The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-10
+r-pon what small threads do matters
of human interests hang?

I
| boring young lawyer to whom he often
| rendered business, and who consented
to go.
Had Holbrook gone this story would
never have been written.
| During the morning Holbrook received
! Il note from a lady in whose good graces
he wished to stand high. asking him to
! call upon her.
The lady was young and handsome,
and rumor said rich. She lived with her
uncle, her parents being dead.
Holbroolz was greatly delighted with
the summons. He had been attentive,
but as yet had received little encourage
ment from the young lady.
Her manner toward him, while cour-
tecus, was not different from that dis
played toward dozen or more of the
young gentlemen with whom he was in
rivalry.
Her name was Flora Ashgrove, and
she was spoken of in the clubs as THE
handsome Flora"
Rumor did not credit any man with
having the favor of the fair lady. Her
acquaintance of her own sex said she
angled for suitors and failed despite her
beauty. Twenty men knew she had re-
fused the offer Of one man at least.
She did not want for a gallant in the
park nor an escort to the opera; she was
sure of an invitation to the hunt and q
seat upon the most distinguished coach
in the parade; at each regatta her name
was seen among the guests of the most
sought after yacht, while at the charity
fairs her booth turned in twice the mon
ey any other did.
These were hard nuts for her dear fe-
male friends to crack, but they hammer
ed at them persistently; consequently
she was great social success.
Holbrook was a self contained young
man, whose good opinion of himself was
fully equaled by his good looks, and upon
that score he was well content. While
not of very ardent nature, still he adj
mitted to himself that if the divine Flora
would but give him some sign that she
found more pleasure in his attentions
than in those of others he could quite
readily fall in love with her; but until
she did he proposed to keep himself well
in hand and not make a fool of himself,
as some others he could name had done.
The note lying before him was the first
he had received from her, and, indeed,
the first iutimation he had had indicating
that she cared whether he came or went.
He was therefore filled with pleasur-
able emotion and no little wonder.
The note he'd driven from his mind all
recollection of the button and his visit to
the coroner, and, disposing of his bust
ness as speedily as possible, he took him
self to her uncle's residence-a handsome
dwelling in Fifty-sixth street, not far
from Fifth avenue.
When ushered into the richly furnished
parlors he was made aware that it was
the summer season. The furniture was
covered, and SO were the ornaments,
statuary and most of the pictures.
Then he remembered he had wondered
how it was that Miss Ashgrove was in
the city at that time Of the year.
But one picture was exposed, and from
that the cover had been thrown back
over the easel upon which it rested. This
was the portrait of the lady herself.
He fell to a study of it, waiting the
coming of the lady who had summoned
him to her presence.
He thought it would be fire thing to
have so handsome head at his table.
Other lovers would probably have given
rein to other thoughts, but Holbrook was
one of those young men who get OF in
the world. less given to sentimental con-
siderations than to those OF a practical
nature.
While thus engaged the original Of tie
picture entered the room through door
which brought her to the back of her
visitor.
She was entitled to the name of "the
handsome Flora" Tall, of superb pro,
portions, her exquisite form was full
though not plump; her hair was flaxen
and shining in waves over her perfectly
proportional head, standing erect upon
Il white column of q neck; her skin was
white as alabaster, and her cheeks had
the delicate tinge Of peach; her lips
were twin cherries, full to the point of
sensuality; her features faultless in their
classic regularity.
She stopped for moment, placing a
shapely white hand upon the back of a
chair, stcalying herself. Her football
had been 50 light upon the soft carpet
that she had not attracted the attention
of her visitor. She observed him intent.
" for q moment.
AS she stood there a gracious picture
in the half light, it could be seen that
her eyes were gray, luminous and large,
but cold, even hard, and greatly at va
rance with the full and sensuous lips
and the voluptuous curves of her face
and the folds of her neck.
Finally she moved up and said:
81 hope you admire the art of my old
professor, Mr.. Rolbrook?"
The young lawyer sprang up startled,
but quickly recovering his self possession
replied;
81 was less engaged with the art OF
the picture than with the beauty OF the
subject"
The lady made Z deprecatory gesture
as she said:
GAS work of art it has been greatly
admired"
1.-The artist had inspiration in his sub
/! ject worthy of his greatest skill"
"a truce to compliments" laughed the
lady, but sit here, where we may have
light and air." leading the way into q