The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-14

CHAPTER IX.
THREE LETTERS, PRIVATE AND CON



Bines. Montana City
On Car at Skiplap. Tuesday Night
Dear Sis-When you kept nagging me
about who is the grip and 1 said you
could search me. you wouldn't have 1t that
way But, honestly, until this morning 1
didn't know her myself. Now that can prs
yol next. here goes.
One night last March. after I'd come back
from the other side, happened into little
theater on Broadway where a burlesque
was running. It's a rowdy little place-a
music hall-but nice people go there be-
cause. though it's stuffy. it's kept decent
She was in a box with two men-one old
and one young-and an older woman. AS
soon as saw her she had me dashed to the
mast in high sea, with the great salt
waves dashing over me. never took much
stock in the tales about its happening at
first sight. but they're as matter-of-fact as
market reports. Soon as looked at her 1t
seemed to me I'd known her always / was
sure we knew each other better than any
two people between the Battery and Yonk-
ers, and that wasn't acting sociable to sit
Gown there away from her and pretend we
were strangers yet. Actually. it ratified me
so had to take the full count. If hadn't
been wedged in between a couple of people
that filled all the space, and then some. Ii
isn't any twenty to one that wouldn't have
gone right up TO her and asked her what she
meant by cutting me. I was udgy enough
for IT. But I kept looking and after awhile
I was able TO sit I'D and ask what hit me.
She was dressed In something black and
kind OF shiny and wore a big black hat
fused up with little red roses, and her face
did more things TO me In minute than all
the rest I've ever seen. 1t was full of little
kissy places. Her lips were very red and her
taeth were very white. and I couldn't tell
about her eyes. But she was bred up to the
last notch, could see that.
Well. i watched her through the tobacco
smoke until the last curtain fell. They were
putting on wraps for a minute or so, and
noticed that the young fellow in the party,
who'd been drinking all through the show.
wasn't bit too steady to do an act on the
high wire. They left the box and came down
the stairs and I punched into the crowd
and let myself ooze out with them. wonder
ing II I'd ever see her again.
fetched I'D at exit on the side street,
and there they were directly in front Of me.
] just naturally drifted to one side and con-
tinued my little private corner in crude rub
Der. 1t was drizzling In a beastly way, the
street was full OF carriages. numbers were
being called, cab-drivers were insulting each
other hoarsely, people dashing out to il
their carriages weren't coming-eyerything
In q whirl Of drfzzle and dark and yells,
with the horses hoofs on the pavement
sounding like castanets. The two older peo-
pie got into a carriage and were driven of,
while she and the young fellow waited for
theirs. I could see then that he was good
and soused. He was the same lad they
throw on the screen when the "Oid Home
stead quartet sings Where Is My Wander
ing Boy To-night?' could see she was an
noyed and little worried, because he was
past taking notice.
The man kept yelling the number of their
carriage from time to time. while the others
he'd called were driving up-it was 249 If
any one ever tries To worm Ii out of you
and then / saw from her face that 249 had
wriggled pretty near TO the curb, but was
still kept away by another carriage. She
said something to the drunken cub and
started TO reach the carriage by going oul
into the street behind the one in its way
AT the same time their carriage started for
ward. and the inebriate. instead of going
with her, started the other way to meet it.
and so. there she was alone on the slippery
pavement In this muddle Of prancing horses
and yelling terriers.
If you can get any bets that I was more
than two seconds getting out there to her
take them all, and give better than track
odds IL necessary. Then / guess she got
ratified. for when l would have led her back
to the curb she made dash the other way
and all but slipped under team of bays
that were just aching to claw the roses of
her hat 1 saw she was helpless and turned
around" so | just naturally grabbed hel
and she was so frightened by this time that
she grabbed me, and the result was that
carried her to the sidewalk and set hel
little George Rumlets screaming to the
driver to go on had her inside in a fifty
and they were on Not word about M,
fright and noise and her modification, thai
was natural
After that. you can believe it or not. sh.
was the girl And / never dreamed of seems
her any place but New York again
Well, this morning when 1 came ~ from
below at the mine she was standing there
Miss Avice MiIbrey. of Few York 0h He :,
father and mother-fine people, the rea
thing. | Judge-were with her. members o.
ear They've been here all day; wen
through the mine; had lunch with them
$50 for the East We got on fairly Yell
considering She is a wonder, il anvbod,
cross-examines you. She is about yo,l
height. I should Judge. about five feet four
though not so plump as you, still her lool
OF slenderness is deceptive. She's one of TN,
build that aren't so big they look no
Yet so small they look. Thoroughbred i
the word for her, style and action. as tn
horse people say, perfect The poise of he
head. her mettIesome manner, her walk
show that she's been bred up like a Derh,
winner. Her face is the one all the aristo
Gratis are copied from. finely cut nose chi
firm but dainty, lips just delieately full an,
the reddest ever. and her color. when sh
has any, a rose pink L don't know that
can give you her eyes. You only see frs
that they are deep and clear, but near a
anything they are the warm slatish laven
der blue you see In the little fail asters
She has much hair IL makes her hea
look small. sort of light chestnut, wit
warmish streaks I'm IL. Transparent is an
other word for her. You can look RICH
through her-eyes and skin are so clear
Her nature, too. is the frank, open kind
step in and examine our stock; no troubI
TO show goods and all that. and she is S
beautifully unconscious of her beauty tina
IT goes double. At times she gave me quee
little impression of being older at the gam
than / am. though she can't be a day owe
twenty, but l guess that's because she
been around in society so much. Probabl
she'd be called the typical New York CIR
II you wanted 10 talk talky talk
Now I've told you everything. except tina
the people all asked kindly after YOU espe
eially her mother and Mrs. Drelmer who
four-horse team all by herself Oh yes
No. can't remember very WELL some kin
OF q brown walking skirt, short and hg
boots and one OF those blue sfrinad shirt