The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-28
Printed BY Special Arrangement ,ostA the author
A HANDFUL on PEBBLES
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT sPOFFORD.
copyrighted 1885. by the Author-Ali Rights
Reserved.1
A S TORY.


Copyrighted 1885, by the Author-Ali Rights
Reserved.l
A lovely creature to look at was Miss Emeline
"a skin Of rose and snow, eyes blue as melting
sapphires, under long black lashes and brows of
delicate Clark arch, such mouth as seldom
strung PEARL straight line of nose, an oval line
Of cheek, cleft chin-and when she smiled,
if you had a heart in your body it could not help
thrilling be the thrill ever 80 slight 1t was a
perfect shape too, that she betrayed when lift
ing that white hand of hers to arrange the
masses of her golden brown hair, breaking
everywhere into waves, and everywhere out of
waves into curls; and if the gesture brought into
fuller light twisted thread of gold that
white hand that was here engagement ring to
John Faunce.
Miss Emelire had gone to the old house on the
hin as companion to poor Miss Martha, the half
invalid aunt and grandaunt of the rather gay
family there, and, of course, she had won every
body at first with her beauty and afterward
with her willing sweetnegs-a sweetness that
made her always ready, always pleasant, pa
tient, gracious, and on the alert to renders life
smooth to all around her. Perhaps they felt a
little more warmly toward her than they other
wise would have done. because in becoming the
companion of Miss Martha she took quite bur-
den off their shoulders, and they were so glad to
secure somebody to do that that they were pre-
pared to treat her like princess And if with
the first glimpse of her loneliness they were half
enraptured on a further acquaintance with her
hos hor tbauc opnd
altogether, and made her more of a pet than un-
der any other circumstances the typical compan-
ion would have been made by the rather high
and mighty Hollingsworths. none of whom had
earned their own living from tim e irnmemorial.
1t was Miss Martha who first observed the
ring on the pretty hand, and the anxiety about
the mail which Miss Emelne manifested every
day. and her nightly occupation of letter-writing
for an hour in the boudoir, when Miss Martha,
at o'clock, had been safely put away in bed in
the adjoining room, and after the letter writing,
the standing at the glass door looking out at
the night or the quiet stealing through that door
to the balcony and the old vine-wreathed fight
of steps that led down into the garden.
'Tell me all about it now" Miss Martha had
said one day. ''To whom is the little letter.
And from whom is the big onel Is he tall or
shortl Is ne good and plain or bad and takinga
How long have you known him2 What is his
name9"
"He is tall, said Miss Emeline.
''Broad shouldered, then, HOPPER
'tAnd fair
''Plain. did you say2"
''But wholesome. He has white teeth and
good smile"
Every well, as far as it goes. And his bust
ness"
HE is a clerk in an institution, where proba-
bly, he can remain as long he lives. He has 5000
year. His name is John Faunee."
II knew his name was John. Twas sure of
it. Johns always look like. that My cousin
John did. Poor Johnl Well, you are going to
marry himl'
81 suppose So"
'.And live ON 5000 year. I'm sure I don't
see how
''very easily l have saved almost enough of
my pay to buy little home in the suburbs, and
if we get piece of garden ground with it, and
keep a COW, it will make our expenses small.
You see was a farmers daughter, and know
how to live inexpensively."
have become used to very different ways 1t
won't come easily at ali to you to get up and
build fires, and sweep and cook and scrub, and
scour Your hands won't be as white as they
are now"
mo, know it," said Miss Emeline, glancing
at the white hands. But poor people can't
choose. At any rate, it will be my own home,
and certainty, and a permaneney. And if
don't marry John, l shall have to be at other
peoples beck and call all my life. And if fall
sick have nothing to do but 60 to hospital
And John is very fond of me-"
''And you are not very fond of John?"
II should be a wretch if were not fond of
him. But he knows that I don't pretend
toto"
BE as much in love as he is. That's bad"
HE cared about me you know, couple of
years before ever knew of his existence"
IT know! How should knowf'
"Well, you do now" said Miss Eneline, laugh
ing. He used to watch me going by, and at
church, and all. But he felt so-so-I may as
we'll tell you'll you wont think strangely-he
said he felt as if it were sort of sacrilege to
try and know me-"
Il don't think strangely of that think its
beautiful"
But he did know me, after that long time
before he asked me to marry him. He had so
little; and he saw me in circumstances where
seemed to have so much He didn't know that
my fine clothes were the gifts of my fine ladies.
One time was out of situation, and was wait
ing at my boarding place, when / fell sick
was taken suddenly, before knewsit and no.
body about was acquainted with my affairs or
that had any little sum of money laid by, so
had no nurse, and no doctor, and was quite out
of my head But he discovered it, and sent a
nurse; and sent the best physician in town, and
hung around the house like night Waterman.
And when was better he said he only wished
he had the right to care for me always. And
was very weak and poorly-and said he
might"