The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-11
By ESTHER szRLE KENNETH.

/ hardly knew what l was doing.
1 think L must have made some mis-
take with the oysters, for they came
off the table almost untouched. l
had such a weight Of coming disaster
upon me?
Tip wiped out dish, grinning:
Then gemmen II be sure to fall
In love with Miss Lindsey" she said.
Miss Lindsey Is engaged to be
married. Attend to your business,
Tipl" / answered, sharply; but /
knew that the little wench had the
truth of il.
just then Lindsey ran down into
the dining room, and pulled white
rose from the window vine for her
hair. She was dressed In White-her
hair, which she had not had time TO
curl, simply combed to its full length
and falling in ripples over her fair
shoulders At one side il was Topped
back from her temples with an aigrette
of rubies, which had been her
mother's-on the other with the.White
rose. She had never been dressed
more simply, and never looked love-
1ier.
Well. it couldn't be helped. | saw
her 90 10, and heard the softening of
the mems voices. There was no more
boisterous laughter. / confess that
stole up into the chamber over the
dining. room, and listened TO the
sounds which rose from below, hoping
to get hint of how things were
going. Lindsey hardly spoke, but /
knew how gracefully she was presid-
ing ct the board, how like an angel
she looked with her sweet eyes aud
falling hSir.
Supper was over at length, and /
= heard them rising from the table. 1t
was o moonlighted August night.
Pretty soon / saw Major Southly
place chair on the piazza for Lind
sey, and stand beside her telling some
story. The Colonel and Mr.. Guthrie
3 were, meanwhile, talking in the room
within.
Lindsey had little way, when she
was annoyed, of putting her hand to
her throat / saw her do so once or
twice, while Ben's engagement ring,
beautiful sapphire, flashed in the
moon light. knew that she was not
at ease. Either the story or the man
was disagreeable to her; perhaps
both.
never stirred from my post until
fhey went 10 and heard them sep
arating for the'night. When Lindsey
came up / ran out to her.
"H0w have you enjoyed the even
ing, my dear?" .a 49,
o, il has been very tirssome! /
AM sleepy she answered, and went
into her room. After ten minutes
there wasn't stir there; the child
was sound asleep.
There were meals to be served for
those men for week. The Colonel
seemed to have given himself vaca-
ton from business. They wentto the
city, but caLae out at all hours, riding,
diving, hunting. They made up a
yacht party, ard took Lindsey with
them sailing.
Meanghile / detected something
strange about the Colonel. He had
lost flesh, and went out of sight OF
his euests. his manner fell from one
Of excitement to one OF gloom and
impatienee. I had known him long,
and l knew that something was wrong
with him.
One day Lindsey burst into the
china closet where | was cleaning
siiVer, and exclaimed:
.slfSat Major Southly has been
making love to mel"
"Hush, IEy dearp answered,
closing the door. for she had spoken
quito loud Ia her excitement.
81 hate him. she exclaimed, he
il a gross. dirty fellow The glance
of his eve makes me loathe him
s !" Lindsey" said I. "the servants
NAV overhear4 you if you haven't
more eaation in speaking of your
affairs. Be CALM. and tell me what
has happened :,
s. III was IN the garden just now,
she went on, speaking little gentler,
and L thought / was alone. was
walking under the Misunderstanding
my hat by the strings, and singing,
wh,&n | suddenly discovered Major
EnutkIv standing among the rose;
bnsbes watching me. The moment
saw him 1 hated him-I don't know
why. But I know what he was going
e. TO say as he came towards me.
20 . Well, what was it, Lindsey
He tried to be familiar, affection
ate. He took my hand, but snatch
ed IL away. Yet he went on talking
said that he fell IN love with me
that fret evening he came, and asked
me to marry him. l refused to lister
ia hinl-and be said that ne shoul'
sneak to my father, He was 50 con
fident and insolent: seemed so little
abashed by my aversion Tor hIm-st
determined to marry me whether
liked him or not, 1t made my bloo'
boilel"
= Gently, gently, my dear. You arr
? incohyeniently pretty, Lindsey,
said. trying to smile. You must no,
be too hard on the poor. gentleman
He is not a gentleman, Aun
Nanny; he is wealthy sensuallst,,
llbertinel 1t is an insult to pc al
mired by himF
was astonished at the girl.
81 wish they were all gone, SD
said, YEARLY. u am tired OF 81
much excitement. Father does no
look we'll. either. Have you noticed
it, Aunt Nanny"
--.tfrI said that l had.t
IF my father only knew how
: loved him." she added, sadly,
thiLk 1t would DC comfort to him
though | am not boy
Poor dearl The old yesrning owe
her which 1 had felt when she was
3 baby, came up strong within me. u
be sure she had Ben, but the passto
of an enthusiastic young man IS nc
like the affection of q mother 9
father. And these, as have salt
Lindsey had never known. Only
knew what a pure strong heart N
IA Ring had, and l never believe