Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-07-18
WHICH TOOK HIM?

1 -ArchlOalQ ScriDner s.
WHICH TOOK HIM?
Mrs. Vincent, widowed and wealthy
looked naughty and fierce.
1t was 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and
the sun took the liberty to intrude
| through the window into the library
furnished in purple leather AMI walled
with books, which had had pretty com
plete rest for the ten years that the late
Vincent had been in his grave.
Mrs. Vincent sat and glared.
Her dark, prominent and wrathfully
astonished eye had for their target q
young man, in whose bearing appeared
O 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. II
her hair was white, the black eyebrows
held their color and emphasized the all
of command to which the Roman con.
tour of the nose most contributed.
"Well, l never.' 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 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 unfnghtened, just the sort OF
young man who should not be what he
was-secretary to a mature California
street widow of spotless reputation and
large means.
"Well, l neverT the lady exclaimed.
The young man spoke resolutely:
"NO, Mrs. Vincent; shall play piquet
with you no more. PQuet is q good
enough game, and 1 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. confess
I'm tired Of piquet."
I'm that case, and because of your in
science" said Mrs. Vincent, with cold
deliberation, lyon may consider yourself
discharged, Mr. Middles."
Every we'll, ma'am." And he turned
toward the door.
"Mr. Middiesr'
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?'
"No."
"Then COR
He bowed and disappeared.
Her hand sought the bell. Jesmes, 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-
ciliatory 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"
81 know it, Mrs. Vincent Indeed ]
play better than YOU"
"You do not!''
81 do"
His frozen calmness cowed her.
There was feeling in her words that
followed:
"You loved my husband, did you
mott"
II did. He was father to me. 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 a
thing as to play piquet with your bene-
factors widow"
Il do. Gratitude has its limits"
Evidently. You will not humor an
old wcman's weakness and tighten the
burden Of her loneliness"
II will not. Besides it is not a weak.
aess, but disease, this insanity fo1
piquet. Moreover, you are not old. On
the contrary, Mrs. Vincent, you are still
a 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 to your daughter, who has the life
of nun"
THAT is nothing TO YOU siy!'
"True."
Again he moved toward the door.
"Will nothing" asked the lady in
alarm, induce You to sit down to game
with me-just ones"
Nothing that you would give, Mrs.
Vincent"
pooh! You know very well that III
give anything you ask, l can't do with
out you. What is it you wantY'
Yourself"
"Eh? You mean
THAT neither as secretary, protege.
nor friend shall play piquet with you
again. AS your husband will"
"God bless my soul!"
To no woman unburied can an offer
be either long surprising or disagree
able. 1t WAS with warmed cheeks and
softened eyes that the widow said:
"DO l understand that-that you
you love me, Ernst"
Mr.. Middles bowed. but averted his
glance.
She sighed and murmured:
"Ah, am rick"
Precisely, Mrs. Vtacect. You are
rich, you love to play piGuet, and | am
the best player on the Pacific cost II
you viii marry me, will play: if not,
not"
"Well?'
"Under the circumstances, l do not
see that more can nationally be said"
''Cut the cards"