Wichita eagle., 1888-09-16
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The gayle
4 SEglt Misunderstanding
By E. B. VI.
1Copyrighn.

York law Office. Two OF three blocks
away Trinity is Ginning 8, but the roar
OF Broadway browns that The exceed
ing sultriness of the air and the sbrill
chant of second POST which comes I'd
from the seething street, tell that mid
afternoon has arrived. The office boy
has sunk peacefully oil into sllmber in
his little dark anteroon Mr. Blake can
see him nodding. painfully over a dime
novel, but finds him not more exciting
than his own sample of literature, an
interesting work on Notes and Bills. "
SO Mr.. Blake again applies himself TO
Notes and Bills" for about three min
utes. At the end Of that time his eyes
wander, fix themselves gravely on his
feet, close, and then open again very wide
as his head drops forward with jerk.
The young man shakes himself, yawns
frightfuny, and gives up reading as ua-
profitable and tending to stupefy.
Mir. Blake is a lawyer, who is better
known in the boat houses on the Harlem
and at Woods gymnasium than in the
courts, and whose ideas Of the proper cul-
tivation OF muscle are more profound
than his knowledge of law. This is evil
oenced by his sUnburned face, his short
crop of hair, ana his general get up,
which is more athletic than legal. But
now the races are all rowed, the crew has
disbanded, the long four oar is drying out
in the boat house, and when Mr.. Blake
goes on the Harlem it is between O pair
OF souls, which propel him along,
Remote unfriendad, solitary,
but not slow. This is all very well, but
not to be compared to the rush of con-
tending crews. His occupation gone. and
the town deserted, he is beginning to
mediate vacation.
To him thus engaged enters from an
inner office one whose neat attire, smiling
face and strictly legal auburn whisker
proclaim the rising young man.
Tom, the judge wants you. Put on
your coat; there's a swell client inside"
MIR Blake makes the suggested addition
to the rather sketchy attire which the
warmth Of the season demands and the
privacy OF his den permits, and grumbling
enters the awful presence, which sits en-
shrined in an Office more dark and more
dirty, if possible, than the others, and
lined with shelves full OF books, which
are in turn oppressed by large tin boxes
and vast bundles of papers. Being re-
mote from the street 1t is comparatively
quiet; its windows open into a narrow
alley, from the depths of which arise
the dirGfui accusations and recrimina-
tions OF bootblacks who gamble for pen
MES IN its SHADY secluSion. The great
being who gloriGes this dismal place
is a bald cid gentleman, who sits at
most untidy writing table in the center
of the room. lie is a type OF the old style
American citizen. He dresses in black
broadcloth; he wears a chin beard; and he
says sir very frequently. Mr.. Blake
looks at the top of his chiefs head as he
enters the room. It is very smooth and
white, and reminds him of a billiard ball,
as it has done many times before But it
does more; for as 1t is quite white, and
not a lively pink, he knows that the Judge
is in good humor.
Mr.. Nanvoorst, let ne introduce Mr..
Biake-one Of our Young gentlemen, Sir"
says the Judge, with flourish Mr. Van
worst and Tom nluImur their delight at
meeting, and the latter, taking seat at
the invitation Of his superior, looks to
see what manner Of man the client is
On examination he appears 90 be young
man of % or %, Of an inoffensive blonde
type. and with no Indications of either
great physical or mental vigor, and his
clothes evidently are from on English
tailor. Is it necessary to add that they
do not iis? But the London clothes and
the blonde whiskers give the man some
thing of the Anglo-AmeTican air so pop
Mar at present. Mr.. Blake, who does the
thing much better, is at least satisfied,
though not lost in admiration, and thus
gives the judge all the better attention
rs he says:
Mr. Fanvoorst has come to me. sir,
upon business Of a peculiarly confidential
and private nature, and after mature do
liberation | have decided. sir, to call on
you for assistance In matter which re-
quires extreme dalicacy and tact, sir; and
il is knowledge OF the fact that you, sir,
are n frequepter Of that fashionable So
cicty which, however deterioratinE in
some of its phases, nevertheless iplparts
a certain tact and ease which The incest
intellectual culture too often fails to-a-
yes. sir.
Mr.. Blake, utterly IN the dark, muir
murs, You're very good, I'm sure" Mr..
Nanvoorst smiles feeble encouragement.
The judge continues:
- Will, without further preface, put
You in possession of the facts as Mr.. Van
worst has apprised me of them. You
are aware that the elder Mr.. Nanvoorst
has long been q much respected client OF
mine, though since his retiring from bust
ness some five years ago, l have seen very
little Of him. 10 appears that in the early
part OF this sumnCr--correct me il | am
wrong, Mr.. NanvoorSt-vRs. sir-dEring
= visit to Cape May. the elder Mr.. Van
worst met a widow lady named-a-let
me SEQ m m-John Brady reading
from II slip o. paper before hin-"AnR
McGuiTe-bless my soul that can't be
oh, sac. ADd the Judge changes tho
paper in his hand for another, explaining
with much action that he has made mis-
take. The top OF his head is little pink,
but he goes on:
Mrs. Ricckenzie-yes. sir-a person of
fine personal appearance and insinuat-
ing address, and. if may Judge
from description, not destitute of in
tellect1al charms. Without entering
into detail. | NAV say that this person has
in completely tnfatuating Mr.
N2nvocrst, who has been for many years
q ~Tidower; he has followed her from
place to place, and she is now actually
visiting At his residence. where she IN
OoUbtedly means to establish herself per-
rs Mrs. Funvoorst.
The Younger Vanvo0rst interrupts:
Eyes, by George; l was half afraid TO
leave the old gentleman alone this morn
Ing, for fear she'd marry him before got
back"
The judge does not like to be inter
rupted. and no grows trife pink again.
After roproachful parse he resumes:
1t IS, Of course, most annoyint to
Nfr. Enayoo-st's family that such sta
of things should exist-that their father
should be thus ct the mercy of a person
who is 81 Unprincipled adventuress-fo |