The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-07-07
CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII
Mrs Brinckman had put a handful of
salted rose leaves on the parlor stove,
aad the room was filled with faint
perfume On conical stand before one
of the windows a score Of Towering
plants were displayed and the bright
winter sunshine which poured in mob-
structed cast shadows Of tables and
chairs across The uncarpeted floor There
was an air of cheerfulness and homely
comfort in .he large room which inn
pressed Olaf Brun most pleasantly as
the pastor opened the door for him and
ushered him across the threshold. HUI
da, who had been sitting at the piano
letting her fingers run idly over the
keys, rose "a he entered, and her eyes
lighted up visibly at the sight of him
as she returned his greeting. There was
something engaging and genial in his
face, his smile, his whole presence He
was distinctly what is called "a charm
ing man, little bit of lady killer
perhaps, with an air Of past conquests
lowering about him. His gallantry was
impressive, even u tIihe famboyant at
times, and you could see that he prided
himself on u. For man Of his years he
had seen a good deal Of the world, and
being well born and with good connec.
tion, he had evidently been hattered
and somewhat spoiled. He had made
for himself a role, an ideal, if you like,
which was that of the civilized man
who had been abroad and was largely
versed in many things and condescended
slightly 20 his rustic fellow cOuntrymcn
who had not enjoyed such privileges.
He was fastidious, smoked expensive
cigars and was not above using per
fumes He liked TO hear himself speak
and often grew extremely animated un-
der the stimulus Of his own eloquonce.
He was rather slight Of figure, but car
ried himself as if he thought himself
much larger than he was. There was
nothing suggestive of the civil engineer
about him, but his costume, as well as
a certain insinuating grace in his man
ner of address, suggested some artistic
occupation. A bright youthfulncss shonc
out of his blue eyes, and there was an
air about him of almost exaggerated
politeness. His features were well form
ed and handsome, and his smile ditfused
! over them warm gcniality which
made thom almost beautiful He wore
a black velvet jacket and gray trousers
which were wider than fashion then
prescribed. Nor was the large, flaming
necktie wanting, tied in n bold knot,
with flying ends
If the good pastor had not been
blind as "A bat, he would have noticed
with what amazing promptnoss the
/ young man, the very moment the intro
ductions were at an end, gravitated to-
ward Hulda and could scarcely tear
/ himself from her side when Mrs. Brinck-
man entered. He managed in two min
utes TO mako an extremely untavorablC
impression upon that sagacious lady.
( She weighed him and found him want.
/ ing. His somewhat horid manner and
/ elaborate politeness prejudiccd her Doe.
cause they seemed TO argue an absence
Of tho soldier qualities Of mind and
heart.
II esteem myself extremely fortu
nate, ~ he said as ne mado her his mos
defercntial obeisanco, "in being ablo e
spend the preliminary months Of study
in such n charming spot and amid sucl
delightful people"
"Aro you not a trihe rash in YOU
conclusions, she quelied with her rigid
smile, "in pronouncing us delightful on
ten minutes acquaintance|'
''Not at all You know / am crea
ture Of quick intuitions, and my frs
impressions are generally unering.
is very rarely yet that / have had occa
sion to revise them.
He smiled all over his face as he sal,
this, not because it was in the lcas
funny, but merely because he was il
good humOr with her and all the world
But to Mrs Brinckman this habitua
smile seemed to indicate a reprehensibl
levity. 1t was with something of ne
proof that she replied;
''You must be very exceptiona
young man.
Exceptional? Yes, frankly speaking
if did not believe myself exceptiona
I should not think life worth having
There is nothing more oppressive, NOR
destructive of ones self esteem, than th
horrible thought that one is but a hu
man unit--one of a vast, undistinguish
ed herd ~
''But perhaps what many "a youn
man needs most Of all is that very thin
which you say is destructive Of his sci
esteem "
Tho note Of CRITICS J vas here unmi.
taxable. and Olaf. up,I whose cOmprt