The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-24


Jack own honest heart was still and cold.
Leslie Grahame is looking at it also, and
somehow the sight nerves him to the next
words he has to say.
ut is long time since we met, is it not?
was with poor Jack when he bought that
ring, and few days later we had orders for
India, and so I missed the wedding But
did not forget my old friend or his bride
nor" he adds, more gently, "did forget you
when sadder news reached me. Poor Jack!
he says, dreamily. his thoughts busy with
! the boy friend of his youth, and in manner
forgetting that he was speaking to that
friends widow; so young, so open-hearted
| and generous"
CAN that and more" she said quickly; she
was too good for this cold hard world All
me! to think that Jack, who was so strong,
should have been taken, and little me left to
! face life alone!'
You have your child" Unconsciously
his tone has grown little stern again.
Darling Queenie Yes. But it is dull
sometimes, and one wants some one to con-
| sult-to lean on"
And you think to find that someone in
Reginald Vane?'
He is sorry the next moment to have
burted out the words, but it is too late to re-
call them. She flashes a glance at him, and
he meets it steadily expecting to be assaled
with torrent of feminine wrath but is
taken aback at meeting instead sudden
burst CT tears.
Mrs. Fairfax-what a brute I am! For
give me. | have lived so much alone that l
have fallen into dreadful habit of speaking
my thoughts aloud"
But how came you to have such
thoughts3'
Gould 1 helpit? Only last night I heard
your names coupled together by the voice of
common gossip, and to-day have L not seen
some confirmation of the report? And /
would not presume to find fault, though
was once not only Jacks friend but almost a
rough elder brother to you i'll the forgotten
days of long ago"
Not forgotten" murmurs a stifed voice.
''only | wondered why you never came to
see me-"
''IJ was best not. I. Jack loved and
trusted me-his mentor, as he used to call
me, poor boy! But now-now, Nina 1 can
not but think of the old days when 1 see
you aboutto take an irretrievable step with
one whom | cannot think worthy"
You are jealous! Our grave Colonel ac-
tuallY cOndescending to such a weakness
And pray may ask. what makes you think
Sir Reginald Vane unworthy-I don't say of
little me-but of any good thing the world
can bestow?'
His dishonorable conduct toward another
woman. Forgive me, Nina-heaven knows
L would sooner bite my tongue out than say
it-but he is playing double part in this;
making up to on for your fortune, while
his heart-what heart he has to give-belongs
to Miss Elliott. | saw him by her side last
night. 1 watched the looks and signs that
passed between them, and l speak solemn
truth when say that believe he has won
that poor girls affections, and that in sober
earnest he cares for her. And now that /
have had my say, and brought cloud over
the face have always connected with heav-
ems sunshine l will go my way; only asking
that, as time softens your anger you will
try to think a little kindly of me. Here is
your landing place"
And lie pulls the boat into the tiny creek,
and resting on his oars, waits for her to
spring ashore and give him his final gesture
of dismissal. But Nina does not move Her
head is bent down, and so oyershadowed by
her hat that he cannot read the expression
of the faintly-hushed face
1t seems ages to him before the silence is
broken. AT last-"Did you always think me
He is startled and taken unawares by the
appealing tone. Fain would he answer
reassuring negative, but memories of the old
days again rise before his mind-visions of
the sweet little playmate grown suddenly
into an eXacting, vain piece of womanhood
of poor Jacks alternate rapture and de-
SPAR in the days of his brief, ill-considered
courtship-and truth, the guiding star of
Leslie Grahame's nature, compels him to
answer:
II don't think you could help it. Some
women are formed to be the torment of
every man who comes near them. 1t was
your nature to be sweet and lovable."
"And now have grown older and harder
and care only for admiration, so that could
stoop to pick up a heart that belongs of right
to another woman. Oh, Leslie! you thought
this!''
"By heaven, did you injustice" cries the
Colonel, in burst of self-reproach. 1--WE
been insulting you all this time, and you
have borne it like an angel, just as you used
II 1 1 .l,,-r ,l,A,1 T
nerly boy, and tyrannized over you like the
ruffan | was"
"And 1 liked you through it ALL" This is
spoken very softly.
Nina. Nina, do not drive me mad, You
can do it-you always could went away
years ago because 1 knew you cared for
Jack"
"You did?"
"Was not right? You would never have
chosen me-the grave, stern Scotchman, fiji
teen years your senior, in preference to that
bright Sunny-hearted lad. And now don't
think, dear, that have come back to harass
YOU. | would not have seen you to-day but
that could not bear to leave you unwarned
of the gossip afoat. But now l know that
YOUR woman's wit and your own brave little
heart will prove your best defense. Goodbye.
Nina Say once that you forgive me, as you
used long ago."
"Lesliei"
1t is we'll that the dropping branches of a
weeping willow have made little secluded
bower of the landing place; well, too, that
the gardener, coming down to moor the boat
does not arrive minute sooner or his aston
ished eyes. might have seen what Queenie
afterward mysteriously reports. My mann
ME crying, and Colonel Grahame comfort
ing her, as mammie does me when tum BILE
down, holding her head on his shoulder and
strokng her hair
For Leslie Grahame's long-repressed tale
of love has been spoken at last and the little
playfellow of early days-the prize which he
gave up in bitter self-denial to his boy friend
has whispered to him the Yes which,
had he been more far-sighted. might have
sheen spoken long ago, and have spared him
years of self-infficted exile.