Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-28
NO ROBBERY.


Mrs. Christie's was anything but an un
pleasant home, and the people who were
ssayinv IN il were ANYTHING but unpleas ant
Nv prccouceiyed notion had been that tn Z
folks oae would meet in boardinR-house
were Of a doubtful sort; at tho best II
seemed inevitable that there would DE so
ciai cats purring inquiSitively ana urea
cherously al about. SO u was welcome
surpriae 90 find the house so different
from INV antioipations. u.,
Mrs. Christie herself knew but slightly.
She was the widow Of q mining engineer
who had done good service TO our family
in my fathers day. She had set up q
boardiug-house in Russell street. and when
il hss,pened that had 10 so mp TO town 10
consult my old college friend Marion, now
n harridcr, about some business, instead OF
putting mp at my usual quarters, went ut
nv mothers request, 10 Mrs. Christie $,
not without some misgivings about the
wisdom Of the step ! was taking, but l
thought that anyhow IL would be new
experience, and that was Just what 1t did
prove 10 be eventually.
The company was made up of an Indian
army doctor and his dang she beng a
damsel fair 20 look upon; two spinsters
from Shropshire, a west-country .parson
and his wife. Mrs. Christies nephew, q
clerk in a bank myself, and n couple
about whom no ono knew anything save
Mrs. Christie. and she not much-but
whom every one allowed 10 be the most
charming and delightful people they had
mot for many day. Mr.. and Mrs. Nalcot
had travelled much, and were evidently
well read. but they neither wearied ones
ears with the glOries 81 Capri or Granada,
or pcstered YOU with talk about books they
had read and Won hadn't: they made no
display, and though brilliant conversa-
tionalists. they were just the pleasant KIND
Of people in whose company you could SIT
without wanting TO talk at all.
lie was "a tall, sparely-built man, well
set up, with regular features. man OF finc
bearing, yet not quite like a soldier; she
was hardly so distinguish d-looking as her
husband, hardly so handsome: her Tea
TIRES inst missed regularity, but eyes and
mouth had fascinating piquancy of eX-
precision which made her the most attrac-
tive woman / had ever met. thought so
then. and think so still. though /
have considerably extended my ex-
perience since those days when my
mother guarded her fedgling from the at
tacks, rapaciOus or insidiOus, of every
breed Of harpy. But the most pleasing
trait in this couple was that though so
plainly devoted 10 one another and salts
he'd with their own company, they were
not wholly eaten up with mutual adnlra-
tiOn: their nature seemed 10 have sympa-
thetic feeling that nodded itself to
suit the dispositions of those around
without sacrificing its own lndividu-
ality. No wonder all liked them;
was particularly grateful for their cour-
tesy, not being blessed in either looks
or style; / had unfortunately inherited my
mothers manner and my fathers face; had
IL been the other way about should doubt
less have proved the social success which
/ was painfully conscious | now was not.
And IL must have been out of pure good
nature that they were So friendly, Tor
had made IL a point with Mrs. CHRISTIE
whether she kept her promise | do not
know-that she should say nothing 10 her
guests about EArnshaw Hall, or the mines,
or the plate and pictures, or my mothers
famous diamonds or the glOrles OF Coun-
try house that women love.
The only one who did not take kindly to
them was Marion. On the Thursday after
We had concluded our business | prevailed
on him To dine with me at Mrs. Christe's,
and / remember noting how every one
seemed 10 he at his best; even Marton's
severe features relaxed and he showed
himself almost more than courteous to the
Indian girl, between whom and one of the
Shropshire spnsters he was sitting, evil
IDENTIFY satisfied with his environment, as
he owned when ] was setting him back"
as they say in the North, to his chambers;
but-but-"
but me no butts. What is wrong
nOwY"
"Why. those people to whom you have
taken 50 violently--the WalcOts."
What about them, Mr.. CENSOR"
They give me an uncomfortable feel
ing: not that they look uncanny. but ! am
haunted by the ghost of some forbidding
"Reminiscences. as If had seen that wOman's
ewes beforehand / am sure | haye-but
when or where | cannot recollect, and am
equally sure they were connected with
shady-what that, too. was |
|cannot bethink me. A hay indefinite re-
collection ii was, but one that chung to me
jail the while.n
"May | suggest dyspepsia ?-toO hard
work indoors, too little exercise"
MAYBE you are right, but do you too
use pinch of caution III cementing your
pew friendship. Good night"