Middletown transcript., 1905-07-15
tone was not the most gracious.


Nonsense p said he. But the more
he thought of the contrast between Mrs
farmington's yellow hair and her hazel
eyes and dark lashes and brows, the more
reasonable his wife's superstition ap
peared. cts no crime if it is bleached, u
he added "Bleached hair is quite fash
ionable in the city now, and you would
hardly expect her to rise above the foibles
of her class. That was splendid gown
she had on, didn't you think p
Every beautiful. But, Enoch, it i;
not such gown as l should want to re-
ceive callers in, especially man." said
she, half apologetically. "And DOM
believe you would want me to, either. y
That is all matter of CUSTOM" he
answered, shortly. II don't suppose
that such gown would be sanctioned by
the women OF this town but some Of the
finest women I ever knew, when | went
to college, used to receive us men in
gowns substantially like that"
This was not strictly true. What he
meant was that if, when he was at col.
ege, he had called ON lady like Mrs.
Farmington-which he had not-she
would have received him, in his opinion,
in gown like Mrs. Farmington's.
Louise was silenced, though, as he well
knew, not convinced. Indeed, after a
moment, she asked, "Did she have on
that gown when you called r.
"No," he answered, without explain
ing that the gown in which she had re-
ceiyed him differed only in color from
this one.
| His wife's structures rather dashed his
enthusiasm over Mrs. Pennington for the
moment but when he heard Louise re-
counting her visit to some ladies the
next day, he discovered that her i'm
pressions of Mrs. Pennington were not so
unfavorable, after all.
Little Esther duly appeared at Sunday
school and was assigned, in spite of the
anticipated objections of Superintendent
Matthews, to Mrs. Trench's class. This
assignment Trench, shutting his eyes to
Matthews resentment, regarded as fine
stroke of policy-so fine that he deter
mined to report it in person to the clild's
mother. Monday afternoon, therefore,
found him again at Mrs. Farmington's.
This time he noted her gown-it was
the blue one again-more particularly /;
and though it undeniably and OF pur-
pose brought out the low lines of her
slim figure to the very best advantage, he
failed to see anything immodest about it.
Such gown might not do for Louise.
Indeed, he could not imagine her in such
gown, coolly entertaining some man
she had just met for the first time. Her
very confusion would render the garb
| immodest. But the fault would be hers,
not the gowns. She had been reared a
simple village girl, very differently from
Mrs. Pennington. And as lie resigned
himself to the latter's subtle voice and
sparkling conversation, he felt almost
indignant at the injustice of his Wife's
remark, and blushed for the narrowness
of her outlook.
lie tarried nearly an hour this time,
and when he rose Mrs Pennington ex-
claimed II want you to see my library,
Doctor Trench, before you 60. It's very
few that | care to show ii to-"
The walls Of the somber, softly lighted
room were lined with books-ten times
as many as Trench's own meager library
contained. The tops of the cases were
decorated with busts and statuettes in
marble and terra Gotta. A great square
mahogany table in the center was strewn
! with magazines, and turned face down
among these was All edition de luxe of
Boccacciu's ''Decameron." Trench, with
Il start, recognized the title as that of
| book which in his seminary days had
been clandestinelv lent about the boys
dormitorS. That paper. backed, we'll
thuulbed copy lad contained stories
which brought blush To his cheek at
| the time; and lie was amazed To learn
that such book not only could he
brought OUT i'll a luxurious binding, BY
reputable publishing house, but tina; it
could also liad place i'll the library OF
modest and refined woman. But lie was
learning rapidly these days.
lie was also surprised at the number Of
complete editions OF French, German and
Russian novelists which Mrs. FarmlEgtun
owned. lie paused in front of Zna's
works and ran his eye along tile titles for
the single novel OF that author which lie
had read Assommoir."
There is a book which think little
too highly seasoned for the average Amer
can palate,' lie observed, with smile.
Heretofore he had never failed to score
the book mercilessly when occasion Of
fered, but the sight of the 'Decameron"
had made him cautious.
"You have read it pr she asked, with
interest. "Not many ministers have,
fancy"
mo, | suppose not" he observed,
casually, drawing the book out. 81 don't
know that | would recommend it to
many, either But there is just one par
agraph in that book which, to my mind,
goes far toward redee ming all tile rest
of il"
'Oh, show it to me - she exclaimed,
resting her elbows with leopard grace on
the back Of leather chair. 81 wasn't
sure that anything could redeem that
book" she added, with sprightly CLEAN
in her hazel eyes.
Trenchs recollection OF the paragraph
in question was of the vaguest kind
until this moment the notion of its re-
deeming the book had never occurred to
him and he had no idea whether it was
in the front, middle or back Of the book.
Yet, with the brass-lined audacity which
SO often stood him in good stead, he
opened the volume, trusting to find either
tlat no ri inr1Iar Soma o.l,o,