Temple Scott

The Silver Age and Other Dramatic Memories Temple Scott

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... THE LADY AND THE SINGING-BIRD I THE LADY AND THE SINGING-BIRD ELI SHOLES sat at the far end of his little book-shop, feet on fender before a blazing coal fire, reading the morning's newspaper. The day was dull and misty, of the kind that is so frequent in the late autumn on the west coast of England. Puffs of heavy white vapor, dimming the yellow gas jets, were being blown into the shop by a damp, salt breeze that chilled as it blew; but Sholes sat, cigar in mouth, puffing and reading contentedly, regardless of the weather and seemingly oblivious of either time or tide. On such mornings, customers, as Sholes knew, were rare visitants to this shop in the narrow byestreet. There was nothing to do then but to await fortune's favors with a tranquil mind. A long, pale, bearded face with a stern, square forehead, and dark, searching eyes were the chief features about a head that was set firmly on a solid neck. The figure as it reclined in the wooden arm-chair, seemed sparse; the hands were white and of almost feminine mould. He might have been forty years old, though a number of gray streaks in the straight, thick hair of head and beard, would indicate a more advanced age. The mouth was firm but with a pleasant curve to the lips which were plainly visible in spite of the beard. A thoughtful, sad face, but with a spiritual sadness. The sound of quick footsteps caused him to raise his head in its direction. "Hello! Randall!" he cried, rising quickly, "I am glad to see you! How are you? You haven't been round for some days. What have you been doing?" "Oh, the same old grind. We've had a lot of extra work lately; I'm sick of the damned office. I can't stand that old skinflint of a money-grubber I'm with much longer." The speaker was a young man of...