Middletown transcript., 1901-05-11

ture of curiosity and hope, always seek
ing the ideal friend. No ideal could b.
evolved from that commonplace multi
tude, she quickly decided-when the olt
man entered. He attracted her attention
instantly, for snowy hair lay in thicl
waves upon his head, and pair of fn'
black ewes looked out from under heavily
marked white brows. He was slight o
figure, and his skin was wrinkled anC
yellow as parchment.
He sat down at Judith's left hand
making fine courteous bow to those
about the table as he did so; then he
drew paper from his pocket and be
gan reading. 1t was New Orleans
paper, and Judith felt little thrill o.
pleasure. Could he, too, be from Louis
lana? She had tempted to ask him, fol
her two years in New York had moi
made her SO much Of cosmopolitan that
she felt Indifferent to even chance
meeting with some one from her old
home. But she held her peace.
For several days they met at dinner,
and Judith's interest in the silent, lonely
old man deepened. There was something
pathetic, even appealing, in the reserve
holding him aloof from the coarser people
around him. From the landlady she
learned that he was only table boarder.
"Where does he live? she inquired.
"That 1 don't know" replied the brisk
little woman. "Two years ago he came
to me and I saw that he was a gentleman.
I am quick now in recognizing the lady
or gentleman, so asked him no questions.
He only takes his dinners here, and he
pays his bills and makes no complaints;
no, never"
Of his occupation or personal history
Judith could find out nothing. She had
no family ties herself, and reasoned that
her interest in the old man sprang from
sympathy Then she had known some
Valleaus once, when child, boy and
his mother, who lived in remote parish.
She had played with the boy during one
summer when yellow fever ragged in New
Orleans, and she had been sent away.
Perhaps this old man might have once
known them, too-might, in fact, be
relative
One evening he heard her tell an in
quisitive neighbor that she came from
the south. His eyes kindled with in
terest, and slight color tinged his sallow
face.
'The south?'' he questioned eargerly.
did l understand you to say the south? ttift?''
Eyes, Louisianian."
'Is it possible? Why-why, that is
my native state"
81 am from New Orleans"
"And so am l." beaming upon her
with genial glance, his reserve melting
like magic. II felt attracted to you from
the first, and your voice c, armed me-"
They talked eagerly, Judith delighted
that the ice had at last been broken
The old mans face appeared animated,
the glow of his eyes giving certain
youthful expression to his features.
GLOW long have you been here?" he
inquired. at length.
1.-TWO years"
"And have been here for more than
twenty" He sighed audibly, and for a
moment his face gloomed over. eyes,"
he repeated, half to himself, "more than
twenty years"
Judith listened amazed. Twenty years
meant nearly all her life, and to think he
had spent that length Of time in New
York and still remained SO distinctly
$50 long? You must love New York?'
Love it? / loathe itr' he exclaimed,
with sudden, passionate energy. fIt
is SO big, so noisy and dirty, and SO
"But fascinating and full of all ac-
sivities, intellectual and otherwise"
"It may be for the young, but give me
New Orleans. Think of the repose, its
beauty, its old houses, its fine gardens,
With their roses, magnolias and oleanders,
he very air breathing fragrance and
His eyes kindled again with an evanes-
ent glow, his voice dropped to a low,
lreamy tone.
''But it is here one finds the market |
Or romance" Judith argued, practically.
81 found none for mine," he replied,
hrugging his shoulders.
The acquaintance between them pro- !
ressed rapidly, although for weeks they
net only at the dinner table. He always
-ent away the moment the meal was
vanishing mysteriously into
ome realm unknown to Judith. He
we'd somewhere down below Washing-4
IN square, she knew, for she watched
i'm from her window one night.
When he discovered that she was alone
/ the world he seemed to constitute
imself her protector and adviser.
81 have no family either,". he ex-
lained.
'"Then you are not related to the
'alleaus, of Union Parish?''
His fork dropped with clatter; over
is face flushed an indescribable look.
"T-oh, no; never heard of them"
81 don't think they really belonged to
MON Parish, but moved up there from
le city"
''Valleau is common name, very
name, you know"
This was only widow and her son.
hey owned .plantation. G
He raised glass of ice water to his C
lie, shaking lips.
Mr.. Valleau gave his confidence up to 1
certain point, but beyond that his re- 4
rye could not be broken. 1t seemed II
at before the war he had led an ideal
rt of life, spending his summers on a A
antation. He possessed no training
hatever for business, and when the
cessity for bread winning came he