Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-12
CHAPTER II.
"And Some There Be Who Have Ao
ventures Thrust Upon Them.


ventures Thrust Upon Them.
The assumption seems not unwat-
rantable that Mr. Calendar figuratlveN
washed his hands Of MI hlrkwood'
Unauestionably Mr.. Kirkwood con
sidered himself well rid OF MT. Gar
endar. When the latter had gone MS
way. Kirkwood mindful of the fact
that his boat-train would leave 81.
Pancras at haif-after eleven, set ABOUT
his packing and dismissed from MS
thoughts the incident created by the
fat chevalier d'industrie; and at SIN
O'Clock. or thereabouts, let himseh
ont of his room. dressed for the even
Ing, light rain coat over one arm. ~
the other hand cane,-the dr1zz'e
having ceased.
stolid British lifted him down to
the ground floor OF the establishment
in something short Of five minutes.
Pausing in the Office long enough 10
settle his bill and leave instructions
to have his luggage conveyed TO the
boat-train. he received with entire
equanimity the affable benedict.on OF
the clerk, in whose eyes he still fig
nred, as that radiant creature, all
American millionaire: and passed on
hat coat and stick to the cloak-room
attendant, ere entering the dining
room.
The hour was trifie early for
4 nndon dinner. the handsome room
ibut moderately filled with patrons
.KIrkwood absorbed the fact uncon-
xciouslv and without displeasure;. the
earlier. the better: he was determined
s. ;e1 Toe vii meal
me chose to consider it at his serene
leisure. to live fully his ebbing mo-
7nents in the world to which he was
sborn, to drink to its cloying dregs
one ultimate draught of luxury.
heniznant waiter bowed him into
a chair by a. corner table in juxtaposl-
tson with an open window, through
which. swaying imperceptibly the
c,osed hangings. were waited gentle
gusts OF the London evenings sweet,
damp breath.
Kirkwood settled himself with an in
audible sigh of pleasure. He was din
ing, for the last time in heaven kne"
now long, in first-class restaurant.
with a deferential flourish the wait
or brought him the menu-card He
had served in his time many an
.American millionaire he had also
served this Mr. Kirkwood and respect
ed him as one exalted above the run Vi
his kind in that he cornprehended the
art Of dining.
Fifteen minutes later the waiter de
narted rejoicing. his order complete.
To distract a conscience whisperlns
nf extrayagance, Kirkwood lighted {
cigarette. -,
The room was gradually filling will
later arrivals: it was the most favored
restaurant in London, and, despite
the radiant costumes of the women. 1t:
etrnosphere remained sedate and rest
full
A cab clattered down the side stree
on which the window opened.
At a nearby table woman laughed
quietly happy. lncuriously kirkwoo'
xlanced her way. She was bending
forward smiling. tlattering her escor
with the alteration of her eyes. The,
were lovers alone in the wilderness .
the crowded restaurant They seeme'
very happy.
Kirkwood was conscious Of strang
pang Of emotion. 1t took some time T.
comprehend that it was envy.
He was alone and lonely. For tn
f7rst time he realized that no womal
had ever looked upon him as the WON
an at the adjoining table looked upo'
her lover. He had found time to VOL
ship but one mistress-his art.
And he was renouncing her.
He was painfully conscious Of wha
he had missed, had lost-or had nc
yet found: the love of woman.
The sensation was curious-nev
unique in his experience.
His cigarette burned down to hi
1ingers as he sat bordering. Abstrac
eddy he ground its fire out in an as!
tray.
The waiter set before him a silve
tureen. covered
He sat up and began to consume hi
soup, scarce doing it justice. HI
dream troubled him-his dream of tn
love OF woman.
From a. little distance his waiter r.
garded him, with an air of disappoin
ynent In the course of an hour and
half he awoke, to discover the atten
ant in the act of pouring very hot an
black coffee from a bright silver pt
into a demi-tasse Of fragile porcelain
Kirkwood slipped single lump of SUI
ar into the cup, gave over his ciga
case TO De HlIeNl, ll0l iCollCu D'%Sh' II
liperately lighting a long and slend'
panetela as a preliminary to la
lingering appreciation of the scene
which he was part
He reviewed it through narrows
eyelids, lazily; yet with some shg
surprise, seeming to see it with ne
vision, with eyes from which scales
ignorance had dropped.
This long and brilliant dining-ha
with its quiet perfection OF proporti'
and appointment, had always gratiti
his love of the beautiful: tonight
pleased him to an unusual degrt
Yet it was the same as ever, its wa
tinted a deep rose, with their har
ings of dull cloth-of-gold, its lights d
crininatingly clustered and discreet
shaded, redoubled in half hundr
mirrors, its subdued Skinner OF pie
and glass, its soberly festive Assem-
lage a., circmspectu men and won
splendidly gowned, its decorously III
ed murmur of voices penetrated a
s-,+a~rouan nv the strains of a hidd