The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-12

that house that l might discover her in the act
OF taking milk from the milkman, or whlsklng
a market basket. through the back gate. Ideal
faces of Leda lowered before my eyes. She did
well to have NEUROLOGICAL name. Frequently,
while talking with her father, | led our talk up
to her. He always smiled, and said she was
good girl they were all good girls, And he said
no further. Naturally | could not expect him to
share my fervor in the pursuit of Leda.
1t became an actual pursuit The literature
emanatlng from my pen at that time bore her
Unit and impress. ! dealt in vague and shadowy
things, and felt myself shaken with rapture over
keatss "Endymion." 1t seemed healthy and
delicious phase of life to be forever painting the
invisible to myself 1t was less gross an adora-
ton than that expressed in kisses and VOWS.
But experience hurried me on, and l came to
Coilegetown the third time on purpose to see the
invisible. The friends who entertained me were
going that very evening to Mary Honors den,
where an informal knot would discuss Schiller,
and they took me along. | had my views about
Schiller, but also had views respecting the
Carew girls. Their father was there. Miss
Clara was there laughing and embroidering;
Psyche and Bess and the little one were there,
with their fingers in their lesson books, dtheir
minds and faces in a receptive state for the con
versatiOnal grain which might be dropped. They
received me as they always did. fire burned
in the CRATE, taking the chill off the autumn
evening, and before Schiller came upon the rug
for discussion l asked for Mary Honor's invisible
sister.
Oi 1eud NOuiullI COME over; ftplleu mary
Honor, as matter of course. you didn't ex-
pect to see herln
II never expect to see her" replied
Why certainly not, said Mary Honor, as if
she felt capable OF guarding the invisible gem in
Il don't believe there is any Leda, said I,
despondently. She began to laugh, and told the
others.
Because we have left her at home aloner in
quired Psyche. 'She doesn't mind
I -nY1ix-a haa,,
planned, half seriously, bracing my back against
the end of the mantel How can be certain
that objects exist which have never appeared to
me through any of my senses, even on the evil
dence of such reliable people as youp
THE testimony of ones senses cannot always
be relied on" chuckled their father.
But would like to give mine chance, said
|, pursuing the subject with unconcealed stub
borness.
"Then go over to the house and see Leda,"
exclaimed Bess "If you just knock at the front
door, she won't come, because she knows we're
all out. But if you go to the long side window
andrap she'll think it's one of the girls run back
for something we forgot. He thinks there isn't
any Ledaw gggled Bess, aside to Psyche.
1t struck my fancy so that started at the
word.
But won't she be frightened~ paused to in
quire, holding my hat in both hands, and feeling
errand L was undertaking.
Not at all" said Mary Honor, looking
amused. You won't see Leda'
left the door saying that believed her
There were plenty of stars overhead, but no
moon The street lamps bloomed in yellow ra
dance at irregular intervals, and on the dusty
sidewalk the fallen leaves crisped under my feet.
had but a few steps to go, and / traversed
them impetuously, opened the Carew gate, went
to the long side window and raped. There was
dog barking beyond the woods which inclose
Wabash College, The September air was pleas
ant around me, with just a breath of leaf smoke
in it, and far down the street 1 saw some little
figures capering around a bonfire of proportion
ate dimensions. The window at which l raped
was curtained with white and lamp burned
within. l stood in the dim shine which it spread
upon the ground, and watched for face or a
shadow. Not even shadow rewarded me, Uut
heard some one move and tapped again.
rs that you, Mary Honor" inquired voice
at the side of the curtain She had then become
a voice.
I told her who was, and she said "Ohl' with
a little catch of the breath, which | heard dis
tinctly
Nothing has happened to father" she asked;
upon which envied father. and told her l was
the only one to whom anything had happened.
And what is the matter with youl" inquired
the voice of the invisible
paused and thought of Romeo under the bal
cony and his sudden infatuation seemed most
natural of all the things upon the earth
Are you Ledalo
"Of course l am dal"-interrogatively as if
Slle wondered what else cOuId nave 10 say.
The sound of your voice convinces me you
are not one of the others slipped back to mock
me. What pity such low, delicious voice
should go about the world in an invisible BODY
What pity young gentleman should stand
so long outside, neglecting to inquire where he
can find the rest of the girls and fathern
Il don't want the rest of the girls and father
| just came from them If it is possible, l want
to find you What can do to get sight of
mo F1t11ap ift1llN hut
you"
There was silence within She was probably
holding her breath with alarm at my unusual
conduct While l knew that my actions must
seem very cratic to her, felt that could not
act differently.
IF you only saw me, pleaded, you would
understand"
II have seen you a great many times" said
Leda. u am quite well acquainted with YOU
Now how cruel that is to wrap yourself in
clouds, and put me at the mercy of your light
ming. How did you like my looksln
WELL you're too brown for fair praise, said
Leda, as if the quotation came aptly to her after
searching for the truth.
Did you get the papers I sent markedl7
''1e s, and read them all by myself"
1t gave me spasm of delight to think we had
one slight secret between u.s.
Thank you, breathed
81 thought the rest of the girls would laugh at
them"
But you didn't Taught How can you amuse
yourself at me when | am in such dreadful earn
est! have come miles to see you, and all you
have to do is to draw that curtain. The window
is open. | could push the curtain aside myself
but beg you to do it. Look how it trembles in
the wind, as if shaken with the breath of cur
destiny"
"Oh fiddlesticks~ said Leda, allowing bub-
bic of laughter to come around the window-frame
to my waiting-ear. She was but few inches
from me, with the wall between us.
II love you" shot back, leaning my cheek
against the frame. "And shall stay right here
until you either show me your face or drive me
away
''What sort of man are your she exclaimed
after pause.
You ought to know. You have seen me-"
'Lorenzo or Mercutio!'
''Well, in one respect, Mercuto. For the hurt
have got is not as deep as a well nor as wide as
a church door; but it's enough"
II guess you'd better so away said Leda
withdraw my face from the window and