Life — December 25, 1890 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

man, if I'm not mistaken, something will happen which will make you wish you'd kept in Cairngorm’s good graces instead of breaking in on him every time we've managed a téte-d-téte.” Then Esther prepared herself for bed and maiden dreams—dreams in which she saw herself in court robes and tiara, assisting at the coronation of the Prince of Wales as King of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India. ° . . Chauncey was like a caged lion all that Christmas day. At dinner time not a word had come from Jack Turton, and that trustworthy youth should LORD CAIRNGORM'S CHRISTMAS. oe ON’T you forget it—any time before twelve to- morrow night, Wire me at the Amotts' whenever you get a chance during the day,” and then Chaun- cey Merrick hurried along just ia time to get into his seat before the curtain went up on the third act. Esther Arnott listened with frigid disapproval to his whispered explanation about having to see one of the clerks from his office, and then fixed her atten- tion on the stage until the curtain again came down, Then she became absorbed in the small talk of Lord Cairngorm who sat directly behind her. His lordship poked his head over her shoulder in a fashion which gave Chauncey astrong desire to punch that offending member of his lordship's body. But Chauncey had invited the Amnotts and their house-party to spend Christmas Eve at the theatre, and his lordship who was their guest for the three days covering Christmas, was therefore his own for the evening, and his person was doubly sacred from the chastisement Chauncey thought he deserved. Jack Turton needed no emphatic instructions from Chauncey. Jack had been a District Telegraph messenger, and had been redeemed from that sin- (ul state by the personal favor of Chauncey Merrick. To have a desk of his own in the offices of Merrick & Son, and occasionally to appear at the theatre in evening dress, gave Jack the impression that he was rapidly becoming a financial wolf and a social swimmer. Besides the feeling of gratitude for his advancement, Jack cherished the junior member of the firm as his exact ideal of what a Wall Street man should be. Chauncey was the best dressed man in the street, could kick up more disturbance in buying a hundred shares of stock than any man in the board, was a better guesser at the course of the market than a good many of his seniors, and was the happy possessor of a perfect collection of coat-tails gathered from the raiment of every new member who had come on the floor since he himself had made his appearance as the proud possessor of a seat. Chauncey had also given Jack a number of useful sug- gestions with regard to dress and social etiquette which had enabled the latter to hold his own with some other brokers’ clerks who had gained their early education in schools different from the benches of a District Telegraph office Therefore Chauncey’s instructions to Jack were more than law to that young man, and Christinas morning found him at the Rarge Office long before it was daylight and time for the revenue cutter to make its departure to meet the incoming steamers. *T wonder iff look as stupid as Chauncey Merrick seems to think fant.” said Esther Arnott, to herself, Christmas Eve, after the theatre, She was standing in her dressing-room, looking at the reflection of her pretty face in a silver-framed hand-mirror, “t may be stupid, Mr. Chauncey, but not so stupid as you think, For three weeks you've never given me a chance to have have been at the house long before, unless the “ City of New Give minutes’ talk with Lord Cairngorm, If papa hadn't insisted on our accept- York" was later than usual, and if the ship was a few hours ing your invitation to the theatre this evening, I haven't a doubt onearth his late there must be something wrong—a heavy storm, broken lordship would have proposed. Well, for three weeks you and papa have — machinery—and she might be days in getting to port. thought you were hood-winking mamma and me, but to-morrow night, young Chauncey had been successful in holding the English noble- “TT woNpek iF 1 Loox As sTorip as Ciacxcey MERRICK SEEMS TO THINK [amy comicbooks.com