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still proceeds to held himself now and then. Roland and Marsh look disgusted. Fedwell looks idiotic.
Bobbie—"Trilby, Trilby-sh-speaki'n Trilby. Hello, Misher Roland, glad t'shee y'back. Shay speaki'n Trilby? Ever read Trilby? D'ministering book, plot loaded t'scatter, Trilby great girl."
Ralph—(coldly) No I was not speaking of Trilby nor any other book, but of Mab-Miss Pearlgirl." (He wishes that he had not mentioned her name.)
Bobbie—(who takes a brace somewhat at the mention of Miss Pearlgirl's name, but with another drink and a laugh) "Mable Pearlgirl -yshes-she's a great girl, too. Come over shame tub's I did. (Hic!) Set'n my lap all way. Destitute deleacy's sh'young cow."
A crash, a blow and an oath, and Ralph Roland stands white and angry over Bobbie who drunkly tries to rise from the floor and at the same time stanch the flow of blood from his battered nose.
Jack—(calmly but not assisting Fedwell in the least.) "Shame, Ralph, he is drunk."
Ralph—"Take him then and sober him up that I may pound him into a jelly. He spoke insultingly of her I love."
Bobbie—(who, by the aid of a chair and the wall has regained his feet, with a surprising spirit for him) "Love her do you? Then I'm even with you, d——n you."
Jack—(interfering between the two) "Go away now Ralph and I'll get him to leave before you return, (and to reassure his friend as that one goes out at the door) we sup over your good luck when you return."
Two hours latter the saf. men are in the same room. Bobbie who Prias refused to go home and insisted upon drinking more and more while he brokenly tells Marsh of his adventures abroad, now lies in a drunken stupor upon a lounge awaiting his carriage which the porter has summoned. Ralph has just entered. His face is white and drawn and his fists clenched as he sees the drunken man near by.
Jack—(with unassumed gaity) "Congratulations are in order,eh?"
Ralph—(with assumed gaity) "Certainly, for Miss Pearlgirl."
Jack—(surprised) "But you?"
Ralph—"Miss Pearlgirl cares for me only as a very confidential friend."
Jack—(rising) "The devil! (He had no reference to the lady.) She refused you? you, Ralph Roland of the stock exchange?"
Ralph—(bitterly) "Yes, I, I, Ralph Roland. No, no, she did not refuse me. She was girl enough to see my mission and to save me extra pain. Before the mere usual formalties were hardly passed between us, she told me confidentially that she was engaged while abroad and would be married Christmas week."
Jack—"Did she tell you, whom? Mable Peargirl, the beautiful, seemed too sensible to be caught by some disreptuable, church mouse, titled snob."
Ralph—(bitterly but with an attempt at brightness.) "Yes, to whom. There lies Miss Pearlgirl's choice, this illustrious degenerate Bobbie Fedwell."
And when three months later the disreputable Bobbie sobered up long enough to marry the handsome and cultured Miss Pearlgirl, Mr. Jack Marsh the noted paragrapher created not a little comment by remarking in a paragraph upon a recent marriage in society: "How thankful cupid must be that he was born blind."
ROBT. E. EVERETT.
Anthony.
Grand Chieftain, thou hast left thy walks Familiar, and in vain we call Thy name. Fair Kansas most of all Does miss thee. Though thy form and face No more are seen; yet we can trace Thy being wrought in laws both small And great, in thought and customs—all Her statehood. What shall efface Thy name? The hour demands such men Who dare to think, and thinking, dare To speak, to act, to boldly bear The challenge to dishonest thought. Majestic Intellect! Ah, when Shall leader rise like thee again? wa, Kansas. W.S.JENKS