Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-06-27
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 in
trude 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 wrath
fully astonished eyes had for their
target young man, ia whose bearing
appeared a singular mixture OF de-
ference and defiance.
He on his part saw before him a
lady under 80, but not far The lips
were yet tuIl and red, her figure,
though ample, still retained agreeable
lines. ii her hair was white. the
black eyebrows held their color and
emphasized the air of command to
which the Roman countour Of the
nose most contributed.
well, Ineyer,n she cried, slapping
down pack of cards on the table.
The man smiled slightly,
The young man, with curly brown
hair, cheerful blue eyes, up-twisted
mustache, and firm china fresh,
alert, compact, healthy young man,
whose loose. elegant costume proved
that lie 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 lie
what he was--secretRry to mature
California street widow of spoiless
reputation and large means.
"Well, never!" the lady exclaimed.
The young man spoke resolutely:
mo Mrs Vincent, shall play piquet
with you no more. Piquet is good
enough game, and am not averse TO
ii, 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.
lin that case, and because of your
insolence," said Mrs. Vincent with
cold elaboration, ''you may consider
yourself discharged, Mr.. Middles.
VERY well, ma am And he turn
ed toward the door.
"Mr. Middlesl'
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 in salary be any
inducement, sir?'
No"
"Then go"
He bowed and disappeared
Her hand sought the bell. Jeames,
in livery, hothimported from London,
responded
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 conciliatory tone of the negotia-
tor:
"Mr. Middles, let us not act hastily.
| acknowledge that / cannot well spare
you. Next to myself you are the hes
piquet-player this side of New York >
II know it, Mrs Vincent. Indeed,
play better than you.
"You do mott"
His frozen calmness cowed her.
There was feeling in her words that
followed;
you loved my husband, did you
not9"
81 did. He was father to me,
owe my education to him, and--and
80
"All that you are.
(Which is not much, Mrs. Vincent"
'tHe was your benefactor, and you
loved him, vet you refuse so little a
thing as to play piquet with your ben
efactor"
al do. Gratitude has its limits"
evidently. You willnot humor an
old woman's weakness and tighten the
burden of her lonelinessg"
81 will not. Besides, il is not a
weakness, but disease, this insanity
for piuuet. Moreover. you are not
old, On the contrary, Mrs. Vincent.
you are still charming woman, and
by withdrawing from the world and
'Ngiving yourself over to cards, you
wrong yourself, Worse than that,
you fail in your duty to your daugh-
, ter, who has the life OF nun. =
"rhat is nothing TO you, sirl'
'"rrue.n