The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-02


her own plump hands to perform so
mental an office-removed from the
table the remains of his very solid
breakfast.
Observing him furtively, with a fur
tiveness, indeed, that was almost
habitual to her. Mrs. Quinn pursued
her task, moving between table and
sideboard. and hesitated to break in
upon his abstraction. She was
oman on the short side of middle
height, well hipped and deep of bosom.
but not excessively. The phrase
plump as a partridge might have
been invented to describe her. In age
she cannot have been much short of
40, and whilst not without a certain
homely comeliness, in no judgment
but her own could she have been &C
counted beautiful. Very blue of eye
and very ruddy of cheek, she looked
the embodiment of health; and this
rendered her not unpleasing. But the
discerning would have perceived
greed in the full mouth with its long
upper lip. and sly cunning-Nature' $
compensation to low intelligences-in
her vivid eyes.
1t remains. however. that she was
endowed with charms enough of per
son and fortune to attract Coleman,
the bookseller from the corner of
Paul's Yard and Appleby, the mercer
from Paternoster Row. She might
marry either Of them when she
pleased. But she did not please.
Her regard for essentials rendered
the knock-knees of Appleby as re
pulsive TO her as the'bow-legs of Cole
man. OF late. it is true, the thought
Of marriage had been engaging her.
She realized that the age of adven-
ture touched its end for her. and that
the time had come to take a life com
panion and settle sOberly. Fifteen
years OF good management. pros
perity. and thrift at the Paul's Head
had made her wealthy. When she
pleased she could leave Pauls Yard.
acquire a modest demesne in the conu-
try. and Necome one of the ladies Of
the land. a position for which she felt
herself eminently qualified. That
which her birth might lack, that in
which her birth might have done poor
justice to her nature. husband could
supply. Often of late had her cum
lining blue eyes been narrowed in men
tai review of this situation. What she
required for her purposes was a gen
tlemau born and bred whom fortune
had reduced in circumstances and
who would. therefore, he modest IL
the matter OF -~SatF.Tcaial ambitions
He must also be a proper man.
4
in Colonel Holes F'rcs- the ns>'hent
when month ago she strobe into her
inn, followed by an urchin shoulder
ing his valise and packages, and de
liverad himself upon his immediate
needs. she had recognized him for the
| husband she sought, and marked him
for her own. At a glance she had
appraised him; the tall. soldierly fig
ure. broad to the waist thence spare
| to the ground; the handsome face.
shaver like Puritan's. yet set be
tween clusters Of gold-brown hair
thick Is cavaliers periwig, the long,
/ pearshaped ruby-a relic. no doubt
Of more prosperous days-dangling
( from his right ear; the long sword,
| upon whose pummel his left hand
rested with the easy grace Of long
| habit; the assured poise. the air of
/ command, the pleasant yet authOrita-
/ tive voice All this she observed with
/ those vivid. narrowing eyes Of hers.
| And she observed. too, the gentle
mans discreditable shabbiness: the
| frayed condition Of his long boots. the
4 dropping. faded feather in his Elem
/ ish beaver, the well-rubbed leather
! jerkin, worn, no doubt. to conceal the
/ threadbare state of doublet under
| meath.
( He had business in town. he an
F nounced-at Court. ne added 1t might
detain him there some little while. He
/ required lodgings perhaps for a week,
/ perhaps for longer. Could she pro
vide them?
And although it was now full
/ month since his arrival and in all
that time our gentleman had been
lavishly entertained upon the best
meat and drink the PauTs Head could
offer, yet in all that time there had
been-I repeat-neither mention of a
reckoning, nor question of his means
to satisfy it.
Her housewifely operations being
ended at last-after a prolongatior
which could be carried to no further
lengths-she overcame her hesitation
to break in upon his thoughts, which
must be gloomy, indeed, if his coun
tenance were a proper index.
AS she addressed him now. she hello
| in her hand the long pewter vesse
from which he had taken his morning
draught.
'Is there aught yet lack for com
fort, Colonel?"
He stirred. turned his head, to face
her, and took the pipestem from be
tween his lips.
Nothing. thank you" he answered
with a gravity that had been growing
upon him in the last fortnight. tc
overcloud the earlier good humor OF
his bearing.
"What-nothing7" The buxom 81
ren's rudy face was creased in ar
allur1ng smile. Aloft now she helt
the tankard. fitting her still COLDER
head. Not another draught Of DC
tober before you go FORTH" she coaxet
him.
AS he looked at her now, he smiled
And 1t has been left on record by on,
who knew him well that his smil,
was Irresistible, smile that could al
ways win him the man or woman
upon whom he bestowed 1t. 1t had {
trick of breaking suddenly upon fact
that in repose was wistful, like sun
shine breaking suddenly from q gray