Middletown transcript., 1884-02-08

That is hard 70 tell, for she is il
widows mourning, and keeps her vel
over her face. i"
"Oh y exclaimed Tom, very sure
what manner Of woman he had to deal
with, and hardening his heart to his
: foe. Ask her in. y
She was in the deepest weeds, and
though she raised her veil, she only
partially showed her face. AS far as
Tom could see, grief had not consumed
her beauty. She had pretty pink
color, great brown eyes that had wist-
full look in them, and soft blonde bangs.
Tom thought he preferred dark beau
ties, with brown hair and merry eyes,
with clear but colorless complexion !:
at least this kind Of beauty in Kate
had greatly attracted him. But he
suddenly felt an admiration for plaint-
i've eyes, and golden hair, shaded by a
heavy pail Of Grape which Of itself
would have made young face inter
esting.
D The lady at once stated her case.
She was embarrassed for ready money,
having met with a recent loss-here
} she touched her dress. 1t would be six
months before she could realize any
! thing from her husbands estate. She
wished Mr., Kirby to loan her FIVE thou
sand dollars for six months.
"On what security ?" Tom asked,
feeling strongly tempted to let her
have the money without any. If Kate
were left widow, and were in such
extremity, he would like her to be
helped by some one who would not
make too strict a business matter Of the
loan.
Here is my security" the widow
answered, unclasping a small satchel
she carried, and handing him a leather
case in which was set of diamonds in
antique setting Tom knew a good |
deal Of diamonds, and saw at a glance
that these were worth much more than
the loan asked on them but he dis
liked to take possession Of them, and
said 50.
am not accustomed to do bust
ness in this way" he said, hastily.
"Your note will be sufficient. l am
very sure you are just what you say you
are, and am contented to run the
risk.
Are you quite sure that | am
honest ?" she asked, smiling. We
women are seldom good managers, and
I prefer you should keep my dia-
monds.''
So Tom locked the jewels up in his
safe, and had the necessary papers made
out, to which the widow signed the
pretty name Of Blanche Bland.
Tom did not mention the widow to
Kate, chiefly because she might revive ]
the recollection Of his refusal Of the
five thousand dollar loan to Fanny {
Vernon, and Kate had, he acknowl-
edged, behaved exceedingly well about
it. She had not shown the least ill {
will, SO he thought it best to keep as j
far off as possible from the subject. |
Only once was Kate foolishIy wilful-
On the night Of Mrs. Bell's ball Her
dress was perfect, but she refused Toms t
request that she should wear her dia- \
monds, on the plea that they would !
spoil the effect of her toilette. Tom 4
thought not. He liked to see her wear |
the jewels liked to know that he could /
afford to give them to her. Kate |
laughed off this small disagreement by {
promising to wear the jewels at the
next ball. But this one was the last Of /
the season. /
It was a morning in August. The 3
windows were wide open, but the air I
was heavy with heat and the odor of I
late summer flowers. The stock-market |
was as heavy as the air !; and Tom !
Kirby sat over his breakfast reading ]
the advertisements Of summer resorts.
It was difficult to find exactly what he J
wished, and SO he proposed Saratoga. i
But Kate objected. She did not feel !
equal to the crowd, and the amount of )
dressing required. She did not seem A
interested in the advertisement he read /
out indeed, she was absorbed in the t
letter she was reading. Suddenly Tom
recalled their breakfast last December,
when he had refused to loan Fanny
Vernon five thousand dollars. The :.
surroundings were so entirely different !
as widely separated as the beefsteak
and omelet Of the winter breakfast was
from the cool melons and peaches Of !
the summer meal Then he remem-
bered the fact that the time had nearly !
arrived for the pretty widow to redeem j
her diamonds; and he wondered at his
forgetfulness in proposing to leave home !
just then. He did not care to explain, !
even to his confidential clerk, that he ! !
had diamonds as security locked up in !:
the safe. :.
Suddenly Kate looked up from her ! !
letter and said Tom, withdraw ] ]
my objection. think the Saratoga ! :.
plan excellent :
1t does not make the smallest diff !
ference. | am not strongly inclined ! !
towards Saratoga, 2 said Tom, coldIy. j !,
"But am. The Bells are there, 7 7
and plenty Of people we know !,
g cannot 90 for couple of weeks, =
said Tom, curtly. ! !
Why, you said you wished to go I !
this week.
"But ! forgot business engage :. :.
ment, " interrupted Tom. ! !
"Ohl'' was Kate's only answer. Z I,
Kate,' asked Tom, suspiciously, = i
/" why did you change your mind 50 = !
suddenly? Was it something in Fanny's :" {
letter? :, \
Why did you 50 suddenly remember ("