The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-27
"A HOUSE
A Cry In the Night.

Powers. 30 all agreed at the Tawdrey
Houae, for all his fierce white mustache.
which scarcely Swallowed a beam of his
beamful countenanoe. My wi memory
of the hotel ran back to a date which l
dreaded to reckon when low in my mind.
but even in those distant yesterdays he
had boon the same as he was to-day and
as no gave every indication Of continuing
for an indefinite future. Only from Judge
Precedent and Peter Bullion. those seniors
of the seniors. had ! heard sparse refer
ences 60 the detection which had marked
his coming and the first year or 80 OF his
stay at the hotel.
However that might be, within my men,
DRY Erastus Powers had always been pos
sessed Of the blessings OF a contented mind,
a regular life and a full purse. 1nsensibly
he had settled into the pleasant position
Of a parsonage. one who, was always
around. always agreeable, always to be
relied upon. The younger folk made him
a conidant far more than they did me;
while 10 the elders the little entertain
ments he gave each week in his rooms
were chief among the advantages OF per-
manency at the Tawdrey House.
oho oNCltIlk ~ WHY $3.50
vent with accustomed zest to be his
suest. There was the usua set present --
the Billions, the P~recedents, the Pawkers,
the Rev. DR.. Reliquary. took them in
with a glance as l entered; but for the
first time Eras.us himself did not press
forward with cordial greeting.
where is our worthy host?" l asked OF
Judge Precedent.
The eminent jurist, like many another
more prominent in retirement than he
had beer on the bench. pulled down his
riding waistcoat and tugged at the grizzly
tuft on his chin.
Look and learn he answered. with all
the sententiousness Of a legal maxim.
Following the obliQue CLEAN OF his
glasses. l did look to where in the middle
room Powers was sitting on the sofa be-
side a strikingly beautiful young woman
whom / had noted recently at the Paw
kers' table. ] have used the adverb
sdvisedly. for it was obvious hat Erastus
was already stricken, If rapt absorption
and pen admiration had their usual
significance.
.You don't mean?' I stammered.
why, it is plain that you do mean
yourself retorted the Judge. where
have your eyes been. Snifen. for the last
week? If they had followed the doings
OF that pair. as most OF the eyes in the
house have. you would be even more GER
tain than you are that it Is a case OF love
at first siRht-and by a long sight"
But he is old enough to be her
grandfather
.Idoubtif Miss Millicent Loud would say
but continued the pragmatic Judge.
D lorNrAinn RI ~ eliUhf n,Ioinfan m
che is a young. person as long Of head as
she is short of heart. Yes, begad. l think
she would employ because instead Of
but as a more fitting Introductory to
your observation
@Loud?" I unused: that is not a Tawdrey
name. Who is she, Judge?-
A niece Of Mrs. Pawker. o l believe.
from somewhere in the middle West.
Yes, my dear; certainly shall be glad
to take a hand"
With that prompt compliance with a
higher decision which had marked his
judicial career the Judge marched of to
a card table with his spouse. redoubta BILE
In a turban.
There were the usual diversions OF
round games and music while the men
helped the ladies' and themselves from a
bountiful sideboard. all conducted with a
certain old fashioned Journalism .After
q while | withdrew into the deep embrasure
by an oDen window
The night was overcast black, save for
yhostly whirls Of fog. The heavy air had
affected my spirits. listened &c the dull
dispason Of the CITY, finding III 1t an ac-
compartment to my melancholy.
Such wind az there vas came OF the
river, sweeping down from tine pure
mountains the fresh verdure. and like
maDv another Hdventurer losing its own
puritv and freshness by tho experience.
No wonder it sighed. for as all roads lead
ing to ancient Rome came TO be lined with
fomhs, so our gatewavs were bounded
by the abodes NJ sorrow,
" thin Ernstns Powers was difusinC
his own peniality. vet With the new di-
roctness to il. The glasses had been
filled. he held his W glass high in air az
he rose.
Il drink to the gods latest and best gift
to the Tawdrov House, perfect woman
he said. and bowed to Miss Loud.
, From the river on The heavv wind there
came n murmur that swnlled into a sound.
dismal, stranee. terrifying. 1t rose and
fell from n wall to a sob. alive inhuman,
alike repugpant to humanity ! drew
down the sash as If from the cold.
Powers's glass crashed 70 the floor.
I:e swavel. visiblv aging rs he listened. I
could mark the traces Of the SILVER as 1t
circled around
.That must he the time the old cat died
hv.' sughed Millicent Loud; and the spell
bDok'N'
Apoloeizing for his awkwardness even
more awkwardly, Erastus redonbled his
efforts To cheer and please. To ell ap-
pearances the incident was generally dis
missed as trivial; vet the pallor of his
face remained as If from the sweep OF a
Sead hand.
Il didn't like it mvself,- remarked
to Judge Precedent. IA we were leaving.
Il never beard n c-v like that but once
before" replied the Judge with n sombre
dipnitv. which became him ] fancv far
more than his robe ever die. That was
In court thirty wears ago. Pray God !
may never hear it again"
The Pawkers themselves were amply
self sufficient without the cooperation
Of this now relative. Timothy Pawker
was a cold. hard mar Of the world. with
regular. immobile features and Of elegant
dress. prompt. terse, certain in all he said
and in all he did.
He was supposed to do something 'on
the Street; and whatever it was gave him
M OK cellcnt, exclusive living. with nofa-
vors asked or granted. so often Joined with
money paid down on thes spot. His wife.
bmily, was the faded likeness of n belle
Of twenty years ago, who in him lived
and moved and had her being without any
apparent JOY
There was something pitiful about the
way she watched his cameo face before
S.op a ,ripu on tho siiyhtaat opiDion I