Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-03
WHICH TOOK HIM9
Husband or Son-in-Law, the
Widow Must Have Her Piquet


Mrs. Vincent, widowed and wealthy,
looked naughty and fierce.
1t was three o'clock in the afternoon,
and the sun took the liberty to intrude
through the window into 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 glared.
Her dark, prominent and wrathfully.
astonished eyes had for their target o
young man, In whose bearing appeared
q singular mixture of Difference and de-
fiance.
He, on his part, saw before him a
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 their color and empha,
sized the air of command to which the
Roman contour of the nose most con.
tributed.
"Wel, 1 never!' she cried, Shaping
down q pack of cards on the table.
The man smiled slightly.
A young man, with curly brown
hair, cheerful, blue eyes, up-twisted
mustache and q firm china fresh,
alert, compact. healthy young man,
whose loose, elegant costume proved
that he understood how to achieve that
careless grace which so 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 q mature Cali
lfornia street widow of spotless reputa-
ton and large means.
''Well, never!'' the lady exclaimed.
The young man spoke resolutely:
"No, Mrs Vincent; / shall play
piquet with you no more. Piquet is a
| good enough game, and 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-"
Gin that case, and because of your In
science" said Mrs. Vincent, with cold
deliberation, ''you may consider your.
self discharged, Mr.. Middles.''
Every 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 modi
fed Roman nose, viewed him steadily
and, toying with the cards, inquired:
"Would an increase of salary be an,
inducement, sir?"
emo"
"Then gor'
He bowed and disappeared
He 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."
The secretary returned, overcoat Of
! arm, hat in hand
) Mrs. Vincent threw herself back II
. her chair, and, clasping her plump
white hands above her head, said,
the conciliatory tone of the negotiator
"Mr. -Middles, let us not act hastily
acknowledge that cannot we'll spar
you. Next to myself you are the bes
piquet-p layer this side of New York"
81 know it, Mrs. Vincent. Indeed,
play better than you"
"You do notl''
"I do"
\ His frozen calmn ess cowed her.
There was feeling in her words tina
. followed:
You loved my husband, did 20
not?"
81 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 20
= loved him, yet you refuse so little
4 thing as to play piquet with your benz
factors widow" ,....
al do Gratitude has its limits"
Il Evidently. You will not humor o
old woman's weakness and tighten th
burden of her loneliness?" >..as.,
At will not. Besides, it is not q veal
ness, but a disease, this insanity 70
piquet. Moreover, you are not old. o
the contrary, Mrs. Vincent, you al
4 still charming woman, and by will
2 drawing yourself from the world, an
n giving yourself over to cards, 20,
. wrong yourself. Worse than that, yo
fail in your duty to your daughter, VIII
has the life of q nun"
j 'sThat is nothing to you, STRIP
9 "True."
Z, Again he moved toward the door.
4 "Will nothing" asked the lady,
alarm, ''induce you to sit down to
I game with mejust one2"
Il Nothing that you would give, Mr.
| Vincent"
j '.Poohi You know very well ths