The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-02
4 STRANGE STORY.

s'Jaclxw "WellW THAT is pretty little
island down off Hamish" yes "Just the
spot to while away few days this abominable
weather.
'Y-e-s, but you see have to 60 to Hale"
'The--p It was abominable weather; it was
to me an effort to drawl the words, but Penrayen
was crisp enough I'll beg your pardon he
broke off barely; the fact is, l am disappointed
Jack. How long will it take you to go to Hale
and backY7
1 was not in laughing mood, but, despite
me, laugh broke from my lips.
THAT depends, Pen-that depends 1t is
easy enough to go to Hale, but the getting back
rather the way may come back-is what
troubles me just now. But you can judge, PEN
raven
Ipulled the odious scrap Of paper from my
pocket and tossed it over to him.
tNIy Dear JacI-Mabel Grant is again at Hale. For
the last time beg you to go and call on her. You
are not obliged to make love to her; though If you
only couldJack, Jack, think of a steady million and
by the way I hear she caught glimpse Of you at
Hamish and went mad in love with you. Oh, Jack
still hopeful sister. RAY"
He read it, he dropped it, and he sat and
| looked at me.
| 81 suppose am in for it. Pen. If really be
lieved this note the last of Ray, would not take
| a step to Hale. But know it is one simply of
a series have received regularly for month
! past, I will receive tomorrow, for ever so long
/ as Mabel Grant is a single woman And now
she has seen ftto fall in love with me"
\ ttShe-a
That other word burst suddenly from Dick
Penravens lips with force to make me start
and stare in my hardest fashion.
why, what on earth is the matter with you,
! PenY You are little like the man
But the odd lock in his face changed suddenly
to smile. In his old, jaunty way he inter
rupted me;
f'The old fellowI should say, Jack But it was
quite too much for me-the thought of your mar
| rying Mabel Grant.
t'And why9s
Such fellow as you to marry Mabel Grant
i And whyl You know herr What on earth
are you driving at2n could only jerk the words
and stare at him.
''WhyY You do not know her, that is evident
| will cast you her photograph. A girl-a blonde
! they call her-yes, decided blonde; for hereyes
are the palest Of china blue, bullying saucers
the grandest scale; her hair faxy frizzly, almost
| the tint of her skin, where the thick sown
| freckles will let it show Add to this her nose,
midway twixt point and pug; her thick waist
her lengthy fngers-but surely, Jack, it is
enough. should dislike to see you the husband
Of such q girl. Come give over this business,
and go with me to Islet.p
| regarded him moment, silent He was
disappointed boy, | knew | knew to what
| lengths such thing might drive hiin--to what
| length! The words flashed back to me, and
| laughed. Yet the serious, earnest look on Dick
Penraven's face forbade doubt; did not doubt
though, oddly, that same moment made up
i my mind.
No; I shall go down to Hale, said.
after this2p
course shall not love her, Pen But good by;
i I'm off at once"
Yves but jack
| laughed again; Dick Penraven's protesting
l--1s l. IL IL
his description as walked away, IF you only
coudf They came again Rays words
flashed back; altogether there was truth in it.
Thought.
/ was beginning to take a strange interest in
Mabel Grant. 1t had been my year-long desire
to fall in love unthinkingly naturally. as was my
notion of the thing. Until this had resisted the
many crafty Vaccinations of my more practical
/ lyminded sister; until this secretly unto my
odd hope, | had resisted womankind. And--I
had not fallen in love; was twentyeight years
old next birthday, and / was not yet
in love. But, altogether, | was begin
4 ming to take strange interest in this
girl-a sudden fascinating desire to see her
which had never felt to see girl before. Gould
/ it be was to fall in love with herl The ques-
/ ton came to me as left the cars at the little
station, and walked on to Mabel Grant. With
1.-THE picture. It was not pleasant one, but
fate was fate, and stranger things had CHANGED.
! / did not laugh again; could not help very
shudder as stepped upon tho pretty vine-clad
porch at Hale and rang my entrance to her
Miss Grantgo
Eyes
! had fancy would find Dick at Islet, 50
i took the night-boat thither must find him. at
| all events; some way speedily must be revenged
on him for the grim trick he had played, and.
other things. For that was pretty, dark-eyed
girl who had come down to me that day at Hale
to be stared at as my astonished eyes had never
stared at girl before.
Miss Grant"
'sYes; and you, presume, are Mrs. Godfrey
Godleys brother. have heard great deal Of
i you from Mrs Godfrey, and-I am very happy
| to meet you, Mr. Dare
1 A pretty girl, but / did not fall in love with
| her, after that first moment of amazement, she
was as other girls to me- Worse, scarce heard
Il what she said barely looked at her; as quickly
as decency would permit went away. / had
but one set of sensations as / walked back to
the train; odd things growing grief, bitterness
for the loss of Mabel Grant, wild longing for the
| saucer eyes, the fiaxy, frizzly locks, the sum
total Of that unpleasng picture at which-fate
and had laughed, 1t grew fascination for
the first. myth as it were it moved passion in
my soul which made me mad for it.
A thought quickly Joined thereto-the thought
of Dick Penraven. It was his joke; to this state
he had brought me; in some way must be re-
i venged on him.
Howl
1t was alittle sail to Iset but every moment
| sat and pondered the momentous questions and
for all my abstraction, casting FREQUENT chances
/ at the fair girl sitting near me, seemingly like
me, lost in dreams. She interested me, despite
4 it; she grew to me, Oddly the more each mo-
ment-a beautiful Mabel Grant, fsuch a thing
might be.
s'SheT
There had come no pain to me- no light till
with the sharp grating of the boat in the dock at
| Islet, two words flashed to tell me ALL to give
me allfthe maddest man could ask to thwart
| foe. 1t was so plain laughed gleefully as /
/ followed my beautiful Mabel Grant UP the quay
PAM IN wit fba p1.