Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-07
CHAPTER

ueSC were uelINeISu SClDilty
by boarders DESTROYS Of seeing thei,
friends present OH Friday evening.
1t was really a scratch party Of no
bodies. and they assembled as usua
in the drawing room on this especial
evening to play and not to work. Mrs
Tame laidAlside her eternal knitting
Miss Bull dispensed with her game OF
patience MIR. Granger sang his one
song Of the early Victorian epoch
metimes twice when singers were
.carce-and Mr.. Harmer wore his an
tiquated dress suit. In her black silk
gown, her lace cap and "the diamonds"
Mrs. Jersey loolsed--so they assured
her-quite the lady.
Was she a lady? No one ever asked
that leading question, as it would have
provoked an untruth or a i ost unpleas-
mt reply. She admitted in expansive
moments to having seen "better days
but what her actual past had been
and from her looks she had one-none
ever discovered.
Few friends presented themselves
on this particular Friday evening, for
1t was extremely foggy. and none of
them could afford cab. Even those
who patronlzed the nearest bus line
had some distance to walk before they
Knocked at the Jersey door, and thus
ran chance Of losing their way.
Either in light or darkness the house
was hard to find, for 1t occupied the
corner Of particularly private square
far removed from tile. Oxford street
traffic.
It was quite mn asylum for old nge.
None Of the guests was under fifty,
save newcomer who had arrived the
previous week. aud they wondered why
he came among them. He was young,
though plain looking, and he was fash
ionably dressed, though stout. This
was the first time he had been present
at madame's reception, and he was ex-
planning his reasons for coming to
Bloomsbury. Mrs. Jersey introduced
him as Leonard Train, the distin-
guish : novelist" although he had pub
lished ly ne book at his own cost,
and even thai production was unknown
to the boarders.
Questionable novelists," said he in
still, small voice which contrnsted Gu
"have ovcrdone the business Of society
and epigrams. We must revert to the
Dickens style. have therefore taken
up my residence here for brief period
to study old world types" Here he
looked around with beaming smile.
81 am glad to find 80 rich field to
CLEAN"
This doubtful compliment provoked
weak smiles. The boarders did not
wish to be rude, but they felt it was
impossible to approve Of the young
man. Not being sufficiently modern to
court notoriety, one and oil disliked
the idea OF being 'put in book" Mrs.
Taine, conscious Of her weak grammar,
looked uneasily at Miss Bull, who
smiled grizzly and then glared at Train.
Granger drew himself up and pulled
his gray mustache-he was the buck
Of the northumberland Harmer
nodded, saying, well, wellv' his usual
remark when he did not understand
what was going on. Only Mrs. jersey
spoke. Trnin had taken a sitting room
as well us a bedroom, therefore he
must be rich, and as he had not bag
gled over terms it was necessary that
he should be battered. Mrs. Jersey saw
a chance of making money out of him.
How delightful" she said in her
motherly manner. II hope you will say
nice things about US, Mr.. Train"
II shall tell the truth, madame. The
truth does not fatter."
Mrs. Jersey became still more moth
erly and paid compliment. THAT de-
ponds, Mr.. Train. If the truth were
spoken about you, for instance"
It was really very nice comph-
ment, but Miss Bull, with malice afore-
thought, spoiled it In the utterance by
laughing pointedly. Train, who had
already set his face for q smile, grew
red, and madame darted q look at Miss
Bull quite out of keeping with her
motherly manner. More than this, she
spoke her mind. II hope, Mr.. Train,
that you will speak the whole truth Of
some Of u.s."
Miss Bull shrugged her thin shoulders
and in direct contradiction to the tradi-
lions Of the evening produced her pack
Of cards. To abstain on Friday evenings
always annoyed her, and since madame
had been rude Miss Bull seized the op-
portunity to show her indifference and
enjoy by doing SO her favorite pas
time. She was small, thin, dry old
maid, with a pallid face and bright
black eyes. Her mouth was hard and
smiled treacherously. No one liked
her save Margery, the niece Of Mrs.
Jersey. But Margery was supposed to
be queer. so her approval of Miss Bull
nattered little.
perhaps Mr.. Granger will oblige US
with song" suggested madame,
smoothing her face, but still inwardly
furious.
Mr.. Granger, who had been waiting
TOR this moment. was only too happy
tTe knew but one song and had sung
It ,iozens Of times in that very room
4 was natural to suppose that he knew
h by heart. All the same he produced
his music and read the words as he
gang. Margery played his accom-
paniment without looking at the notes
She was as familiar with them as she
was with the moment when Mr.
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