The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-30
CHAPTER VI.

tain lgaments, but the surgeon in
sisted that 1 should not be moved, even
from the library where 1 lay, as perfect
rest he held to be the essential ele-
ment in the promotion of a speedy re-
covery.
Therefore Jean was dispatched home
ward for certain toilet requisites bed
was improvised for my accommodation,
and I found myself most unexpectedly
installed beneath Mrs. Dicky Quin-
tard's roof as her unlimited guest.
For three days I remained there, dur
Ing which time the theater was, of
course, closed. Those three days were
without doubt the happiest l had ever
spent. My hostess, although most con-
siderate and sohcitous of my comfort,
and well-being, was far too busy a
woman to find much leisure for any in
dividual claim, but others there were
who made it their special business to
provide for my amusement and to
guard against my carrying from their
luxurious home the impression of it's
being a mere wearisome place of de-
tention. The master of the house and
his son saw to it that 1 had entertain
ment as well as ease Of body.
The surgeons orders had obliged me
to appropriate Mr.. sQuintard's especial
sanctum, and perhaps because habit
had accustomed his feet to turn nat
urally in that direction, or possibly
because from the first moment of our
acquaintance mutual attraction
established itself between u.s. or 1t may
be that he felt himself in a measure re-
sponsible for the restoration of the
women who had suffered through the
carelessness of his own hirelings-
however it was, I cannot say, only
this know, that during my invasion of
his premises Richard Quintard devot-
ed the major part Of his time to solac
ing and diverting my hours of impris-
onment.
L liked him from the start. There
was that in the expression of the thin,
high-bred face, in the look of the still
grey eyes, in the composure of the
lips-the one really beautiful feature in
an otherwise irregular countenance-
which indicated the attainment of great
self-control, a quality which 1, being
devoid therof to a miserable extent, do
most fervently admire in others His,
my excitability. His presence was
agreeable to my nervous and high
strung nature, as Is cool draught to
feverish patient. He seemed a man
whose heart and mind and body We're
ever at leisure but one felt that the
leisure was not a native quality, but
that it had been earned by strenuous
labor in the cause of adjustment.
There were marks of hard service upon
the brow and about the eyes and mouth
A man less adapted to ones precon-
ceived idea of Mrs. Dicky's husband
it is impossible to imagine. Everyone
knew that the incumbent of the post
was socially cipher, and, therefore,
If one ever considered him individually
at all, it was to draw him a wholly
colorless and characterless being, thor
oughly subordinate to a stronger ma
ture in every way. Probably the scan
dalously long tether accorded her. and
the unrestricted liberty-or perhaps
license is the better word-of which
she so boldly availed herself gave nat
ural rise to these conclusions and Gre
ated the impression that Mrs. Dicky
was supreme dictator in her own house
hold
Such was not the case, however
When question arose directly affect
ing himself OF his son Allan, the mas
ter made his will known and authority
felt in manner there was no contro-
verting. But these occasions were few,
and ordinarily Richard Quintard was
content to cultivate that leisure which
had come to seem to him life's best
gift, at the expense of some falling-off
in the high regard Of his fellows. But
those who knew him we'll valued him
no less on account of this passivity
Such knew that to live in harmony, if
not in sympathy, with the mother Of
his son, for that sons sake, was a re-
solve to which the man had been sac
riicing all through his married life;
and to which it was his purpose still
to sacrifice, until that son should
leave home to set up his own establish
nent elsewhere. For this woman her.
self he cared not jot, nor ever had,
except for a brief. season when she
had fascinated his boyish Imagination
through her originality and bold reck-
lessness.
She was his senior by five years, and
had been scheming woman when he
was only an ingenious lad, cursed with
a great inheritance. Her poverty had
made her absolutely dependent on his
goodwill, and so, dangerously near
destruction as she had guided her mat
rimonial bark, she had yet wit enough
to keep it on the weather side of the
law. Besides which, she was passion
ately attached to her son. OF that
there can be no doubt I consider
Irene Quintard an absolutely selfish
and cold-hearted woman, excepting as
concerns her son. But I believe that
she is as sincerely attached to him,
as devoted to what she thinks his best
interests. as any woman can possibly
be to her child Her love for him is
a genuine passion, and it alone mod
ifies my dislike Of her.
Allan simply lived in my room from
the nlomentsI had finished breakfast
till the late hour at night at which
habitually retired. 1t was not strange
tnat could entertain lad of his age
Ny varied experiences had furnished
me with material for ample and anus
ing discourse, and he listened with
eager ears to all that fell from my
lips.
He quite charmed me because he very
greatly resembled the young Spaniard
Coello, but also I liked him on his
Own account, he was so frank and low
able. A strong tie existed between him
and his father, and it was plain that
the elder had powerfully disciplined and
Influenced the younger mind.
~ had. no visitors save those two, and
occasionally the perfunctory fitting
Inland Out ;6of my hostess. for I had
desired that all callers should be ex-
8 eluded. having sufficient company in
+ the two men and my little Jean. 1t was
q d1Herent sort of existence from any
IS mad ever LED, more intimate and OF