Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-07-13
CHAPTER II.

THE assumption seems not I'm
warrnntable that Mr. Calendar
figuratively washed his hands
Of Mr.. Kirkwood. Unqucstion.
Sbly Mr.. Kirkwood considered him
self well rid of Mr.. Calendar. When
the latter had gone his way, Kirk
wood, mindful of the fact that his boat
train would leave st. Pancras Mt 1870,
set about his packing and dismissed
from his thoughts the incident created
by the fat adventurer and at o'clock
or thereabouts let himself out Of his
room, dressed for the evening, light
raincoat over one arm, in the other
hand cane, the drizzle having
ceased.
A stolid British lift carried him down
to the ground floor Of the establish
ment in something short Of five min
utes. Pausing in the office long enough
to settle his bill and leave instructions
to have his luggage conveyed to the
boat train, he received with entire
equanimity the affable benediction Of
the clerk, in whose eyes he still fig
ured as that radiant creature, an
American millionaire, and passed on to
the lobby. where he surrendered hat,
coat and stick to the cloakroom at
tendant ere entering the dining room.
The hour was trife early for a
London dinner, the handsome room
but moderately filled with patrons
Kirkwood absorbed the fact uncon.
sciously and without displeasure The
earlier the better, he was determined
to consume his last civilized meal (as
he chose to consider it) at his serene
leisure, to live fully his ebbing mo-
ments in the world to which he was
born, to drink to its cloying dregs ona
ultimate draft of luxury.
With deferential flourish the wait
er brought him the menu card. Ha
had served in his time many an Amer
lean millionaire; he had also served
this Mr.. Kirkwood, and respected him
as one exalted above the run of his
kind In that he comprehended the ART
of dining.
Fifteen minutes later the waiter de
parted rejoicing, his order complete.
To distract a conscience whispering
of extravaganza Kirkwood lighted q
cigarette.
The room was gradually filling witt
later arrivals. 1t was the most fa
yored restaurant in London, and de
spite the radiant costumes of the WON
en- its atmosphere remained sedate ant
restful
A cab clattered down the side stree
on which the window opened.
At nearby table woman laughed
quietly happy. Incuriously Kirkwoot
glanced her way. She was bending
forward, smiling, flattering her escor
with the alteration Of her eyes. 3Ae.
were lovers alone in the wilderness o
the crowded restaurant. They SCENE,
very happy.
Kirkwood was conscious of strang
pang Of emotion. It took him SOM
time to comprehend that 1t was envy.
He was alone and lonely. For tn
first time he realized that no woman
had ever looked upon him as the VIC
man at the adjoining table looked upo
her lover. He had found time to VOL
ship but one mistress-hts art.
And he was renouncing her.
He was painfully conscious of wha
he had missed, had lost or had not ye
found-the love of woman.
The sensation was curious, new
unique in his experience.
His cigarette burned down to hi
fingers MS he sat bordering. Abstract
eddy he ground its fire out in an MS
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 little distance his waiter n
garded him with an air Of disappoin
ment. In the course of an hour and
half he awoke to discover the attent
ant in the net of pouring very hot an
black coffee from bright silver pr
into demitasse Of fragile porcelain
Kirkwood slipped single lump
sugar into the cup, gave over his ciga
case to be filled, then leaned back, d.
liberately lighting long and slende
panetela as n preliminary to last Ill
gering appreciation of the scene
which he was part.
He reviewed it through narrowe
eyelids lazily, yet with some sligl
surprise, seeming to see It with ne
vision, with eyes from which scales {
ignorance had dropped.
This long and brilliant dining hal
with its quiet perfection of proportio
and appointment, had always gratifle
his love of the beautiful. Tonight
pleased him to an unusual degree. Y
It was the same as ever. Its wall
tinted deep rose, with their hanging
of dull cloth of gold; its lights discrir
inatingly clustered and discreet
shaded, redoubled in half hundre
mirrors; its subdued simmer of pla
and glass, its soberly festive asser
blage of circumspect men and wome
splendidly gowned. its decorous
muted murmur of voices penetrate
and interviewer by the strains of
hidden string orchestra, caressed b
senses MS always, yet with diffe
ence. Tonight he saw it n room pop
lous with lovers, lovers insensib
paired, man unto woman attentiv
woman Of man regnrdful.
He had never understood this befol
This much he had missed in life.
1t seemed hard to realize that Of
must forego 1t all forever.
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