The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-31

and it is an idiotic habit, which please excuse
The passenger nodded her grave head over
this, but still insisted with rapid hand: ut
is not fit thing for young girl to be Keeping
railroad station and living alone lin the building.
Queek! piped Tommy, giving himself flrt
to meet Camilas fixed gaze, while he worked his
knobbed horns backward and forward as II the
situation had long been one of deep concern to
him.
Camillas pencil replied with dash, "There
may be two opinions about that,
Certainly" was granted by the gold pencil. r.,
SOothed by this admission. Camillas pencil
then placidly enough continued; 81 don't have
to apologize to anybody and the neighbors about
here all know me- But you are stranger, and
it seems queer toyou. Mother is buried just the
other side of the hill She had to be taken care
of when we lost our home, and the president Of
this road was so kind to u.s. He was papa's
friend He gave me this position, and always
takes an interest in my having my reports right,
and can keep it long as Iplease. We brought
what furniture we had left to this place, and
he built more rooms. That's my where |
put your things The other was mothers 1t
was the best chance had and she never suffered
want. as she might have done if | had tried
something else"
Delivering up the tablets at that point she
laid her head down beside her plate, secretly
passed her fist beneath both eyes, and looked up
quite self-controlled While her guest was read
ing and replying she inquired, on the back of an
envelope,
Wont you have some more teal"
The passenger waved her thanks and refusal.
Or cake, anythingl" bulletiEed Camilla.
The passenger repeated her signals, and
handed back the tablets wherein was expressed
her opinion: 'You ought to have a good hus-
band"
The following silent conversation then took
place, while tree limbs cracked outside, and the
caves overlooked in cataracts.
Camilla began it, flushing hotly
Perhaps you are a travelling agent for good
husbands
Il am
''Cheep!T spoke out Jasper, in tone like shrill
astonshment.
Then perhaps can buy one of you by sam
Pile That's practical and business-like. But
don't want one who is ruled by his mother
why do you object to the mother} He would
make very poor husband if he had never been
ruled by his mother. You have had a sweetheart
and quarTeled with him.
''Creak /" uttered Tommy, making galyanic
spring toward the mndreading guest.
'Oh no; he quarreled with me-and every
thing concerning me. He wasn't in harmony
with my environments. He was rich and high
minded"
Don't you think girls are very foolish and
headstrong about their independence in these
days"
mo. maam, don't"
Isn't it waste for you to be sweeping out
this railroad station when you might be making
his home happyl"
His mother can make his home happy"
Maybe not Maybe his heart is so set on you
that her strict government avails nothing.
Maybe in fact he governs his mother with his
Wishes instead of his mother governing him"
Il hope he does I'd rather he'd tyrannize
over her than over me-
"Cheep!' broke out Dinkum, in honest re-
proach
so he has other faults7"
''Oh, yes. For one thing his names Smith"
The passenger uttered that sound which Is best
described as a snort and wrote rapidly in retort
And very good nameit is, You will find it in
every honorable position. So you don't want
him at alll"
No; you may keep him"
Cheep!' uttered the three crckets in concert,
as if they had actually read every stroke of the
pencils.
Hush, children" exclaimed Camilla; ''what
do you know about lovers and troubled She'll
let me alone now; and unless you blab all I've
told you here by ourselves she'll never guess
what dreadful thinking keep up"
$50 you are determined not to have Mr.
Smith, the tablet conversation went on.
Positively" AS Camilla wrote she felt a
shiver running between her shoulders Ali the
leaves Of her familiar woods must be weighted
with water, and the hoary moss-cups and reach
ing roots lost in frozen rain. If it were always
late spring, budding, promising, stimulating ones
own blood, life would not look so melancholy and
long.
perhaps the Objectionable mother who rules
Mr. Smith may drop off some day"
II don't think she will She looks so healthy"
Have you ever seen herN
81 have seen her picture"
''What was she like2"
'She looked very much like y0Ip
Surely not Ike me! Remember am only
the crickets q 2amUvy5., who has come to visit
them, and nos such cry lively company that
can count n ~, icing called cross"
kae Y all the timer exclaimed Camilla,
ai9eo and you only did it to overhear what
5a;H 70 myself"
Confessed" said the elder lady, making her
N0,.a heard for the first time. and q low solid
pleasant voiceit was evidently trained through
many years to control and make the most of
itself
''And you said he was coming here in an hour
1t cant be to see me. haven't anything differ
emit to say"
'He sent me ahead to make peace" continued
the elder lady, because it appears to you that /
began the war. My dear child, you have no son.
When you have you may be eXacting in the mat
ter of his marriage. l have my odd impulses,
as the way in which came here proves; but
usually sober conviction rules me. My sober
conviction in this case is that my son is deter
mined to have you and you and will have to
make the best of it, Don't you think you can
take me as a mother-in-law!F
Camilla extended her hands around the cage of
crickets, drew her fingers across the wires, but
said nothing.
Il did not know what nice little woman YOU
were, said the elder lady, looking at her watch,
NOR what poor substitute you have for fam
lily in that cage of crickets.
"They are perfectly tame and loving" burst
out Camilla"
so is my son. Poor lonely little girl My
heart ached the moment came in here. l was
q lonely woman myself once"
Camilla pressed her palm and fingers against
her eyes.
You shan't make me cry" she uttered de-
family. Tin not crying woman if | only keep
the food gates shut
Il am a crying woman said the elder woman,
taking ont her handkerchief. and turning dark
about the eyes. And came here to have good
sob over your bereayements and my own old
folly"
She rose from her chair, came over and knelt
by Camilla. and the two elapsed each other in an
EN- brace, and made the room resonant with
sounds the crickets might have been amazed to
hear, had not several solos of the same kind been
delivered in that room before
There! that's enough" exclaimed Camilla.
rubbing her wet Eyeglasses. IF don't shut up