The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-02
WHICH TOOK HIM?

WHICH TOOK HIM?
Mrs. Vincent, widowed and wealthy
looked naughty and fierce.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon, ant
the sun took the liberty to intrud
through the window into the library
furnished in purple leather and WALLED
with books, which had had pretty com
plete rest for the ten years that the lat
Vincent had been in his grave.
Mrs Vincent sat and glared.
Her dark, prominent and wrathfully
astonished eyes had for their target {
young man, in whose bearing appeared
a singular mixture of Difference and de
| fance.
He, on his part, saw before him lady
under fifty, but not far. The lips were
yet full and red, and her figure, though
ample, still retained agreeable lines. L
her hair was white, the black eyebrow:
held their color and emphasized the all
of command to which the Roman con
| tour of the nose most contributed.
well, l neverr' she cried, shaping
down a pack of cards ON the table.
The man smiled slightly.
A young man, with curly brown hair
cheerful blue eyes, uptwisted mustache
and a firm china fresh, alert, compact
healthy young man, whose loose, elegant
costume proved that he understood how
to achieve that careless grace which sc
charms women. An intelligent young
man, with cynical confidence in his smile.
He stood unfrightened, just the sort OF
young man who should not be what he
was-secretary to mature California
street widow of spotless reputation and
large means.
well, neverr' the lady exclaimed.
The young man spoke resolutely:
mo, Mrs. Vincent; shall play piquet
with you no more. Piquet is good
enough game, and l am not averse to it,
in reason; but object to piquet in the
forenoon, in the afternoon and in the
evening, six days in the week. l confess
I'm tired of piquet."
''In that case, and because of your in
science" said Mrs. Vincent, with cold
deliberation, you may consider yourself
discharged, Mr.. Mindless"
Very well, ma'am." And he turned
toward the door.
"Mr. Middles!'
He halted, his hand on the portiere,
and faced about.
She placed her glasses on her modified
Roman nose, viewed him steadily and,
toying with the cards, inquired:
Would an increase of salary be any
inducement, sir"
mo"
"Then go!"
He bowed and disappeared.
Her hand sought the bell. Jeames, in
livery, both imported from London, re-
sponded.
HIGGINS, Mr.. Middles is in the hall.
Say to him that wish to see him"
The secretary returned, overcoat on
arm, hat in hand.
Mrs. Vincent threw herself back in her
chair and, clasping her plump, white
hands above her head, said in the con-
clllatory tone of the negotiator:
Mr.. Middles, let US not act hastily.
l acknowledge that l cannot well spare
you. Next to myself you are the best
piquet player this side of New York"
Il know 1t, Mrs. Vincent Indeed /
play better than YOU"
You do notr'
81 do"
His frozen calmness cowed her.
There was feeling in her words that
followed:
You loved my husband, did you
not?'
Il did. He was father to me. l owe
my education to him, and-and"-
"All that you are"
Which is not much, Mrs. Vincent"
HE was your benefactor and you
loved him, yet you refuse so little
thing as to play piquet with your bene-
factors widow"
Il do. Gratitude has its limits"
Evidently. You will not humor an
old woman's weakness and tighten the
burden of her loneliness"
Il will not. Besides it is not a weak
ness, but disease, this insanity for
plquet. Moreover, you are not old. On
the contrary, Mrs. Vincent, you are still
charming woman, and by withdraw
ing yourself from the world and giving
Yourself over to cards you wrong your
self. Worse than that, you fail in Your
duty 10 your daughter, who has the life |
Of a nun
That is nothing to you, SIX
True"
Again he moved toward the door.
'"Wlu nothing" asked the lady in /
alarm, induce you To sit down to game |
with me-just one:"
Nothing that you would give, Mrs.
Vincent"
Pooh. You know very well that I'll
yive anything you ask. can't do with
'ut you. What is 1t you WANT.
Yourself"
En-: You mean
That neither as secretary, protege.
lor friend shall | play piquet with YOU
gain. As your husband viii"
God bless my SOUR
To no woman unburied can an offer
'e either long surprising or disagree
bic. 1t was with warmed cheeks AMI
oftened eyes that the widow said:
DO / understand that-that you