Big Poker Site hazard of new fortunes 70

her. Her sister would accept both with a lightness that would keep no trace of either; but in her they would sink lastingly deep. He came out of his reverie to find Mrs. Dryfoos saying to him, in her hoarse voice: "I think its a shame, some of the picturs a body sees in the winders. They say theres a law aginst them things; and if there is, I dont understand why the police dont take up them that paints em. I hear 182 tell, since I been here, that theres women that goes to have picturs took from them that way by men painters." The point seemed aimed at March, as if he were personally responsible for the scandal, and it fell with a silencing effect for the moment. Nobody seemed willing to take it up, and Mrs. Dryfoos went on, with an old womans severity: "I say they ought to be all tarred and feathered and rode on a rail. Theyd be drummed out of town in Moffitt." Miss Mela said, with a crowing laugh: "I should think they would! And they wouldnt anybody go low neck to the opera-house there, either--not low neck the way they do here, anyway." "And that pack of worthless hussies," her mother resumed, "that come out on the stage, and begun to kick." "Laws, mother!" the girl shouted, "I thought you said you had your eyes shut!" All but these two simpler creatures were abashed at the indecorum of suggesting in words the commonplaces of the theatre and of art. "Well, I did, Mely, as soon as I could believe my eyes. I dont know what theyre doin in all their churches, to let such things go on," said the old woman. "Its a sin and a shame, I think. Dont you, Coonrod?" A ring at the door cut short whatever answer he was about to deliver. "If its going to be company, Coonrod," said his mother, making an effort to rise, "I reckon I better go up-stairs." "Its Mr. Fulkerson, I guess," said Conrad. "He thought he might come"; and at the mention of this light spirit Mrs. Dryfoos sank contentedly back in her chair, and a relaxation of their painful tension seemed to pass through the whole company. Conrad went to the door himself (the serving-man tentatively, appeared some minutes later) and let in Fulkersons cheerful voice before his cheerful person. "Ah, how dye do, Conrad? Brought our friend, Mr. Beaton, with me," those within heard him say; and then, after a sound of putting off overcoats, they saw him fill the doorway, with his feet set square and his arms akimbo. IX. "Ah! hello! hello!" Fulkerson said, in recognition of the Marches. "Regular gathering of the clans. How are you, Mrs. Dryfoos? How do you do, Mrs. Mandel, Miss Christine, Mela, Aunt Hitty, and all the folks? How you wuz?" He shook hands gayly all round, and took a chair next the old lady, whose hand he kept in his own, and left Conrad to introduce Beaton. But he would not let the shadow of Beatons solemnity fall upon the company. He began to joke with Mrs. Dryfoos, and to match rheumatisms with her, and he included all the ladies in the range of appropriate pleasantries. "Ive brought Mr. Beaton along to-night, and I want you to make him feel at home, like you do me, Mrs. Dryfoos. He hasnt got any rheumatism to speak of; but his parents live in Syracuse, and hes a kind of an orphan, and weve just adopted him down at the office. When you going to bring the young ladies down there, Mrs. Mandel, for a champagne lunch? I will have some hydro-Mela, and Christine it, heigh? Hows that for a little starter? We dropped in at your place a moment, Mrs. March, and gave the young folks a few pointers about their studies. My goodness! it does me good to see a boy like that of yours; business, from the word go; and your girl just scoops my youthful affections. Shes a beauty, and I guess shes good, too. Well, well, what a world it is! Miss Christine, wont you show Mr. Beaton that seal ring of yours? He knows about such things, and I brought him here to see it as much as anything. Its an intaglio I brought from the other side," he explained to Mrs. March, "and I guess youll like to look at it. Tried to give it to the Dryfoos family, and when I couldnt, I sold it to em.

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