The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-12


he apparently had no thievish propensity.
He restored it to her on the platform, and
looked down upon her with the same care
less smile on his lips.
Probably you do not care to tell me your
name, and give me the pleasure of prescrib-
ing for you again?'
Probably 1 DON'T" thought Margaret
obstinately. Yet she knew she should like
him for an acquaintance; she always liked
odd people; but did he think she was going
to tell him her name in that unceremonious,
school girl fashion?
Apparently he did not. "AhI 1 see you
DON'T he added, as lift were part of the
same sentence. "And / forgot, you don't
know what my name is, either. Allow me,
then, to bid you good evening, and express
my pleasure at our short railroad acquaint-
ance.
He bowed politely and walked off, not
without another amused glance-st what?
At the letter she still held IN her handi
why, it has been in my lap all the way"
she thought. ''Unless he is blind, he could not
help reading the address over dozen times
Then he asked my name just to see what
would say. / don't believe he has said
word this afternoon with any other motive;
l don't believe he has ever said word in
his life to anybody whatever with any other
motive"
Rather harsh judgment, yet it was one
that had followed her singular acquaintance
wherever he went. Did ne think of it as he
walked to his lonely home that evening?
Margaret too hurried home, alternating
between two moods. I'VE are both of us
middle aged people. and l was foolish TO be
so yexed. He would have amused papa.
No doubt he is Dr. Richie, as he says"
That was the relenting mood. Then came
the skepticsl one. Il have always preached
to Nellie that she was not to talk tc people
on the cars, no matter how nice they looked
To be sure am a great deal older than she
is, but any thing for consistency. Besides,
don't believe he is DR.. Richie" Finally,
at last CONCLUSION: MRS. Wallace is a
friend of the genuine DR.. Richie; | will get
her to give me q minute description of DIR.
Ritchies countenance, dress and manners.
That will settle the question whether have
been cheated or not" Then the door of her
own home opened to receive her, and the
boisterous welcome of her younger sister
and the more quiet one of her father
speedily put all strangers, pleasant or other
wise, out of her head.
The next morning she walked over to see
her friend, cogitatlng how she could best
get the required Information without letting
her know why 1t was wanted.
Mrs. Wallace met her at the door. The
rooms behind her were brilliantly lighted.
my dear, the very one | most wanted 10
seel You must help me to entertain some
of these people. A dozen or more dropped
in unexpectedly, you know-a kind OF sur
prise party. | was just going to send over
for YOU"
"a surprise party without any surprise
party?" oueried Margaret laughlDgly.
No; really, did not know there would
be single caller to night. Why don't you
come in?''
But dear me, I am not dressed for
party
What difference does that maker
Well. it did not seem to make much, Miss
Rowe thought, as she was meekly LED in like
a lamb to the slaughter, after being Invested
of her outer wraps.
Margaret, let me present DR.. Richie.
Doctor-Miss Rowe, one of my best friends,
as you know; you have often heard me
speak of her,"
Giving them barely time to acknowl-
edge the introduction, she hurried Margaret
off to present half dozen more dear friends.
Indeed, everybody in the room appeared to
be Mrs. Wsllsce's very dear friend. She was
a sunny-hearted creature, who saw no faults
in anybody, and consequently drew every
body to her as honey draws bees. Margaret,
who YVES full of antipathies, regarded this
evenness of sym pathy as one of the wonders
of the world. The two had been school
girls together; in spite OF great unllkeness,
this bond had held them through the mar
risge of the one and the increasing maturity
of the other.
Margaret was not in the least astonished
at DIR. Ritchie's appearance: she had felt
sure he would find some means of making
her acknowledge herself mistaken. Still,
when somewhat later IN the evening he con-
graduated her with the gravest of faces upon
their accidental meeting she did wax
indignant.
He looked down into her skptical eyes.
81 see you didn't believe it was accidental
at all. Yet told you the truth about my
NAME"
No answer at all.
"Miss Rowe, suppose we should both be
unconventional enough to say what We
think?'
"Well them" said Margaret, snatching
recklessly at this license, Il think you tell
the truth in form, but always with another
kind of truth behind it that would change
its effects if known. think you play with
facts as boy plays with marbles"
'And as to this pleanant encounter to-
night. you think"
II think, DIR. Richie, that if you tried to
make child think the world was made of
green cheese, and the child would not be-
lieye you, you would never cease trying
until you succeeded"
After which would lose all interest in
the hypothetical child?'
AFTER which you would lose all interest,
of course"
MY mission in life is then, in fact, cru
SADIE against skepticsm-or against common
sense, you would say? Well, modern opin-
ion pronounces them one and the same.
Miss Rowe, your judgement against me has
the merit OF coinciding with everybody
else's."
Was there ring of pain in his voice? She
could not detect any; it only sounded
smooth, calm, semi satirical. Yet Some
thing surely made her feel like apologizing
| for her words
II don't like to coincide with everybod y
else" she said decidedly.
You would rather stand alone?"
mo; 1 would rather be with the minority
| it is nearest truth"
"Granted; but each minority with truth
in its hands gradually draws to itself 6
majority"
| Then the ever-advancing truth passes
over into the hands OF the new minority
which is instantly formed"
THAT is rather q sse-saw operation" SAID
| Dr. Ritchie laughing. I'm the case We
have been speaking of, the majority would
| be too small to please even you. In fact il
would consist of only one person."