The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-04


A solemn nod from Toots.
"But he wasn't. He was only supercil-
ious peacock. What's that, you ask? Well,
that's peacock who thinks himself better
than Others. Come now. Mammals gone
on; We'll be late. Let's have race. See
which will get to her first"
Toots's thin legs spin over the ground and
her mass of brown curls floats out on the
wind as she flies along fairly shreking with
excitement Molly is not much better in
point of dignity, for she gathers up her white
skirt in one hand and gives her big hat an
excited push on the back of her head.
Suddenly they turned a sharp corner.
Heavens and earth!'' calculates Molly, as
she sees Irma standing, gracefully composed,
talking to Peabody.
''Oh, Aunt Molly, there it is" screams
Toots, "the peacock, the silious peacock"
"Toots, be quiet" commands that untor-
tunate relative, cold chills running up and
down her back
'Toots, come here" implores Mrs. Ran
dolph, the horrors OF the situation coming in
upon her. But Toots in all her five years OF
existence has never known what it is to
mind anyone; she rushes up to Mr.. Pea
body like a small whrlwind. There she
pauses, and begins grave investigation.
us you" she says, with her head on one
SIDE like an impairment little sparrow, lis
you really silious peacock
"A what?" repeats Peabody, naturally
somewhat astonished, looking down on the
small object in front of him. Molly gives
gasp of horror. In another second that
wretched child will say. aunt Molly said
So" Get out of it she must.
AS she walks away her prophecies come
true. She hears shrill, childish treble rs
you-Aunt Molly said so-a silious pea
cock?p
ALI" she hears him answer, Aunt Molly
says I'm peacock. But don't quite grasp
the adjective"
'Never mind the adjective" thinks Mol
ly, grlmly; and then she wonders if there be
corner in this wretched island where she
can hide from that man; for, as to ever look
ing him in the face again. she never can.
However, she need not trouble herself about
that. He will probably turn his back upon
her before she has the chance. She seeks
refuge in the dining-room which is begin
ming to fill with the crowd of hungry pedes
TRANS. By-and-by in sail Irma and Mr.. Pea
body. Toots has appeared. "Irma hiss
probably garroted her, thinks Molly, with
great satisfaction. They seem to be in the
best of spirits. As they approach Molly, to
her horror she hears Mr.. Peabody say: "If
you'll allow me, Mrs. Randolph, I'll take
this vacant seat next to Miss Randolph"
is he going to speak of or mention it?' she
thinks, in an agony.
Peabody seemingly takes no notice of the
wretched blushing little being at his side, at
least for some minutes Poor little soul,
lie bHlHkS, now WretCn9Q Sne is making
herself She shall call me whole zoologi-
cal garden if she only won't look like that"
So, half in fun, half in earnest, he leans
over her with, 81 don't mind bit; indeed l
don't. dare say you're right; we men are
wretched creatures" He had funny STAG
cato way of speaking which in the morn
ing Molly had decided to be particularly
disagreable. Strange it doesn't seem so now!
Molly's spirits return. "Its certainly very
nice in him." she thinks mot to be sulky.'
Really" says she. laughing and looking a
little bit in earnest through it all; do You
know think it very nice of you. 1 should
mind, immensely, if you called me names,
giving him a shy glance from under her long
lashes.
Perish the thought You suggest an i'm
possibility" he retorts.
How delightful" exclaims Molly, cheer
fully. Perhaps may like you then"
"Will you two people eaty your dinner in
terrupts Mrs. Randolph who has been watch
ing this proceeding with the utmost satisfac-
| ton. And she saws to herself; perhaps
surprising if-after all. 1t would be a cap
ital thing"
But every Paradise has its serpent The
serpent at Bar Harbor turns up in the per-
son of Mrs Crosby, widow, irreproachable
In family, but envious, malicious, gossiping
and with pale, detected daughter thirty
years old. Mrs, Randolph hears of this ar
rival with CONSERVATION She rushes up to
Molly, who is sitting on the piazza by
dining-room window, chatting with Peabody
"Our good times over" she cries. Mrs
Crosby is here, and Maria's with her. and by
tomorrow none of rs will have any character
left" Peabody looks CONSERVATION itself
Molly cries: 1.-The slanderous old tabbv"
She had hardly spoken when voice from
behind the dining-room blind cries: maria
my dear, will you close that window? The
outside clatter is so tiresome." And they
knew they had been overheard. Gracious
heaven" cries Mrs Randolph; she's there
and listening!"
Nothing followed this catastrophe, how
ever, for many days, and Mrs. Randolph be-
gan to think they had not been overheard
| Peabody even went so far as to begin to pay
court to Mrs. Crosby hoping to cut her
| fangs, if not to propitiate her. He had been
talking TO her one day, when he saw Molly
in front of the piazza, without hat or para
sol, By this time he and she had grown
| quite intimate Mrs. Randolph, like wise
woman, looking on and saying nothing
They had ridden, walked, and boated to-
| gether. and had sat for hours side by side on
the rocks watching the sea, off to the SOUTH
He now rushed forth with almost ar air of
| proprietorship.
"How can you" he said to Molly, "stand
out here, in that way in the heat? A nut
brown maid is one thing, but a Sioux, or a
| Cherokee"
Are two" interrupts Molly, gayly "It's
a hopeless case, Mr.. Peabody" and she holds
out two little brown hands for his inspec-
ton, and then looks up into his face with
laughing eyes. Are you ashamed of me?'
Il wish you would let me tell you how l
do feel toward YOU" he whispers, impetu-
ously, and in an accent he has never dared
to use before Molly bushes furousy
She is utterly taken aback. She had never
thought of this. What does he mean? Oh,
perhaps he means nothing. She is saved a
reply by the approach of Mrs. Randolph.
| Peabody is his usual coolmannered, we'll
bred self in moment. "Ah, Mrs. Randolph"
he says 81 am the bearer of flag of truce
from her majesty, Mrs Crosby. She wants
to know if you have forgotten her, and if
you won't bring up Miss Randolph to talk to
| her"