The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-13


the hustle and publicity of an inn would have
been too trying to any one but sincere and
we'll balanced nature, apart from the social
| sacrifice involved; but Mary had not only sub
mitted to it uncomplaingly, she had even,
by her arguments and quiet urgency, overcome
her fathers reluctance to the STEP
Nor had she overestimated her power or
adapting herself to the new circumstances. She
| had at once assumed the main burden OF the
| management. and, by dint of her transparent
good sense and unobtrusiye frmness the latter
state of the inn was made better than the first
Mary Lambert was not afraid of her guests, nor
did she allow her servants to get the upper hand
of her; she was unaffected, economical and I'D
eral and her affairs prospered
1t was only q few moments that she stood
there; then she said, addressing Austen with
some appearance of effort, II am glad to see you
| here, sir. had sent Horkns an errand, SO
answered the bell myself. You shall have the
wine Immediately" And having spoken, she
began to blush retrospectivey as it were, until
her face was pink all over.
wait moment. Miss Lambert-Maryp ex-
claimed Austin, as she turned to retire. Dom
run away from an old friend like that. l intro
duce my friend Ferris to you-Ferris Lund-
capital fellow-brought him down here to see
you. How is the old gentleman? Ask him to
come in and finish the evening with us-you and
he together--or, if he's bashful, come yourself,
and be sociable. Well be eternally indebted, by
Jove!"
THAT is impossible-you must excuse me,
gentlemen" said Mary Lambert, with sparkle
in her honest eyes, and the color left her face as
quickly as it had come.
do not include me, Miss Lambert" inter
rupted Lund quickly. II should not have pre-
sumed to make such request of you. But
shall ask permission to meet your father and
you to morrow."
Her eyes met his once more. for an instant;
she said THANK you" just audibly, and the
next instant she was gone
AS the door closed the two men confronted
| each other. Both were angry, but Austen dis
guised his irritation in order. perhaps, to give it
the fuller vent when opportunity offered. He
put on laughing demeanor. Isn't she little
peach}" he said. why the deuce, my dear fell
low, couldn't you have stepped into the next
room for five minutes2 She had misgivings
| about you. but if I'd had her alone she'd have
dropped ali that directly"
None Of that" exclaimed Lund. imperiously.
The tone startled Austen, but he passed it over
| with sheer. After moments silence Lund
| continued. keeping his voice down, II don't
| want to quarrel with you, Austen, and can't
explain myself in way you would understand.
| But will tell you this much, that young lady
| who has just gone out has my love, and with
| her own consent and Gods blessing mean to
| make her my wife, 1t may seem incredible to
YOU but you must take my word for it; al all
| events, you must oblige me by not referring to
her again in the tone you use towards other
women"
Austen's first and best impulse had been to
manner but before Lund had finished speaking
| another idea had crept into his mind-a base,
| unmanly idea-which, we may hope. he would
have discarded had ne been sober and in a good
humor. But there was q knavish, depraved
streak in the man, and. as will sometimes hap
pen with what is worst in US, it obtained the
| mastery of him now.
my dear SIR" said he, II have no desire to
| NEEDLE with your property, or with anything
| that you intend to make yours. You may marry
fhn IF thn ia hal c anAc fOpa INa roI
| Only you know. considering what l know about
WELL about the people in this neighborhood;
and considering what was telling you the min
| ute before-we were interrupted, you under
stand-you must excuse me for being bit as
| tonished. fellow doesn't like to see man he
has called his friend making such COMPOUNDED
| fool-however, as you say its no affair Of mine.
If that's your taste, enjoy it in the devils name!
| Had Lund only been content to let the matter
stop here all might have been we'll. But there
| was vague flavor of insinuation in what Aus
ten had said; it gradually forced it's way into his
| secret consciousness. injecting cold misglving
into the hot current of his thoughts. He strug-
ged against it for awhile, but after all, it is diff
| cult to stand firm upon mere intuition-to
make ones future pivot upon a dream. On the
| other hand, the more convinced he was OF being
| in the right the less danger was there that any
thing could prove him wrong. Was it not wiser
to dare to face the worst that could be said
| against It'll
II am not aware that there had been any talk
| between us about Miss Lambert, said he.
II tell you." exclaimed Austen, tossing his
half smoked cigar in the fire and thrusting his
| hands in his pockets, Il wash my hands OF It.
| If you're the sort of fellow who has an appetite
| for other mems leavings-well, it's nothing to
me-"
Lund stepped up to him with his eyes glowing
"You will either swallow those words or explain
| Them" said he
''Iil do neither" retorted Austen, doggedly
| II know better than to try to save mailman
Manage the business to suit yourself, and don'
| blame me for it."
You said something about other mems leav
ings-"
well, what if I did, My leavings, if thai
| suits you better"
| "Now-be CAREFUL" said Lund in a whisper
| Austen laughed. This is all very tragic, he
said, ''but, upon my word, its more absurd than
| tragic to see two sensible men like you and me-
| who were good friends FIVE minutes ago, glarine
at each others Threats because of good for
nothing little coquette like Mollie Lambert! AS
soon as you come TO yeur proper senses you'll
laugh as much as do. Holy wars, man! CAM
you tell a hawk from a handsaw? OF course
wouldn't betray the girls secret without gooG
reason for it; there are five hundred Marys il
this town. and the story l told you just now
might have applied as we'll to one as to another
| so far as you could ever have known. But 20,
have taken. as luck would have it, the one singl,
method possible Of compelling me to identify
her; and only wish Ia taken you to Lands Enc
or the middle Of the English channel, instead OF
bringing you here!"
Lund drew deep breath and moistened hi.
lps. Austen" said he, you are either telling
me the truth, or you are telling the most das
tardly lie that ever man uttered; because, if it il
lie, / can never know it can never prove i
on you. So ask you once more-and remem
Der that what you say l shall believe-I ask yo,
to tell me, yes or no, is Mary Lambert an homes
girl or not2"
Austen began to dislike his position. He hat
not supposed that Lund was in such deadl,
earnest. He had intended merely to throw on
an innuendo which would answer all purpose
and do no particular harm. To be forced to de
fine his meaning so literally both unex
pected and disagreeable. But standing there
with Lunds eyes fixed upon his face he felt tina
there was no escape; he must say either on
thing or the other There was still chance 70
him to be man enough. by accepting the Jesse
shame, to be free from the greater, but he wa
not equal to the test
'Well." said he at last. ''since you will have i