractive"
"You always were t0lerably suscep
tible. but b:oiled butterflies and mot
wings soutfle seem to me rather pal
food for man In your vigorou
health"
.srhey must have Disseminated 4
your favor. saw no such things
though to be sure was afraid to Quit
BILE over the waitress suggestions. Ma
ask when you were therei"
rOh. ! dropped In quite accidental
one day last spring. saw the Gig
, and remembered that somebody hs,
spoken of the place. and was tiret
and 1t was long way to tho clui
and
Discrimination Ii not an art AZ VII
gins attempts to practice II at time'
He Is by nature the most straightfol
ward of mortals. II was clear that b
was witnnoialng something, ana i II
solved to get to the bottom Of II.
II don't think the Asolando Is q plac
that would attract either of Us, an
! yet the viands are good as such stu
goes, and the gentle handmaldens al
restful to the eye-Pippa. Francesca
Gloria and the rest Of 'em."
l Virgins pried open his artichoi
l with the care of botanist. BE ha
i regained his composure. but saw thl
the subject interested him.
l "You were there this afternoonr"
inquired.
I "Yes, my first and only appearance
"And this Is Monday"