Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-08-06
The Mystery of
Number 400
By w. M. TALMADGE


| It HE first floor of No. 400 Evergreen
| l Terrace was occupied by Mr.. Ben
jamin Critics, a gentleman Of family
Of reasonably ample fortune, of de-
termined and not entirely graciou:
disposition, and a wife'and one daugh
ter, which daughter was exceedingly
fair and Of manageable age.
The second floor was occupied by a
trio of gentlemen in the strictest
meaning Of the term. Doyerling, who
had the front room, directly over the
Critics door, was q bookkeeper, and
he had been observed on more than
once occasion TO wink at Dolly Critics
when she assembled the steps.
Klingman, who had the other front
room, was a newspaper young man,
and he never winked; he cleared his
throat with much zeal, and when Dol
~ glanced up at him, as she sometimes
did, l am sorry TO say, even after she
had penetrated his design, he waved
his hand and smiled. Once, embold-
ened by an answering smile, he had
raped upon the Critics door, his mind
fully set upon inviting the winning
creature TO a stroll. Mr. Critics had
opened the door, and had closed it
again-bangl
These young men were a source of
great disquietude TO Mr. Critics. His
plans for the future of Dolly were
made, and he did not propose TO have
them interefered with. A friend Of
his, by name Goldberg, by occupation
stock broker, was TO be the young
woman's husband. True, Dolly did not
love Goldberg. He was neither pretty,
witty nor young. But he was rich as
mud, and his wife would wear dia-
monds. When her father had preached
the subject TO her, she had shed fewer
tears than he had expected, She had
acceded to the proposition with a read
mess which, had there been another
sutton visible, would have aroused the
old gentleman's suspicious. As il was,
he awkwardly dabbed a kiss upon her
forehead, and called her a good and
dutiful girl.
But he did not relax his vigilance for
an instant. A state prisoner could
have been no more carefully guarded.
and it was astonishing TO note how
the girl thrived under it all. Her let
tiers were examined before she received
them. Her steps were logged. Yet
the roses deepened in her cheeks. and
her eyes shone with a greater luster.
and a song was upon her red lips from
morning until night.
This was somewhat mystifying to
Mr.. Critics.
Had he been in the confidence of
the second floor he might have learned
something. Mullane. an artist. who
occupied the two back rooms. was in
possession Of information which would
have made the whole matter clear a.
day But Mr.. Critics was not in the
second floors confidence.
When the sound of Mullane's piano
through the ceiling of the
back parlor, in which room the fam
ily was accustomed TO spend its even
ings, he delivered himself of remarks
both Ill natured and unjust. He re-
ferred TO Mullane as a penniless
paint dauber and a spindle-lepped
idiot, whereas, as a matter of fact
Aullane was neither penniless nor
a dauber nor spindle-legged nor an
idiot; he was in receipt Of a comfort
able income from his pictures. which
were bought eagerly by people who
knew more of art than Mr.. Critics
knew of pork, which is putting il
pretty strongly, and he was rather
exceptionally favored in point Of per-
sonal appearance and qualities of
mind.
Dolly might have told her father |
these things had she been SO minded.
But she did not choose to do so. She
sat at the piano, a smile upon her
pretty face, her fingers wandering |
idly over the keys, and gave no heed. |
She was in that blissful state. known
Dnly TO those who tell their love and |
are answered.
Dolly loved Mullane. The secret
nay as well come out. They had |
net but once, face to face. They had |
,hanced to be in the waiting-room at |
he dentists one day and a mutual |
had introduced them. |
That was the beginning. 1t is
strange that Mrs. Critics did not /
ell her husband Of the circumstance.
or she had oeen with DOLLY on that
occasion. Afterwards bit Of paper.