Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-06-21
MY FATAL DELAY.
q Van Huysam in Love with His
Landlady's Daughter.

When 1 hired lodgings at Mime.
Hampton's. 1 had no idea that she
owned so precious a thing as daugh-
ter. Not that it would have made any
difference II / had known it had
become Indifferent to women; they
interested me only as a trivial study.
You will say that woman as study is
too dangerous, but it had never proved
so with me. In the meantime ]
neither sought nor avoided them;
those whom fate threw in my way |
placed under my mental microscope,
not caring much for what il revealed.
My indifference. however. did not arise
from any lost illusions l had never
been in love. and it never occurred to
me that the thing was possible. ]
had been on friendly terms with blonde
and brunette. with the prude aud the
coquette. the clever and the designing;
but had forgotten their existence half
an hour later Mime. Hampton her
self never left her room; she was doubt
less dying, but she had been so long
about it. aud made so little circum-
stance about il, that nobody gave it n
n thought, It would seem. She saw
her dodgers, and arranged terms, and
sent In the bills; and yet the house
and all its appointments seemed TO
share the order of the planetary sys-
TEN. The motive power was madame S
daughter l Involuntary pictured
her, since we always picture those
who appeal individually to us in any
way, as coarse-featured woman,
with "silver threads among the gold, 4"
n face more or less wrinkled, a sharp
voice, big rough hands. and a genius
for snubbing the servants and haggling
with butcher and baker.
On entering madame's room one
day in order so settle my account, ac-
rording 20 the custom of the house,
behold a slender being before the open
fire. with one tiny hand on the mantel,
lavender morning-gown turned the
knot Of yellow hair at the back Of her
head. from. which some curls escaped,
into pure gold. There was an air of
luxury and leisure about her which
was simply delicious In view Of the
facts
My daughter" said madame, pres
sently. Estelle, this is Mr.. Van Huy-
sami you have heard me speak Of him. "
Estella turned a beautiful. naughty
face in my direction, Bowed slightly,
smiled vaguely Indeed. ] might
say ] have heard you speak Of no one
else Plainly, the old lady had been
singing my praises. and the young one
did not fancy the tune.
| do not know what cord thrilled IN
my heart at these words, in that soft,
minor voice. capable OF all melody, Of
terse expression. nor how got myself
out Of the room. A man who has re-
ceiyed fatal bullet in the breast does
not recognize the sensation. for the
reason that he has never experienced
II before; he does not know It's
import We met often after this,
always by accident. It would seem,
ON the staircase. In the hall. and
finally one night made so bold as TO
knock at the door Of her music-ro ON.
She welcomed me with her naughty
oordiality, II haughtiness can be cor
dial There were three or four young
men already IN possession. but she
placed her seat near my own. and
while she anon threw out jayellns Of
wit Tor the general benefit. rsceiYed
ihe lions share Of attention. This was
naiiering 10 my arDionr-propre But
sillL Whenever 1 repeated my call
had always 10 wrestlo with handful
% younger men for the snpremRcy. /
mesi confoss thar before i reached this
pplaE haa peea Obliged % wgessls