MISS FERGUSON WRITES A NOTE.
It was indeed true that Ruth Patton had found employment at ten dollars
a week. Her services were scarcely worth that sum to her employer, but
Alfred Lindsay was not only rich but generous, and was glad to believe
Ruth's anxiety by insuring her a comfortable income. She was still at
Mrs. Fenton's rooms, being now able to contribute her share of the
expense incurred. The widow was willing to accept only three dollars
per week, so that Ruth had the satisfaction of sending a weekly
remittance to her mother. She was very grateful for the change in her
circumstances, and, notwithstanding the disappointment about her
father's estate, felt that there was reason to hope.
Two days later Alfred Lindsay found a letter upon his desk addressed in
a delicate female hand which he did not recognize.
"A lady client!" he thought. "What does she want--a divorce?"
When he opened the envelope he read the following note, written on a
highly perfumed sheet:
MY DEAR MR. LINDSAY: Pray don't be shocked at my boldness in writing
you, but it _is so long_ since you have called that papa suggests
sickness as a possible cause. I do hope that this is not what has kept
you away. I confess that I have missed you very much. I have so enjoyed
our conversations. You are not like the fashionable butterflies of whom
we meet so many in society. One must tolerate them, of course but it is
a comfort to meet a man who can talk intelligently about books and art.
Apropos, I have a new collection of etchings that I want to show you.
Won't you name an evening when you will call, as I want to be certain
to be at home when you really do come. I should be desolated, as the
French say, to be absent.
Now don't fail to answer this screed. Otherwise I shall certainly
manage to have some law business that will give me an excuse for
calling at your office.
Very sincerely yours,
LUELLA FERGUSON.
Alfred Lindsay read this note slowly, and there was a smile upon his
face, for he fully appreciated Luella's motive in writing it. A
fortnight since he would have been charmed, but his feelings with
respect to Miss Ferguson had undergone a change. The revelation of her
real character had shocked him, and served effectually to kill his
growing attachment. Beauty of face could not make up for deformity of
character. On the other hand, he was beginning to be attracted by Ruth.
She lacked Luella's regular features and cold, classic beauty, but her
sweet face revealed a disposition warm, kindly, and sympathetic; and
when her deep, serious eyes rested upon him, he felt that she was far
more attractive than her showy rival.
"What shall I do?" he asked himself as his eyes fell upon the note. He
must of course answer it, but should he accept the invitation? Upon the
whole he decided to do so. There was no reason which he could allege
for declining, and, though it would be to sacrifice an evening, he
would go armed against Luella's fascinations by the knowledge he had
acquired. He drew out a sheet of paper from a drawer in his desk, and
wrote as follows:
MY DEAR MISS FERGUSON: As I am writing in my office, you will
understand and excuse the unfashionable business paper which I am
using. I am flattered to find that you miss me, and still more at the
reason you assign for preferring my company to that of the gilded young
men who worship at your shrine. I am but "a plain, blunt man," as
Shakspeare has it, and cannot vie with them in compliment. I shall no
doubt find pleasure in examining the etchings which you hold out as an
inducement to call. I will name Thursday evening, but should you have a
previous engagement, don't scruple to notify me, as I can easily
postpone my visit to another date.
Yours sincerely,
ALFRED LINDSAY.
Luella Ferguson read this note with mingled pleasure and
disappointment.
"It is very cold," she murmured, "almost as if I were an ordinary
acquaintance. I suppose men feel hampered when they try to express
themselves upon paper. I will not believe that he is less friendly, or
admires me less than he used to do. At any rate he is coming, and I
must make myself as fascinating as possible. I have a chance to win
him, and I mean to do it."
"Papa," said Luella on Thursday morning, "Mr. Lindsay will call here
this evening."
"I am glad to hear it, Luella. I hope he is coming--on business."
"I don't know," she answered demurely.
"You know my wishes on the subject?"
"They accord with mine, papa."
When Alfred Lindsay was announced, he found Luella resplendent in a new
dress, and bedecked with jewels. She intentionally made herself as
attractive as possible.
"Really. Miss Ferguson, you are radiant tonight," he said.
"Do you think so?" she asked.
"There is no doubt of it. Are you expecting other company?"
"Only yourself."
"Then I am to consider it a special compliment to me."
"If you like."
"Then I must express my acknowledgments."
Yet as he spoke, his thoughts reverted to Ruth Patton, with her lack of
ornament and severe simplicity, and he felt that her image was to him
the more attractive of the two. It was fortunate for Miss Ferguson's
peace of mind that she could not read his thoughts.
"Now, you bad boy," she said playfully, "you must tell me why you have
stayed away so long."
"Perhaps to see if you would miss me."
"I have missed you so much."
"That is certainly a compliment to me as a conversationalist, As you
wrote in your note you appreciate my sensible conversation I am afraid
you overestimate me. I have a friend who is really brilliant, and can
converse eloquently upon any subject. May I bring him with me?"
"Who is he?" asked Luella hesitatingly.
"Professor Grimes."
"What, the lecturer?"
"Yes."
"Why. he is grotesque in appearance. I heard him lecture once, and
thought he wore a mask, so ugly was his face."
"You admit his eloquence, however?"
"Yes; but from such a mouth even pearls cease to attract. Pray don't
bring him! He positively makes me shudder, I assure you."
Luella did not like the turn the conversation had taken. There seemed
no chance for sentiment, and she wanted to bring all her fascinations
to bear.
"You have some etchings to show me; Miss Ferguson?" said Lindsay, after
a pause.
"Yes; but I want to show them to you myself. You will have to come and
sit beside me."
"Willingly," answered Alfred, but his tone was conventional, and lacked
the warmth it had formerly shown.
Together they looked over the collection. Luella saw, however, to her
mortification, that Lindsay was calm and cold. It seemed clear that she
had lost her power over him. What could be the reason?
"Can it be that girl, Ruth Patton?" she asked herself. "Is it she who
is drawing Alfred Lindsay away from me? I must warn him against her."
"By the way, haven't you a copyist in your office named Ruth Patton?"
"How did you know?" asked Lindsay.
"I met her the other day on Broadway. Perhaps you don't know, but she
is an humble protegee of my father's."
"A protegee?"
"Yes; papa has been very kind to the family. He took charge of their
affairs on the death of her father, and, though there was not enough
property to pay the debts, he paid them all, and sent a check to Mrs.
Patton besides."
"That was certainly considerate!" said Lindsay; but from his tone it
could not be discovered if he were speaking in earnest or ironically.
"As you say, it was considerate, but this Ruth is very ungrateful. She
was actually ridiculous enough to think they ought to have had a
fortune, and I believe blames papa for the way things have come out."
Alfred Lindsay listened politely, but did not express an opinion.
"She is a very good copyist," he said.
"I am glad she is earning a living, though I think it would have been
better for her to remain in the country, don't you?"
"Really, I can't judge for others, not knowing all the circumstances."
"The girl is ill bred, I am sorry to say. She treated me rudely in the
cars."
"She gives me no cause of complaint," said Lindsay shortly. He
understood and despised Luella's attempts to prejudice him against the
copyist.
When he rose to go, Luella was disappointed. She felt that she had
brought him no nearer, and had not strengthened her hold upon him.
As the young lawyer descended the steps he met a man coming up whom he
recognized as a dealer in worthless mining stock, who was looked upon
by reputable business men with doubt and suspicion.
"What business can Orlando Jenkins have with Mr. Ferguson?" he asked
himself.