The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-13
Printed BY Sesesa, Arrangement Copyrighted 1885.
SUCH STUFF AS DREAMS.
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
A S T o r Y
PART II. CHAPTER VI.

AT dinner under the influence of the claret
which was good, Austen became more than ever
vivacious and told many anecdotes about his
early adventures in the town. IF didn't learn
Latin" he said, II learnt good deal about some
OF the things that Horace. and Ovid. and those
other old chaps used to write of. You're such a
my goings-on would make You blush. don't
suppose you ever spoke to pretty woman in
your life except upon compulsion; Pm sure the
Diva, the other night must have thought you
had vocal paralysis. But, as for me, was always
just as bad the other way. lose my heart at
sight and the worst of it is the girls don't help me
out bit; the best thing that could happen me
would be to find handsome woman who could
say mol Now there was a girl-never mind her
name, poor soul-call her Mary for convenience
she was as pretty a creature as ever stepped in
slippers, and demure as piecrust. But really.
my dear fellow. it takes cleverer man than /
am to see through q woman, let her appear as
simple as she may. And they all want to get
married-that's the deuce Of it. Why can't they
be content to have little fun and done with ita
Well, it was pretty close thing for me as re-
garded Mary; if she had held out little longer
] believe should have given in; and you might
have been sitting in a two-pair back lodgings
with me and Mrs. Austen at this moment. But
deuce take It'll it's better as it is. My conscience
bothered me little for time: but she's all right
now and everything's for the best. Heigho!
Have another glass;"
Lund refused. He was a moderate drinker,
and the condition of his friend, who had obvious
~ had quite as much as was good for him. was
in itself enough to prompt him to abstain.
"You seem to think" be said, rather
severely, that thing is good
only so tar az there is fun in it. I have
never had much to do with women it is true;
but have had thoughts of what woman might
be to man. If had talked to the Diva, as
you call her, in the way you and the others did,
there might have been some fun in it, but when
the time came that loved woman, and wished
to make her my wife, the recollection Of the fun
had with the Diva would not be pleasant; or,
if didn't mind it. SO much the worse for me-
There are certain kinds of feelings that man
can have only once; if he plays fast and loose
with them, he will have to do without them ever
afterwards. If you degrade yourself with one
woman you can never do justice to any other"
"Spare me; spare mel" cried Austen. loosely.
"Lund, M. D., must be mistake; D. D. is the
way it ought to stand"
II am only talking common sense" returned
the other, reddening little; land I may as we'll
tell YOU" he added, after moment, that this
journey of ours has been to me something more
than mere series of notifications of things /
had dreamt 1 saw in that dream the face of a
woman; 1t is as clear to my memory now as if
she were standing before US; and fifty years
hence, if live so long, shall not have forgotten
it. have never seen her actual self; don't
know who she is, or what she is, or where she is;
but, be that as it may, she is the woman that
love, and 1 shall never love any other. That
she does exist, am certain; and believe that
have come TO this town to meet her. But if ]
had lived the sort of life you seem to find SO at
tractive then, instead of feeling it delight and
blessing to meet her, it would be dismal and
wretched catastrophe. For, if had still rever-
ence enough left for woman to appreciate her,
would show it by taking myself out of the way;
and, if the reverence was gone, then everything
would be gone that is worth keeping"
"Pon honor, my dear boy. I've not an idea
what you're so touchy about" observed Austen,
taking out a cigar and lighting it over a lamp.
"Of course, you know, one respects respectable
women, and all that but then. you know, there s
most as big difference between one woman and
another as there is between her and manrr
SIN one sense that may be true; but what
say is, that whoever has had hand in bringing
woman down, losses the power Of thinking
honestly of any woman whatever"
''Oh, well, don't intend to keep mp with you,
COMPOUNDED high-fying notions" exclaimed
Austen becoming impatient IF you want &
moralize, you can get some woman to listen *
you, suppose; men don't care for it. I cam.
here to enjoy myself-and all your talk has
made me as dry as fish," So saying. he stepped
somewhat unsteadily, to the bell-rope and gave
it vigorous pull.
Presently the door opened. Lund was sitting
with his back toward it, and Austen, at the mo
ment. was STOPPING over the fire lighting his
cigar, which had gone out, at red-hot coal hi
had picked up with the longs
Another bottle of wine, Horkins" said ht
turning round; land ask Mr.. Lame-hullo
Pardon me, l thought I was speaking to-Mis,
Lambert, declared"
Lund also turned but as soon as he caugh
sight of the youthful and comedy figure stand
Ing in the doorway he started to his feet, and tn,
blood rushed to his cheeks and forehead 1
was she yes it was she! 1t was she
yes, it was she!
VII.
The three persons of this little tableau main
tanned their positions unchanged for several mo
Inents. The girls quiet glance had passed from
Austen to Lund when the latter started up, ant
she continued to look straight at him. Lunt
was, indeed, a man of striking aspect-dark
with dark, deep-set eyes, delicate features ant
his hair long, as was the custom at that period
His habitual expression was marked by a sensi
tive reserve; but. at this iuncture, it wa,
vivid and full of repressed excitement
There was something in his appear
ance. moreover, which, to Mary Lambert
seemed peculiarly sympathetic and winning
She had never met him before and vet Their,