The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-16
\ HOUSE HUNTERS RETRIEVE.
Miss Frank Mccarthy in Harper's Bazaar.

OoctOr, betty, tnat we nave concluded not 10
take his house for another year. 1t is a great
blow to me, Betty. My pecuniary arrange
ments with the Doctor have been very adj
vahtageous and strict economy in domestic
matters is highly important with us just
now. The little money we had when your
papa died is sadly diminished Fred's educa-
ton has cost so much, and it is so expensive
to dress and educate Blanche suitably to her
style and beauty. l had hoped was al
most certain"
Here mamma began to cry. 1 felt very
sorry for her. She suffered in her way as
much as she made me suffer in mine.
| We'll get another house, mamma" I said,
hoping to ward off the topic that 1 knew
mamma was dying to talk about but nothing
would do
cts not the house I'm dissatisfied with"
said my poor mother; it's DR.. Steele, the
| owner of it, of whom have cause TO COM
| plain"
Il think you have misunderstood the Doc
tors old-fashoned politeness, mamma. 1t is
I always, perhaps, too poin ted"
Altogether too pointed, so far as your sis
ter is concerned" said mamma. He as
much as told me he was in love with her
down at the beach last summer. Don't you
remember the day he invited US all to go,
|
| leave the house with the new servants that
he talked about it all the way down in the
train, and appeared to be very sorry that
your domestic duties were so engrossing2
You must acknowledge, Betty, that he has
| been very kind to you"
81 do acknowledge it, very gratefully, in
deed, mamma"
And them continued mamma "he got
! Fred that situation in the bank. why, no
man could have been more pronounced in
| his attentions to the family of the young
| lady he professed to admire and straws
show which way the wind blows; but it
would not be so humliating if he had not
| come right out and told me that he cared for
| her. A man has no right--a man in his posi-
| tion-to lead a mother to believe that he is
about to propose for her daughters hand,
| and then seem to forget all that he has said.
I remember his very words, Betty. Your
sister had started down to the waters edge,
| and the Doctor sat upon the seat beside me,
| following her with his eyes and poking his
cane into the sand. Madam, said he, speak
| ing very deliberately, as q man does when he
has made up his mind I must tell you that
| had motive in asking you and your
daughters to share my holiday at the beach.
l am very much interested in your daugh-
| ter Aud here Blanche came strolling back
| again, looking SO lovely that l thought the
! best thing could do would be to leave them
together. I made an excuse to go back to
| the hotel, and supposed that when l returned
| all would be settled. but from that day to
| this he has never opened the subject again
| either to Blanche or to me. Your sister is
| young and thoughtless, and accepts his atten-
| tons as she does those of evervb body by
whom she is admired, but parent is bound
| to look at the matter in a more serious light"
"Blanche don't care a fig for him, NAM
| ma" | said
| ferred himself" said mamma "She has
owned to me that she might be brought to
| view the matter in favorable light"
"Oh, mamma" / said, jumping off my
chair in heat of modification and impa-
| thence, "do let's get out of his house as soon
as we can Pill tell him we're going to move,
| and 90 out house hunting this very day"
YES do, Betty" said my mother "and
watch him-see il he is surprised and vexed.
And Betty, my child you have such plain
old-fashioned way, you seem so much better
than you really are, and the Doctor and you
have always been such good friends, he may
confide to you"
Excuse me- mamma" said, running to
the door. "Pm sure l hear the vegetable
man, and must see about luncheon before
| CO."
Away I ran down the stairs as fast as I
could go, and raped upon the door of the
| Doctors study.
| He opened the door, and already had his
| hat in his hand and and his overcoat on his
arm. He put both of them aside, and with
|
open fire.
"For the air is chill, Miss Betty" he said,
| though we are getting on toward April.
believe"
Yes" said. and rushed immediately into
| the subject in hand. II will not detain you.
Doctor, must tell you that mamma has
concluded to move. l am going out house
hunting to-day"
Mamma ought to have been there, for if
ever surprise amounting to CONSERVATION
was depicted anywhere, it was painted on the
| Doctors face at that moment.
| 'House-huntng!" he cried ''What the
| the deuce would you do such an insane thing
as that for? Novel What does your mother
want now? Papering? painting2 kalsomn-
| ing? a hanging garden on the roof? a calci-
nm light in the hallY a steam calliope in
| the parlor? Tell me what she wants, and if
it's possible to accomplish it without the aid
| of Aladdn's lamp it shall be done"
| How could l saw that she wanted him to
marry my sister Blanche? 1t made me burn
from the crown of my head to the soles of
| my feet to remember tile conversation be-
| tween mamma and me.
''You are very generous, Doctor" l said,
"but my mother wants to move, Don't you
know that women are changeable sometimes,
and get tired of one placer
| "And the one party2 he re1oined--"the
one old fossil who began to hope that he
might settle down to certain surroundings
| and be happy? Are you one of those women.
Miss Betty? Do you want to leave your land
| iord?''
knew that 1t was nothing but a generous
| pity for my condition of mind and body that
made him look upon me with such sweet
| comparison. He threw his gloves aside, and
took both my hands in his own. That was
his unfortunate manner, his all too friendly
| way, so easily misunderstood, as / tried to
| persuade my mother. If it had been my
| beautiful sister instead of my plain little
| self, it might have been thought that the
consummation to mammals ambition was
| about to be reached.
"You look already so tiredl' he said. "Sit
down here in the easy chair and tell me what