Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-09-22
CHAPTER VII.

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 CHAPTER VII.
 My chief regret is that was not pres ent when Henry and Sinfire met. To one who knew what to look for, as did, that could not have failed to reveal something. But when I came in the meeting had already taken place, and Sinfire had retired to lrer room. "She is always so thoughtful-so much tact" mother remarked ''She fancied We could talk more freely with Henry if she were not present, though really l look upon her as quite a member of the fam ily, apart from her being my niece
 All the time that Henry and l were exchanging our greetings and congratu- lations and our first questions and an swers I was speculating about him and Sinfire. He has been changed improved and also in some respects injured by his life in the world, but on the whole he appears more improved and less injured than might have been anticipated. His being 30 years old instead of 9 is enough of itself to account for great deal. The youthful outlines of his face have ma tured. It is the face of good humored man of the world, somewhat unprincipled anu 4tNhItSo lNA llti l'Ss bNll " Althb a thorough good fellow. and then there is that gleam of genius in his eyes and in some of his unconscious manifestations that must always mark difference be tween him and the type to which he otherwise belongs.
 Yet it is easy to see that his phy and social nature-the life of the senses and external faculties-has been too f,- al tions have never gained control of him. He has done nothing but have a good time or aim to have it. The pictures he might have painted, the books he might have written. the music he might have composed. are all in the limbo of tho ,ln- born. It Is a great pity, though don't think Henry himself is oppressed by any regrets on that score. He probably thinks he coull set to work. if he chose. and produce q masterpiece at any mo- ment But the time for that possibility is gone by. He has taken his final direc- tiou, though he may iot know it.
 In some respects hc is already m older man than either John ur l. There arc lines about his mouth and at the corners of his eyes that tell tale in n man of 30. And during the 24 hours that he has Dt-tI "lln us HOlltt lIldl Ilt nOI Oull smokes constantly, but that he drinks altogether too much. He does not drink as John dots-until he is drunk and done with it. He is never drunk, but he is al- ways taking 'nips' Cf brandy from his pocket flask, and fancy he empties it at least twice day. Nevertheless, barring little nervous disorder, his health seems fairly sound. The cungenital cheerful ness of his disposition is doubtless a great sanative agency.
 Meantime he is as handsome as the heart of woman could desire. If his traits of either mind or body were bit less masculine than they are, he would be too handsome-a mere lady's man. But whatever else may be said about Henry. he is q mana thorough male creature. There is not feminine fiber in him. Even the tenderness that ever and anon informs his tone and manner is of q wholly masculine quality. His voice is q sort of untitled bass as uncommon as it is winning, and his laugh is irresistibly humorous and contagious. 1 wish nature had given me such laugh.
 Infigure he Is well set up-not too tall but one can see he is less athletic than he was four years ago. In every aspect he has distinc tion-the mark of a gentle | man. One feels certain as soon as one sets eyes on him that under no possible circumstances could he be guilty of a low bred or vulgar manifestation. And yet he could forSake a woman.
 Sinfire being out of the room, John tramped restlessly up and down smok- ing a cigar (which of late he has substi- tuted for his pipe) and putting an occa- sional word into the conversation, while mother sat by looking more like Rem brandt than ever, listening, inquiring and complacent, with bit of embroidery in her hands. Henry sat in an easy chair, carelessly but faultlessly dressed, talking easily and picturesquely, addressing him self now to one, now to another, making scene after scene rise before us, often yielS.ng to that delicious laugh. But I could not help wondering all the time whether his thoughts were with us at all or with what he was saving. Were they not with that dark haired girl up stairs, and was he glad or sorry or apprehen- sive: Surprised was sure he must be, and did not believe he could be indif- ferent.
 It got to be late. Mother rose at last and bade us good night, giving Henry both her cheeks to kiss. John sat for a while longer, doggedly yawning the tol of his head of, but finally he, too, sue cumbed and went of. Henry was al. ways a late bird, and now he seems tc think that night was made for anything but sleep. So in order to be more at oul ease he and I went over to my apart ment and disposed ourselves comforta bly in the library.
 r Ibid you notice that pretty cousin ot , ours, Henry?' said I.
 Rather. A thoroughbred beauty, 5 ~all her. A bit reserved, though, but 2 that1l soon wear of. You and Jack art
 both in love with her, of course?"
 "Of course. But she hasn't returned our passion yet. Perhaps her heart wa touched before she came here"
 "When I settle down, I should like tC marry a girl like her. But fancy old Un cle Ned having raised such a paragoni Il seems too good to be true"
 You met him while you were abroad I suppose:"
 If I had known the kind of family ht had, I should have made point of look ing him up. But as it was missed him must have been within reach of hin several times when was in India. H. held some position under the govern ment, l believe. and it obliged him t
 travel about good deal. But-well there were other circumstaneea. itVveul'