New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-07
MRS. KEATS BRADFORD.
XIII.
SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY.
1892. BIZ The Tribune Assoc'at,on.

Rut il Mr. Souc did not call, there were others
!. attract Sarah Kimball's attention Notably
there was Mr. Ferdinand Foster. He had not
vet brought hi. sister because she had been sum-
moned to visit an aunt who was i'll. But his
sister wanted 10 come. She remembered Mrs.
Bradford so well when she had been Miss Tuttlc.
No one could help remembering her who had
known her" Mr.. Foster bowed when he said
this. and Rowena could not show how dstaste-
full that kind Of compliment was to her.
Mr. Foster had 80 many waistcoats and so many
trousers that the redundancy of these garments
WAS almost confusing. Rowena had not distinctly
noticed this profuson Until her sister called her
attention 20 the fact And his neckties Sarah
Kimball asserted that his necktics were some
thing wonderful. She fell into the habit OF dis
cussng them. and the pins with which they were
adorned. Dogs heads, and swords, and cats
heads and small gold banjoes besprcad with
brlliants and gold and enamel dumb-bell, al
each end Of which was shining emerald.
Sarah Kimball laughed as she used to cnumerate
these things but she acknowledged that she
thought Mr. Foster was the best-drcssed gentle
man she had ever seen She didn't know gentle
men could he so fine And Mr.. Fosters gloves
were always very light in tint and always en-
trernely tight so that his fingers looked much
like dminutive sausages. And he used perfumes
freely sometimes one kind, sometimes another
When Mr. Foster found that Mrs. Caroline
Appleton Sears was friend of Rowena's he mani
tested great interest. After many hints, when
were not noticed at all. he asked Rowena II she
could get him invited 10 one of those teacon-st.
parties. He knew about Mrs. Sears. He thoneht
it would suit him irst-rate to be acquainted Win
her. When you got into the right set in Boston
YOU were fixed He would rather be in the rSho
set in Boston than in any other city on the lace
of the globe. lie was thinking of getting mouse
on Commonwealth-ave man there owed MIN
a lot Of money, and if they could make trade nc
should have that house. and he and his SISTER set
up housekeeping there. Beacon-st. want moth
ing to the Avenoo when Won come TO money
Did Mrs Bradford think she could get him IN
there at Mrs. Scars's.'
Rowena suppressed a shudder she told HIM
frankly that she should not try. That Mrs. Sears
had some ideas of her as Ia whom she would
receive. She should not suggest any one to her
Then seeing Mr.. Fosters crestfalen expression she
began TO founder into more explanations. which
did not explain.
"Oh. don't worry Mrs. Bradford he said, VI
guess | shall manage 10 sarvive if don't go 10
Mrs Appleton Sears's house. But i thought that
YOU. being Keats Bradford's wife, and Mr. Brad
ford being one of the genuine upper-crust of the
Hub you could give boosts wells not.
Rowena made some narticulate response. There
had always been great deal of Earring in her
acquaintance with Mr.. Foster, but had be really
been as vulgar as he was now? She did not feel
that she could waste her time in listening 10
him.
When he had gone Sarah Kimball took her 70
task for refusing to try to get Mr.. Foster in at
Mrs. Sears's The girl protested that she had
always used to think Roweny was accommodating
but she was changed about that. She was changed
about ever many things. II was mean not TO
have Mr.. Foster go to Mrs. Sears's.7
Rowcna listened as long as she could. She took
up a drawns-pad and began sketching on It,
She felt despairingy how useless it was to try TO
make her companion understand.
As she sat there sketchng. Sarah Kimball con-
tinued to talk for some time. But very soon her
sister ceased to hear her. As her pencil moved
over the paper, the idea Of subject suddenly
came to her She tore off the sheet and began
again on another Her face flushed, her mouth
was closed with that look of absorption which
the girl Watering her knew so well. Sarah HIM
ball bccam, silent and sulky.
An hour later. Rowena put aside her pencils.
She looked at the place where her sist'r had been
sitting But her sister not there Rowena was
eager now II was Saturday afternoon. There
lad been a snowstorm a few days ago. The soed.
slushy stuff had been all carried from the streets.
but out in the country it would he lying lovely
and white OIL the fields and hills And she
wanted the effect Of snow in a hollow between
kome pines She Knew the place. Her new
picture began TO grow before her eyes. Her pulse
beat at the thought of it.
There were two hours before the train left
which would take her to Middle Village.
She had written TO her mother the day before.
She and her sister would 90 out this afternoon
and surprise her Perhaps she could stay week.
Her heart smote her at thought Of how lonely her
mother must he. But Mrs Tuttlc had strenuously
objected 10 every suggestion Of any change.
Rowena could only see that she had many com
forts and convcnences which She had lacked be-
fore. 1t was all she could DO unless she remained
at home
But why was Sarah Kimbal gone now Ro-
vera almost felt movement of anger at the
girls absence. She reflected that this anger was
unreasonable and sic tried to overcome II. But
she was irritatcd.
She endeavored 70 recall some hint given by her
sister as TO where she was going. She knew tEat
Sarah Kimbali might have told her and that she
might not have heard because she preeccu-
pied At last she almost convinced herself that
her sister had said something about visiting a
c,rtain trimming store on Winter-st. The girl
liked TO stroll that street, look in at the win
dows or 20 into some shop and bother the clerks.
lt was at such times that Sarah Kmball felt her
Importance as city GIRL" and a sister of Mrs.
Keats Bradford.
Rowena hurriedy decided to so quickly down
that street and back again on the chance Of meet
ing and she would engage carriage 10 take
them to the station. Her heart was fixed
upon going home that afternoon that it seemed
10 her she could not give up the Intention that
something vital depended upon the journey
The days were longer now. As 1.-The days
heightened the cold strengthened.
The distant unsympathctic sky of February was
gittering above thu city Rowcna crossed Ire
mont-st., an cxcoriating wind swept over the Com
mon. The jewellers in Boston know how harsh
and relentless that wind can sometimes be.
Rowena shiXerel and held her muf I'D 10 heT