The examiner. (Hartford, Conn.) 1881-188?, 1886-08-21
SHE WAS PRETTY,

know dear old Norton. who's in America
just now, worse luck. His birthday falls
on the 5th of June, and we arranged to
dine together at the restaurant from
which we had just come. 1t was blazing
day, and the night just as hot as they
make 'em. I was medical student then
and awfully hard at work. and right glad
L was when it came time to meet Norton
and have dinner. You know how nice
the Windsor looks in the summer time
with it's fountains and it's flowers. Well,
met Norton at Z. The place was awfully
crowded and we had to share our bower
of delight with two other persons. How
ever we didn't much mind, for the man
looked a gentleman and the woman was
! pretty. Indeed she was almost beautiful.
She was rather tall, with Il beautifully
| defined figure the face was pale, but not
unhealthy so; she had gray, quiet eyes,
i'll which to look was really rest.
| don't remember at this time how we got
| into conversation. but we did, and very
| pleasant conversation it was. We knew
| and admired the same authors, we had
| enough to take wine with us quite in the
old-fashioned way. My lady had on an
evening dress, which, while it revealed
| about the best arms and shoulders it has
| been my good luck to see, was hardly the
| costume in which to dine at restaurant,
and that troubled me rather, because she
| seemed to know what was proper. Nor
ton and l were young then. There was
no mad thing of which we were not capa-
| BILE in those days, and now he is in
America and have govt in my left hand,
let You fellows laugh as you will.
Well. it ended by our acquaintance ask
Ing lis If we would waive ceremony and go
round and take tea at their rooms.
Their rooms happened to be close by the
Windsor. I didn't care much about going
but saw that Norton, who had taken per-
haps, one more glass of champagne than
was absolutely advisable, was rather hit
of course by mere way of Irritation. So
| caved in and not with very much reluct-
ance, either / remember how warm we
felt we came out of the Windsor. Our
dinner acquaintance had given me his
card, on which was engraved J. G. Drank
stone. The address, Is Great Russell
street, had been added in pencil. l
walked with Brankstone, who kept me
we'll entertained, while Norton walked
with the lady, who was doubtless Drank
stones wife, Dear old Norton You re-
member how very gracious he becomes
under certain circumstances. I found
Brankstone u very intelligent person. lie
had low and very pleasant voice. We
walked together, Norton and Mrs Br II =
stone going in front. I suppose it was
the unusual situation in which l found
myself that impaired something of magic
to me that night but London seemed to
me Il city of enchantment. quite different
from the work a-day old place knew SO
well. There was sense of adventure in
the air. Arriving at home, we found our
selves in modest but pleasantly furn-
ished apartment. The room was pervad-
ed by perfume at once delicate and po-
tent. which suggested Mrs. Brankstone,
though one could hardly tell why.
do you like music 20 she asked, throw
ing her hat and gloves aside.
We both responded in the affirmative.
"Then I will play to YOU" she said, and
drifted into one of the most dreamy of
Chopin's nocturnes, one of those pieces SO
suggestive of water under moonlight.
Brankstone explained to me that as they
were at present wandering about he had
warehoused his books, but he had with
him two or three interesting volumes,
which he produced for my inspection. 1t
being thought too late to trouble the
people of the house for tea, spirits were
produced, Norton and gladly splitting
brandy and soda.
"Tm glad you like it," said our host.
"For my own part I'd as soon drink
poison" and he filled his glass with wine.
Mrs. Brankstone accorded us permission
to smoke, and things grew more dream
like every moment. The street of Great
Russell is a quiet one, in which small
sounds assert themselves and that night
had for me strange significance. Thus
the late knock of the the postman seemed
o thing of mystery. and the mutterings
of two men leaning against q lamp-post
suggested conspirators and heaven knows
what.
Don't be so foolish" I heard Mrs.
Brankstone say. She and Norton were
Sitting together on II sofa. "Of course
you will see ME again that is, if you wish
to-" When she added, turning to Drank
stone, "but all men are faithless are they
not, Charley ?'
~ hope you don't speak from expert
ence, my dear child" he answered. COM
ing to where she was sitting and passing
his hand over her hair. Now sing us
something" She rose and began to sing
Break, Break" by Tennyson.
You sing 1t divinely." heard Norton
say. l was distressed to hear in his tones
the effect of alcohol. ~ think I'll sit
down." he said, stupidity, and collapsed on
the sofa. began to wonder II l myself
might not have taken too much wine for
dinner. I felt a kind of stupefaction
stealing over me- 1t then occurred to me
thar if wa stonned thpre uny LONGER we