The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-09
THAT OTHER WOMAN.

ssHullo, pard, what's your hurry?n
Pm bound for the landing. Its steamer
day, and my little woman is DUE"
The first speaker was a slight, delicate
looking man, with face that said gentle
man to even casual observer, and the per-
son he addressed as ''pard" was tall, broad
shouldered, and massiyely built The two
had been staHnch friends for months in the
mines, and wooed tickle Fortunes favor in
many an enterprise together, had seen floods
wash away in single night the fruits of
hard months of toll, and fire sweep off the
fortune that was to take them back to home
and friends in the "States." They had
slept together under the open sky, and
dined out of the same black pot.
The tall man, Harry Trent, had left wife
in far away New England village, who was
on her way to JOIN her husband, and to day
she was to reach San Francisco.
Harry trudged along the unpaved street,
the wind blowing clouds of dust in every
direction, and turned at last down a roughly
built wharf that stretched out to the bay.
His friend, Hilton Montgomery, followed,
feeling a curiosity to see the little woman
about whom his partner had often talked at
night in the lonely chaparal.
The steamer had entered the Golden Gate,
and was leisurely putting past the bare sand
hills that now constitute 8 thickiy popula
ted suburb of the city. There were wives
and daughters clustered about her PROV, and
handkerchief were waving and eager faces
watched for familiar ones on the rickety
wharf
At last the plank was showed out and,
after the usual tantalizing jerks and bitches
by the sailors it was satisfactorily adjusted,
and the crowd came squeezing down.
A braid of light, wavy hair a jauntily
plumed hat, and plump, we'll figure,
was all that rewarded Hilton's attentive
gaze, for more could not be seen of ''pards
little woman" She was clinging about
..Harry's neck, her neat boots dangling a
foot from the ground, and her face invisible
-crammed,. burrowed, il. the lapel of her
husbands coat.
Hilton waited moment, with an amused
smile on his lips, hoping one glimpse of her
might be vouchsafed him, and then turneG
away and sauntered up the dusty street.
Several tunes during the week that follow
ed he found himself thinking of the radiant
look on Harry's rather heavy features, glori
flying his whole countenance, and of the
little clinging figure; and night after night,
as he returned to his big. cherries. carelessly
arranged rooms, he allowed his thoughts to
dwell on an imaginary scene.
1t was of woman with braided hair, who
went briskly about, bringing order and
beauty out of Harry Trents bachelor den.
Her little high-heeled slippers clicked cheer
lily on the floor, and a lace ruffie peeped out
when her skirts whisked about, and now
then white hand patted a bronzed cheek.
The picture made him restless.
What fool am" he said aloud, at last.
"Harry's wife is probably shrew, a long
tongued vixen, who sc0lds about tobacco
smoke, and nags man for money to buy
more lace ruffies and high-heeled slippers
when ne is tired 70 death; but, hang it all,
I will go and see her for myself. Harry Is
always asking me to"
He arose, stretched himself, and forthw
began to search among pile of moldy boots
g. ,tohy Job hoxy I'D
on with a little swearing and stamping, be
proceeded to kick all the others savagely
under the bed, for he felt grudge agains
all his POSSESSIONS and against himself, too
at that moment.
Was he not a confirmed misogomist anc
misogynist, and here he was philandenns
off to see Harrv's wife, and punish himsel
with that tight pair of boots, which, to b,
sure, did make his feet look half their ordin
airy size.
He was growingidiotic, maudlin to dream
of lace ruffies and clicking heels. He Sc
forth, nevertheless, and rang the boor bel
with vicious jerk.
A pattering of heels was heard, just as h,
imagined, and the door opened, revealin,
an oval face, with brown eyes and red pout
ing lips. Hilton was for q moments trif
embarrassed, and said, almost gruffly.
II am an acquaintance of your husband
my name Is Hilton Montgomery"
The brown eyes frightened, and two whit
haQQS StretcDeQ out COnnQ1nglY.
''Oh, know all about you" she replied
''you are Harry's chum, and are such goo
fellow, Harry says"
Hilton was soon seated in the best chail
gwen cigar, and made to feel nearl
amiable.
Harry's wife was indeed a quick, def
handed, taking little body, and she trotte
about caring for her guests comfort, or Sc
pearched like wren on high chair an
Chartered, and was altogether bewitching-
Hilton stayed late, and heard all abou
the Quiet family life in a sleepy Vernon
town, where Mrs. Trent or KITTY, as she we
called, almost as soon as her friends kne
her, had spent heretofore her uneventft
life. 4 esl.ss
He heard too. of certain sister Nauni,
whose virtues Kitty dwelt on, and neye
seemed able sufficiently to Isud. at last b
went back to his lonely rooms. and the
made him more savage than ever.
The next evening he sought refuge frol
his new and unaccountable dizziness in
billiard-room, but the balls were wrong an
the boys played wrong, and, finally he too
himself to Kitty's cheerful hearth.
She was writing to sister Mamie, and Hi
ton said, in Jest: In. ~
TELL Miss Mamie am in love with b,
from her sisters vivid description of b
charms" =
Mrs Trent jumped up suddenly, and
gan rummaging in mammoth trunk.
She produced at last photograph, an
showed ii with q pretty ar of triumph.
There she said, behold the charmer
1t really was pretty face that looked OF
of the frame-a good face, too, with tru
steady eyes, and broad brow. Hilton fe
strangely attracted by it.
You may tell her 1 am grovelling at hi
feet since have seen her picture" said b
laughlngly, aud Mrs Trent sent. Hterall
the message she bad received.
The reply came In due season. ess5asss
Miss Mamie was pleased to think fave
ably Of her unseen admiref, and in Kitty
next letter little note was enclosed fro
Hilton, thanking her for the INDULGE