The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-30
AN ACT OF JUSTICE.

| wonder If I'm near my destinations
Pausing. the soIiloquizer transfers his satchel
from his right hand to his left, while with his
handkerchief he wipes his brow.
| Just then. CHANGING to glance over the low
stone wall beside him, he sees a charming pic
ture.
Seated upon the dashed grass, beneath the
shade of an old tree, is a young girl, busily
wreathing her straw hat with roses.
A great cluster nestles at the throat of her
cambria dress, while another fastens her belt
The delicate pink harmonizes with the tints of
her own perfect complexion, while wound about
| her small head are wreath of soft braids whose
| pnrely golden hue would make a society girl
sick with envy
After gazing until he is satisfied the stranger
coughs gently but audibly.
| AS the girl looks up and sees that she is OBJ
! served she springs to her feet
| II beg your pardon for alarming you" the
young man hastens to say. Can you direct me
! to Brierwood Farml l was told that it was a
couple Of miles from the station, and as have
! been walking some time, thought that must
| be near it,"
A charming smile broke over the lovely face as
| the girl, recovering her self-possession, answers
| him with the welcome announcement:
You thought rightly, sir. This is Brierwood
| Farm"
| With a light spring the young man clears the
! fence, and comes to her side.
| II must confess that L am very glad. 1t is
! the essence of GOODNESS and shadow here, but
| out upon the open road it is scorchingly hot. Is
Mr.. Arnold at homer
mo, sir, but my uncle is"
AS they walked together to the house, under
| the welcome shade of the green trees, the
| stranger says, srnilingy
"If Mrs. Arnold is your aunt, why, then, we
4 TnT1cfh a Nv 30
! and my father is related to Mr. Arnold"
Il am Rose May, the niece of Mr. Arnolds
wife, the girl replies as frankly.
appropriately named" the young man says
pleasantly, with significant glance at the
| flowers that adorn so lavishly his companions
| simple toilette. II hope you will allow me the
friendly privileges of cousin. even if we cannot
claim the relationship through ties Of blood"
| Have you never been to the farm beforef
| Rose asks.
Yes, once, when I was a little chap of five
years But that's long time ago.
| ut must be, Rose answered demurely.
By this time they are at the farm-h door.
which stands Hospitality open, and ushering
their visitor into the sitting room, Rose hastens
! to apDrise her aunt of the arrival
| "a perfect little jewell How she will shine
| in the golden setting that awaits her, and how
| glad am that fell in with mothers viewsw
| Rupert Arnold thinks as he answers her smile
and listens until the last echo of her light step
| dies away.
II am on my summer vacation, and remem-
| bering that my father had cousins out this way.
| | thought l would look them up. He was speak
| ing of your husband the other day, and lament
! ing that his busy life prevented him from keep
| ing track of his relatives" Rupert explains
| later.
The cordially of his reception leaves him
nothing to desire and when Farmer Arnold
urges him to spend the remaining weeks of
his vacation at Brierwood Farm he willingly as
| sented.
! OF course, in that time his acquaintance with
| Rose makes rapid progress, and Rupert soon fat
ters himself that he has sounded the height and
! depth of her simple mind.
Her beauty is of kind that could never
| pall-that he acknowledges; but to the habitue
| of society, the absolute truth and candor of her
| character after the first cease to interest.
However, do not fear, mother dear, that
am going to spiol your plans Although must
confess that after the girls of our set. this
| country maidens attractions pale, still hun
dred thousand is not to be picked up every day,
| and, if possible, / do not mean the tidy little
1 sum to go to any other than-your dutitul
son. RUPERT"
Such is the conclusion of an epistle Rupert
dispatches to his mother during his stay at the
| farm, and which brings smile to the re-
ceivers face of mingled amusement and gratii-
catiou
But Rose is not so transparent as Rupert
deems her to be, and has already formed her
own opinion of the visitor who is so pronounced
| in his admiration of herself and who has so
eagerly awaited himself of the privilege tacitly
|
cousin
She by no means dislike him; his yivacity and
mpanionableness would preclude that but she
gauges rightly the vanity and shalowness of
his character and when she mentally compares
him to some one else who towers as high above
him in mental attributes as he does in stature,
! could Rupert read the verdict, chagrin would
mark him for his own AS it is, however, he
leaves the farm with his dissatisfaction unin-
| paired.
| IA season in town to complete what these two
| weeks have begun, and Rupert, old fellow, your
| futures assured. No more need to quail before
( the governors eyes when the dues come pour
ing in! AS to fun and freedom, Benedict is as
| much his own master as bachelor if he chooses
| to be-
Such are the thoughts that fill the young
mans mind as the train bears him upon his
! homeward journey.
Two months 90 by and then two letters come
to Brerwood Farm, one addressed to Mr.. Arnold,
They are both from Mrs Arnold Rupert's
| mother, aud contain urgent invitation for
Rose to visit her unele's cousin in their city
| home
! The letters are worded with such graceful tact
and such warm cordiality, that even had the
wish to say no been strong. it would have been
difficult to do so,
4 would you like to 60, Kosebud, to see with
your own eyes what the wonderful city is like?r
Roses eyes fairly shone.
! Indeed would she cries.
I -'And John-Nshat does he sayg" the old man
! asks, with glance IN the ulfectlon or the tall
! young man, who leaning against the mantel-
piece, is gazing with world of ardent tender
ness and admiration at the fairly golden7hared
girl, whose animated face turns to him at her
uncles query.
That shall be glad for Rosebud TO have a
chance to see the gay world and its doings before
| she settles down into tho humdrum existence of
| a farmers wife" ne says, heartily.
| And so IL is settled; and Rose departs for a
! three months visit to the Arnolds's home. At
! first the dazzling gaiety and constant round of
pleasure bewilder and almost frighten the little
country girl.
But she soon learns to take everything as
matter of course, and to enter into and enjoy
| it all.
Society dearly loves Notwithstanding
] naval nd ont of the ord narv-and were RoSa