The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-08
WHICH TOOK HIM q?
By ARTHUR M'EwEx.


Mrs. Vincent, widowed and wealthy,
looked naughty and fierce.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon, and
the sun took the liberty to intrude into
the window and the library, furnished
in purple leather and walled with books,
which had had a pretty complete rest
for the ten years that the late Vincent
had been in his grave.
Mrs. Vincent sat and gIared.
Her dark, prominent, and wrathfully
astonished eyes had for their target a
young man, in whose bearing appeared
a singular mixture of Difference and de
iance.
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. If
her hair was white, the black eyebrows
held thoir color and emphasized the air
of command to which the Roman contour
of the nose most contributed.
"Well, l never ~ she cried, petulantly
slapping down pack of cards on the Ia
BILE
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
20 achieve that careless grace which SC
charms women. An intelligent, bright
young man, with cynical confidence in
his smile.
He stood unfrightened. just the sort oi
young man who should not be what be
was-secretary of a mature California
street widow Of spotless reputation and
large means.
@well, l never " the lady exclaim.
ed.
The young man spoke calmly and res
olutely:
"No, Mrs. Vincent I shall pay piquet
with you no more. Piquet is a 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. 1 confess
I'm tired of piquet"
=" In that case, and because of your in
science" said Mrs. Vincent, with cold de
liberation, "you may consider yoursel
discharged, Mr. Middles"
"Very well, ma'am, and he turned to
ward the door.
"Mr.iMiddles :"
He halted, his hand on the portiere
and faced about.
She placed her glasses on her modifeC
Roman nose, viewed him steadily, and
toying with the cards, inquired
Would an increase in salary be an
inducement, sir?
"No."
Then gow
he bowed and disappeared.
Her hand sought the bell. Jeames, il
livery, both imported from London, re
sponded.
Hoggins, Mr. Middles is in the hall
Say to him that wish to see him a
once.
The secretary returned, overcoat OF
arm, hat in hand.
Mrs. Vincent threw herself back in he
chair and, clasping her plump, white
hands above her head, said. in the con
ciliatory tone of the negotiator:
" Mr. Middles, let US not act hastily.
acknowledge that 1 cannot well spar,
you. Next to myself you are the bes
piquet player this side of New York"
81 know it, Mrs. Vincent. Indeed,
play better than you"
"YOu do not I"
Idolr
His frozen calmness cowed her.
There was feeling in her words tha
followed
"You dearly loved my husband, die
you not?"
az did. He was father to me, and
owe my education to him, and"
All that you are"
Which is not much, is it, Mrs. Vim
cent ?"
He was yeur benefsctor and you Low
ed him, yet you refuse so little thing a
to play ipiquet with your benefactor'
widow ?"
/ do. Gratitude has its limits"
Evidently. You will not humor Al
old woman's weakness and tighten tn
burden Of her loneliness ?"
al will not. Besides, it is not a weak
ness but disease, this insanity for pic
uet. Moreover, you are not old : on tn
contrary, Mrs Vincent, you are still
charming woman, and by withdrawn
yourself from the world and giving you
self over 10 cards you wrong yoursel
Worse than that, you fail in your dut
to your daughter, who has the life of
nun"
@,That is nothing to you, sir y
q