The Adventures of a Widow

she saw a good deal of Kindelon. They visited together the little editorial sanctum in Spruce Street, where Mrs. Dares sat dictating some of h

h ink-stains, files or clippings of newspapers, and long ribbon-like rolls of "proof." Her own fine g

rge-eyed, serious little lady. "We have called principally to ask a f

s, "for that, provided I can grant it at al

e a complete conquest of Mrs. Dares. She is usually quite miserly with

ressed Mrs. Dares. "I want to ask you," she proceeded, with a shy kind of ventur

the desk knitted her brows perplexedly, as though she had encountered some tantalizing foreign w

involuntary surprise that instantly afterwar

to detect the least incivi

ve no need of a visiting-book,

sort of list, have you n

erstand that to be invited to one of my evenings is to be invited to all. I suppose that in the fashionable world," she proceeded, f

ower of cards. I strongly doubt if many people ever care to meet in a truly social way those whose company they pretend to solicit. There are few more perfect mockeries in that most false and mocking life, than the ordinary visit of etiquette." Pa

as an admirable memory. If she fails in the matter of addresses, there is the

ine, with a laugh. "But I hate

it any trouble," s

elevation of the brows. "You speak c

trifle embarrassedly. "Oh, I have always

to please those whom she l

Street in the carriage of the former, and as they quitted the huge building in which Mrs. Dare

eet. "I have nowhere else to go just at present," she said. "Not that I should not like to stay down town, as you call it, a litt

watch. "Only twelve o'clock," he proceeded; "I thought it later. Well

said Pauline. "It would probably not be proper if I

d be sad

up town after I h

n town, since the c

ssly about for

t not find the idea at all disagreeable. If you will permit, I wil

somely, entering the carriage. "I throw m

e, and the carriage was immediately borne into th

l be blind and unquestioning, and I shall expect a proportionately rich reward.... What gulfs of difference lie between that interesting little Mrs. Dares and most of the women whom I have met! People tell us that we must travel to see life. I begin to think that one great city like

a brisk, acq

utsides of men and women. We go abroad to discover

ge at leng

y to burst upon me?" ask

imminent," said Kindelon, w

ed, surveyed her surroundings

but I did not suppose you meant to stop

hs of many high trees. "You can't think what a delightful stroll we could take over y

y," acced

some of these had come forth from the big sea-fronting structure beyond, to meet the stares of that dingy, unkempt rabble which always collects, on such occasions, about its doorways. Pauline and Kindelon paused to watch the poor dazed-looking creatures, with their pinched, vacuous faces, their timid miens, their coarse, dirty bundles. The women mostly had blond braids of hair matted in close coils against the backs of their heads; they wore no bonnets, and one or two of th

hail from some of the Austrian provinces. Many of my own country people, t

f they had not wit enough to understand whither they had come, but qui

ces of kingdoms and empires. Their state is almost brutish, as you see; they don't think themselves half as far above the brute as you think them, depend upon it. They have had manhood and womanhood crushed into the dust for generations. It is as much their hereditary instinct to fawn and crawl as it is for a dog to bark or a cat to lap milk. They

ifting her face to his. "I hop

I have always thought a much more terse and expressive name than the United States) does nothing of the sort. With a superb kindness, which has behind it a sense of unexampled power, she bids them all welcome. And in a little while they breathe her vitalizing air with a new and splendid result. They forget the soldiers who kicked them, the tyrants who made th

erced his light-blue eyes, between the black gloss of their lashes, and the little sensitive tremor that disturbed his nostril. She had never felt more swayed by his fo

reatures, after having greeted and domesticated them?" came he

ve changed Kindelon's mood. He la

he sometimes makes Tammany politicians of them, and if they

say?" exclaimed Paul

, for a moment, with a covert play of mirth

I do," he replied,

n hospitality of which you have ju

side of the question-that is all. You know, I told you it had both its dark and its bright side.... Come,

on the shore of Governor's Island, and the soft, swelling, purplish hills of Staten Island, where they loomed still further beyond. Boats of all shapes and kinds were passing over the luminous waters, from the squat, ugly tug, with its hoarse whistle, to the huge black bulk of an Atlantic steamer, bound for transpontine shores and soon to move majestically oceanward through the fair sea-gate of the Narrows. A few loiterers leaned against the stone posts, and a few more lounged upon the seats ranged further inland along this salubrious marine promenade. Back

he and Pauline stood on the breezy esplanade. "There ne

f an invading enemy. This is still such a young city compared with those of other lands....

e very mournful ones

ecretly very amusing. "You believe that everything is working toward nobler conditions, though you laughed

ke the gigantic unravelling of a gigantic skein.... But such views don't prevent me from feel

he apparent retrogressions-rhythmic variations of movem

icious," he said, "when you try to recollect your Herbert Spencer. You make

pleasant to be likened to a flower, but in this case it is rather belittling. And if it comes to

on ruefully, "I h

little.... How lovely it all is, here," she proceeded, changing the subject, as they now began to move onward, while they still kept close to the edge of the smooth-paven terrace. "And what a pity that our dwelling-houses should

on on its Euphrates, or Nineveh on its Tigris, could not eclipse New York in stately beauty if mansions were built along its Nort

reen now?" said Pauline, looking up at

id your favored progenitress

se a trifle. "I fancy there is still a belle

Kindelon,"

n some dreadful factory, you know, not far away, all through the week. But on Sunday she emerges from her narrow little room in a tenement-house, brave and sma

re they worthy of

heir Sunday coats fit them very ill.... But now let me pursue my little romance. The poor cr

oddly. "You're quite eluci

. I have an idea that the secretly-adored one is more of a convert than all his fellows to the bea

imagination also include those,

y let me continue without your prosaic interruptions. Poor littl

ession for several seconds

y the society of her present three, four, or five admirers, when suddenly she sees the Beloved approaching. Then she brightens and becomes quite sparklingly animated. And when her Ideal draws near, twirling a

hort and almost brusque tone, "but is not t

?" faltere

Courtland

ing in her own direction from that of the South Ferry, which she and Kindelon

t. As he came forward, Pauline gave a shrill, nervous laugh. "I suppose you feel like asking me what on earth I am do

than the cool light of his eye. "It's very evident that you are taking a stroll with Mr. Kindelon." He then extended his hand, case

returned Kindelon, jovially impe

ice, which is only a street or two beyond." He turned toward the brilliant expanse of the bay, lifting a big silver-knobbed stick which he carried, waving it right and lef

n Pauline, turning, sai

you to your

d a second or so previously-and walked onward. He had not betrayed the least sign of annoyance all through this trans

e gradually disappeared. When the curve near Castle

lon, who had been intently t

red. Her increased colo

e in walking for a little while

h. "Yes," she answered

oulders. "But surely you

th lowered eyes. "At least that is

re above idle and

back to the

ns, if you

time in silence. "I think you must understand," Pauli

at I was having one of the pleasantest hours I have ev

ousin Courtlandt 'that

little doggedly. "I might have spo

have no right to speak ill of him,

he reason why I

t like hi

do

dily compr

under their black lashes. "You say that

andt are of a d

on of a fop and a par

with anger as she shot a look

ousin himself," she exclaimed defian

ed. "I dare do anything that needs the courage of a man," he

n that she had shot a wounding shaft in those few words, but she chose to kee

ey had nearly reached her c

ve with your c

onically. "What a seer you are!" she

ith a melancholy gravity

tterly than before. She had expected him to me

in my hearing," she said. "I am in love with all

not the w

carriage. The footman, seeing them, descended

do not wish my company longer. But I offer you my apologies for having

he extended his ha

r company," she answered, "but if you ch

erence between you and me. That cousin of yours hated me at sight. Your aunt, Mrs. Poughkeepsie, hated me at sight

f in Kindelon's voice, but a

ne murmured. "What

dea of change, of amelioration, of casting aside your so-called patrician bon

his large frame was shaken by some visible trem

the sweet-faced young painter, and what she herself had of late grown to surmise, t

She slightly waved her hand toward the adjacent c

he shook his head. "No," he answered. "Good-by

iven up town. She told herself that he had behaved very badly to her. But she did not really think this