The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-17

good -bye FIVE weeks before He began to feel
sorry that he had not gone to her sooner,
and that he had not attempted to break off from
her more gradually. He began to feel that his
conduct required some kind of explanation. so
he stammered out something about being
busy since his return and making up for lost
time.
Yes: that is what papa kept telling me-"
kept telling her"-how the words smote him.
Ihey told the whole story as plainly as if she
had narrated it to him in all its details-how
she had looked for him day after day, wondering
ana wondering when he would come-how she
started at every ring of the bell, and crept on
tip-toe to the balustrade above and looked eau
tlously over into the hall below. only to find
thai 1t was not he-how at last hope long de-
ferred bad made her poor heart sick-how her
father had seen her pining away and had tried TO
console her with this excuse. had kept telling
her of how busy Charley was at the store. She
looked up at him moment when he seemed to
confirm what her father had said, and CLEAN
OF nope lifted across her face, only to leave 1t
again blank and pale when she saw her mistake.
He saw the revivng spark OF hope and saw it
fade. Dlsmay at his own ENHANCEMENT was
merged In pity for the girl before him. He felt
keen regret for what he had done. What.
wreck he had made of her confdinG heart, he
thought. He said to himself: Il villain.
l am not worthy of such love this
She was not suffering half as much as he
thought. She did feel disappointed, and she was
when she was child she always moped, and
often brought on spell of sickness when she
could not obtain a thing she had set her heart
upon. Charles did not know this. Pictures of a
procession vending its way to the church-yard;
of a coffin covered with white flowers. and pos
sible eptaph, lin the twenty first year of her
age. of unrequited love-" passed before his mind.
He already felt by anticipation the pangs of re-
morse.
Clytie could stand the silence no longer. She
4 oof fhn Snfo md
quietly weeping A half suppressed sob startled
him from his revery. In moment he
kDeeling by her side trying to soothe away her
tears His warm-hearted, sympathetic nature
was again overcome by the trckling drops. He
little knew how near the surface lies the we'll of
woman's tears. She pushed him from her, and
he thought, what a wretch | am" Putting out
both arms he drew her to him and kissed her
tenderly. The sobbng ebbed somewhat, and
soon she was again all smiles. clinging to him in
another of those protrac.ed labial cohesions.
Suddenly voice heard saying: so you
have made it all up. have you2" 1t was her IA
ther standing in the door.
Il told your mother it was nothing but
lovers quarrel" And he went on to say some
thing about the renewal of love" much to his
amusement He held out his hand to
Charles, and as he shook it warmly he said: Il
know of no young man I'd sooner have in the
family than yourself. Come in to supper. Come
in 1t is just ready. and my wife had sent me in
to invite YOU didn't know was going to in
terrupt tete. -tete." He laughed mmode
and said it all over again. Charles thought he
had never heard less amusing jests. He thought
Mrs. Smith had never been talkative he
thought her almost vulgar. He noticed now for
the first time how noisy and rude the younger
children of the family were Cyties eyes were
red and swollen from weeping; she was pale and
did not seem at all pretty.
When they returned to the parlor she sang to
the assembled family all nine OF the songs. She
was putting aside DISCUSSES now that he was a
member of the family. Her voice little
husky and thin, probably because she was not
we'll.
The family dropped out. one by one, and at
length they were alone Alone with his betrothed
Q, happy YOUTH
"Why do you sight" she asked.
Il didn't know did"
Her health improved rapidly and she became
quite plump The other girls who were not en-
gagged called her fat"
''Well, she grew plumper and plumper, and
the plumper she grew the more she talked. She
told him of all her petty affairs, her little jea-
ousies and her spats with the other girls; what
spitefu thing Sally Jenkins was; how she would
ontshine all of them with her new bonnet the
next Sunday; how cut up Ed Box was over her
engage mont and how Sally was trying to
sole HIM. She told him all the minute details
about her tronsseau; how many yards in
this dress and in that; what troubles she and her
mother had with sewing girls and how she
would have enough clothes to last her n whole
year At these details he felt again the old pain
at the heart as when he first left home three
years before.
But why dwell upon his sufferings? The fatal
day arrived at last, and he went through his part
of the ordeal bravely that his silly simple
wife has never known to this day what agony it
cost him.
Clytle has now settled down into as fat and
jolly wife as any reasonable man might want.
They have no children of their own, but Charles
has educated his younger sister and brother
flor her father died insolvent) and he Lends
various little sums from time to time to her
dear brother De Mont. Mrs. Smith has been ON
visit for the last few years to her daughter.
She has taken charge of the housekeeping "for
the present" manages the servants and super
v;ses things generally. Charles performs all the
duties of life very faithfully, going through the
same routine day after day. He is known as
very silent man. Clytie's mother thinks he is
deaf, for he has that subdued air that deaf per
sons acquire She always speaks as loud as she
can in addressing him. and the stronger and
harsher her voice becomes the more subdued
he is.
The girls at home think that Charley is OIL
SO much changed since he married that Smith
girl for her money. Dora and Emma have mar
ried for love, and the bosom friends-well two
of them have married. and one is-dead
Ohio!