The Queen of Farrandale
A Novel
9781465636195
188 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
“I’ve never had any luck,” said Hugh Sinclair, lifting a stein of beer and emptying it in one steady draught. The fashionably dressed man, with graying hair on his temples who sat opposite him at the table, left his own foaming mug untouched as he watched the handsome, rough-looking boy of twenty-four with a half smile. “Nor my father before me,” added Hugh, as he set down the empty stein. “No silver spoons in the mouths of our family when they are born.” “Your father was a pretty fine man,” remarked the other. “Oh, yes, I suppose so,” said the boy carelessly. “I remember, Mr. Ogden, that you and he were a sort of pals. I suppose it was on his account that you looked me up to-day. I’m sorry I haven’t any better hospitality to show you than a near-beer joint. These hot dogs aren’t so bad, though. Try ’em.” The young fellow drove his fork into the food on his plate and his companion followed his example, while a brazen automatic piano in the corner crashed out “The Virginia Blues.” John Ogden began to eat. “I love that clever human who cursed the man that put the din into dinner, and took the rest out of restaurant,” he said. “M’h’m,” agreed Hugh with his mouth full. “Who are left in your family?” asked Ogden. “The last time I saw you was twelve years ago, and do you know why I remember the date?” Hugh looked up. “Can’t imagine. Something about father, I suppose.” “No, about your sister Carol.” “Good old Carol?” said the boy with surprise. “Yes. How much more time have you before you must go back to the store?” Hugh looked at his wrist watch. Its dilapidated leather bracelet matched the carelessness of its owner’s general appearance. “Half an hour.” “Then let us eat quickly and get to some quiet spot.” They found it in a hotel lobby on the way to Hugh’s place of business, and in transit John Ogden took further mental note of his companion’s shabbiness. Not only were his clothes in need of brushing, but he had not shaved to-day; his shoes were dusty and by industry the boy finished several cigarettes before, in the hotel lobby, they found a couple of neighboring chairs, and he lighted another. “Hard luck to tote you around this way, Mr. Ogden, but all I’ve got is a hall bedroom in a hash house.” “You talk a lot about luck, don’t you?” remarked the older man. “You don’t look as if you had ever gone after it very hard.” “Oh, yes,” responded Hugh; “I’ve batted around considerable after jobs.” “You don’t keep them very long, eh?” “No, and the devil can take them for all me. I’ve never had anything worth keeping since I got back from France. I care for nobody and nobody cares for me. That’s about the size of it, and most of the other fellows are the same way. My friends are all Bolshevists.” “Oh, come now,” said the older man, regarding the frank young ne’er-do-well with some disgust, “that isn’t worthy of your father’s son.” “Perhaps not; but what do you care?” turning upon his well-dressed, well-groomed companion; nettled by the shade of contempt in his tone. “My father’s dead and that’s the end of him.” “I was going to tell you why I care,” said Ogden, meeting the inimical look in the exceedingly handsome blue eyes bent upon him. He paused a minute, then added, “I am glad I stopped over and hunted you up. You remind me of her.” “Oh, yes,” said Hugh listlessly, “Carol. You said something about Carol.” “I did,” returned the other quietly. “Twelve years ago to-day I asked her to be my wife.” “You—Carol?” The boy’s voice was so incredulous that Ogden smiled. “Yes; I wasn’t always forty-two, you know. I was thirty then, and she was eighteen.” “That was the reason you hung around father, then?” “One of the reasons, yes,” said Ogden slowly. “She was a sober little head for eighteen, and it was largely because for years she had had to be a mother to her little brother.”
