New Britain herald., 1924-02-02
CHAPTER I. The \nnDroII> Hostess

The times were full of trouble: but Martha Quinn was unperturhed' Hers was q mind that confined itself to the essentials of life; it's susten- ance and reproduction. Not for her to plague herself with the com pleXities O. existence with considera- tions of the Hereafter or disputations upon the various creedS hy which its happiness may be ensured-a matter ,tpon which men have always been ready to send one another upon eX- ploring voyages thither--or yet with the political opinions by which na- tion is fiercelN divided. Not e"en the preparations tOr war with Hol- land, which were agitating men so violently Or the plague-sCare based upon reports oI several eases in the outskirts of the city, could disturb the serenity ot her direct existence. The vices of the Court, which afford cd such deiectable scandal for the town, touched her morr nearly, as did the circumstance that yellow bird s-eye hoods were now all the raec with ladies of fashion, and the fact that London was lost in worship or the beauty anu talent O Sylvia Farouharson. who was appearing with AIr. Betterton at the Dukes house in tho part Of Katherine m Lord Orrcry's "Honry the Fifth.
 Even so. to Martha Quinn. who very competcntly kept the Fanls Head in Psurs Yard, these things were hut the unimportant trihes that earnish the dish of life. It was upon Hfe's main concerns that she ron- centrated her attention In all that rcgarded meat and drink her learn iur-as became the hostess ol so nrosperious housn--wGs probably rnriyalcd. Unon these talents was her solii prospcrity erected. Sh" possessed. fur;her--as became the mother of six sturdy children ot as sorted ratarnjty--a discerning eE" for a fine figure ot a man.
 It was to this ract-a)though he was very lar rom suspecttne it that t'olourl Holes owed the good fortune of having lodged in luxury for tho past month without ever reckoning asked or SO much as question on the subject Of his means.
 Mrs. quinn had assigned t0 his FN- elusiHr use & cosy little parlor be- lind tho common room. on the Ntndow-sest Of this little parlor nc now loungeI. whilst Mrs. quinn hcr- self--and thc day was long past in which it had been her need ot habit with her own plump hands to per form SO m"nia an oTiee--femoNed from the table tho remains oF his. strp solid breakfast.
 Observing him mwNolN, with furtieeness, indeed. that was alh1nat bahitual fo her Mrs quinn par sred her tnsk. moving between tahir and sideboard. and hrsitat0d to break i1 upon his abstryctiou. she was pornpn on the short side of mildlt 1rig' f. well hippcd and deep of Ios but not rScceSt}rfy. The rhtg plump as a partridg might ha4r hcrn invented to d"scrihe her In age sho cannot ha," been much short of forty, and whilst not with out certain hornriy comeiincs~, m TO itIlgmrrt but hrr oHn could @ho have been accounted beautirui Very blne of eye and very rIddy of rhc"k, sHc looked thr embodiment ot hralth: and this rendared her not uu3loasiug. But the discerning wor'j lafr p"f- tffsod rra,d iu the ful mouth with iis long upper 'ip, and sly cunning Natures ror'p' 'nsation 10 loW intel ligrnce--iu her vivid eyes.
 II remains. however. that sh" "as endowed with charms enough nf per- soe and fortune 10 attract tolcmnn. the isooksellr~ from thr corner O. IauI's Yarl end NppjebN the m'r- rr from rairrnOstcr liow. Si1" plight marry either of them "hrn tFr pleased. Ilut she did not pleasc. ftrr regard for essentials rendered the lHgck-fnccs or Appialfy as rrpu'si'c to her as the boW-lces of Coleman. nr late. it is true. thc thought of utarriara had been engaging hfr. san realized that thc aec of adN"n- lure touched itE end for Tier. and flat inc time had come to take fife rnnparion and gct'lr sotter'y. Fif- en years Of good management. llfosperity. and thrift at th" i'aHIs JIrad had made her wealthy. When she pleased she could lcage T'aul's Yard. arauirr a modest dcmcsno ir Inc country. and hCcom" onr nf the ladies or thr land. q position tnr V hfch shc ffr h'rsolf emiHfntty qualified That uni,h h~r birth might lack, that in which her birth might have don" poor justice tp her faturc. q hueband cond supply. uften of late had her cunning blun fres 5eru narrowed in m@ntaE rf- view CT this situation. What she required for her pIrpOses was 2 gen ffefnau born and bred whom fortune had reduced iu circums'arfFs and who ssouid. tht rrfore. be modest in tHe matter of matrimonial ambitions. lie must also Dc a prgpfr man.
 Such a man she had found at iast ir i'nIunci Hoi.s. From th> noh1"ht when at month spo bn rtrodr into her inn followed hy an urrhia shoHid.rinf His yaii~c and rarkag'4. and d"- iiperrd hiHscir upon his immediate needs. shc had racnEni2fd him for tHp husband she sought. and mafkad , him Tor her oVrn. ~ q E.aU"f slg'. had appraised him. tho tall. soIdieriy firiire broad to the naist. fhsn~r are fo the ground: th' lIauasyrlr feca. eltaYrn ike puritsu-e. ert set tpfweeu r'Usters Of zoIl-lroEu hair |. thick as cavaliers ptTiHiE. thC long ns sar-shaped ruby relic. no dg1itt- of ruoFr prosperous days dangling from his right ear: the long sword 14pon whose pummel his Ieft hand rt sted with the easy grace of long habit: the assured pOise. tiie air 0t command. the pleasant yet aBthgri- tative voice. All this she observed with those vivid. narrowing eyes of hers. And she observed. tuos t54s IiscreditabIe shaBHiness- -I