The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-05
FORTUNES WHEEL.



| answering some question: but her mind has EVIL
| IDENTIFY wandered from it and is lost in sad
| labyrinths of its own creation. She is sitting
amid the scented clover-a great grove of pine
trees making fragrant background-and has
| taken her knees into her embrace. Her large
earnest eyes are full of an intensity almost ter
rible in one so young and fragile, and are fixed
upon the break in the view through which the
ocean can be seen, as it lies moaning far down
1 below.
In her lap heap of dying roses are emitting
the sweetest perfume. Halfforgotten they are
| lying there, though plucked an hour agone to
| adorn the quaint old Wedgewood jars in the
! drawingroom.
''That 1 love you" says the young man, who
| is stretched at her feet upon the grass, gazing
| into her preoccupied face with a curious intent
| ness. Evidently his prolonged stare distresses
| her; she flushes decately and turns her head
away.
'Let us talk of somethnlz else" she says, with
a poor attempt at lghtness.
! afterwards, if you will. But first must get
to the root of your mysterious speech" returns
| he shifting his position so to bring his eyes
| again to bear upon her averted face. "You have
almost told me that you don't believe in my love
for you"
Not quite that
| Yes, quite that, as it seems to me. L want
| you to tell me why"
"How can l? Even to myself an explanation
| would be difficult; and to you She hest
| tates her head Is bent now; her slender fingers
| are toying nervously with the roses i'll her lap;
! the pale flush Of moment since has deepened
4 into q burning crimson. Still ptilessly he keeps
his eyes upon her face, as though her childish
confusion and distress afford him some inward
amusement. With a persistence that amounts
to cruelty he watches each variation of her mo
bile features, finding in thus studying her trans
parent mind selfish pleasure not to be forgone
go on" he says, evenly. ''ro me-
"Why will you pursue the subject| she asks,
| tremuously, raising her large eyes to his for
| moment
Because wish it" returns he, still smiling:
| Under the SMILE however, there is touch Of
mastery beneath which she moves uneasily.
eff you will have it, then she says, ''it is this;
| there are moments when l think you love me;
there are moments when seem to know it-but
| there many moments when | doubt your
| power to be faithful"
"He throws himself back on the grass and
| laughs aloud, Perhaps he has not seen the
| agony on her young face or the wistful longing
to be contradcted in her beautiful eyes.
| What baby you are, Vera! And so you
| think, with the little wisdom bred in your pretty
| head in this old-fashioned grange-or borrowed
from the village down below-you can read me
| through and through and sift my character with
| ease. Wei! think so still"
voc suG de t3oqsPt It's trS Of she in low
''Tell me rather that my doubt is false"
"a taste of punishment will do you good re-
| torts he, smiling still and pinching her little
| shell Of an ear in a gay fashion. ''Hut! Let us
now speak of that something else you We're so
| eager for while ago"
| A sudden, curious flash lights her eyes-her
noshils date. 1t is but momentary thing,
and then is gone.
'Well, what shall it be aboutP she says,
1 1-N,1xr
| you, of course; what other subject do care
for!' said Stainer quickly. Perhaps he has seen
that sudden fash.
You don't ask me what I care for says the
| girl slowly her manner still little strange
| 'Because-was L wrOng!-I believed l would
be your first thought, as you are mine! And,
| surely you should take precedence i'll our discus
sions.."
Her new born anger dies. heavenly express
sion comes to her soft face as she turns 1t upon
him:
ITO think you must leave me this very even
| ing" she says with tears in her eyes.
Only for little time"
| You are glad to go back to your LondonF-
| with side glance at nm tull OF suppressed re
proach
| Il can be glad OF nothing that takes me away
| from you" There is a real feeling IN his hand
| some face as he says this. you know that, at
| least, vera
For answer She holds out one hand to him,
| which he kisses lovingly; and still holding it,
| drags himself even nearer to her over the sway
| ing grass.
STILL you love the town." she says Jeal-
| ously; - -,
we'll like it.
Yet when your uncle over there" pointing
/ vaguely IN the direction OF some wooded lands
| on her left dies you VIII have to live down
here most OF your life"
II shall nave you then, says Stalner.
! "Ah! yes But if you prefer the town? What
a ply 1t IS COZ could not go there with you a.
1T wouldn't suit you" says Major Stainer
| slowly: ~ gu are only a little vloiet-the more
| charming TO me,-hastllyI' that, put you
would rear feel yourself lost In that big world
| you SPEAK o. go
| = Not lost, with YOU says vera, uncertainty.
SomehQw hef great eyes resting on nun as they