The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-09-22


sands In similar positions who left
their houses at certain hour In the
performed various duties and
returned at fixed hour at night
He was bachelor, was A. Quintner,
As years of age, retiring and tmid,
with brown hair, slightly silvered az
the temples, a florid complexion, and
shaggy eyebrows. He was a big man.
he dressed neatly, his manners were
grave and polite, and he walked with
the aid of corkscrew Manzanita cane.
A. Quintner had never married be-
cause of an ideal.
In early youth he had supposedly
found the incarnation of that ideal;
tall, fair woman. with form as grace
full as the stem of lily, low. broad
forehead, arching eyebrows, an oval
face, serious, truthful, tender eyes. Ex-
Ouisite refinement seemed to emanate
from her like perfume, while gentle
ness and angelic goodness looked from
her level. fearless glance. and spoke IN
every tone of her low, soft voice.
This woman lied to him, played with
his heart as a cat with mouse, ana
married a disgusting old millionaire
whose very touch was contamination.
Her husband died after few years and
the widow made 1t very plain TO A.
Quinter that he might share the dead
mans millions with her, but he pre-
ferred to remain simply elk In the
war department
But he did not lost faith in his ideal,
as we shall see.
One morning, as he was proceeding
to his desk in the department, ne
looked suddenly into the face and eyes
of a woman who SO reminded him OF
his youthful love that he nearly
dropped his corkscrew cane in his agi-
tation. He turned and gazed after her.
Yes, there was the same graceful form,
reminding him Of the stem OF lily,
swaying in gentle breeze, the same
massive coil of amber hair.
Can 1t be?" he unused. But no.
She is 40 by now. and this is a young
woman, the same age that she was
then"
Il He called this woman, too, Dorothy,
even though he did not know her name
and had no desire to learn 1t.
It seemed improbable to him that
two persons so closely resembling each
, other and his ideal-this Dorothy and
, the Dorothy of long ago-should both
be ignoble
This opinion was confirmed the next
, morning when he observed her from
his window bringing several bundles
; from the corner grocery, evidently pro-
! vision for the family breakfast. The
early air had touched her cheek with
!. freshness, and there was Joyous ligh'
. in her eyes, which he concluded were
|. grey.
!. After a week, A. Quintner began Il
a feel that he had something to com
a home to nights. He was no longer en-
y vious of his two associates, one fat
o the other a thin old man, both bald
n who shared his Office. AS the hands
|. the clock crept around the dial to
q wards half-past four, he also glance
T. impatiently at them. They-the tw
'. old men-were hungry for sight G
20 their wives and babies, while he per
|. haps might get glimpse of Her. Fail
ing that, he should at least experieno
the sweet influence of her proximit.
for she was sure to be in during tn
evening.
Now, he enjoyed a bowling acquain
ance with the servant next door, We
man of about 40. with one colorle:
- eye and Socratic nose.
He stopped and talked several TIM
- with Annie, holding his hat politely
his hand. out of Difference for he
No whose servant Annie was; and as
talked, his voice grew tender al
90 he exhibited hesitation and embarras
ment. When he was actually in co
NJ versation with Annie his purpo
6. seemed preposterous for he realiz
sst that he had stopped the woman simp
II because she was her servant.
He saw nothing incongruous in
much physical ugliness serving
much beauty. IL seemed to him rath
the fate of women of Annie's appes
ance to perform mental tasks for o
upon whose face and figure God
set the seal of Queen.
=, There can be no such thing as sc
timent in the heart of poor creatt
~. like this servant" he reflected. "In
ideal woman, beauty Of soul, refir
IN and delicate feelings, are associai
with physical beauty. The latter is
,uv visible and tangible expression of {
former. I can talk with Annie witht
nod her even suspecting my sentiments
civ. her mistress"
be- Soon suitors. or, in more conventi
JOS al language, men friends" began
appear next door.
the There's a dozen of EN-" said AM
still one day, land she wouldn't have +;
one of 'em, not if he was the last n
ess- on earth. She'll turn 'em all away SC
one day, when her own true love comes
dot ridin' up to the door"
ther Cheap literature" reflected
Quintner, as he walked off, puts M
silly ideas into the heads of the un
lightened."
But Annie's remark brought ]
I'm. element into his dreams and eau
them IN fncl:,fe the time when