The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-08
Written for the indianapolis Sentinel
META WOODRUFF.
BY Mrs. Addie Deitch Frank.
CHAPTER VI.

TO rise 30 early. Flo took her up q delicate
little meal, and, all the tine Meta was eat
ing, talked 10 her Of the new mistress.
"You viii soon learn to like her, Flo."
"Oh, no, Missile, dat hain't likely. She
ruined herself IN my eyes las night, an |
has a notion ter tell yo' papie."
"What did she do, Flo?'
morn you'd think on. Las night when
her cum down ter supper l saw her 60 into
de parIor, an, as 1 wanted TO to get a good
look on her, | jes' stepped roun' to de
winder, an may de good Lawd hep as if she
warn't kissin' dat Mr.. Brsden."
You are surely mistaken"
Indeed I isn't. / is wilIin' to swar to il,
an / herd her say some one might see
dem."
"Flo, / can not help but think there is
some mistake about this. You must never
breathe one word of this to any one. Re-
member now, 1 will trust you"
"You can, Miss Meta, as you has done
many times ~a'fore."
"Help me TO dress now; 1 I'm so tired of
this bed, and papa will be anxious to have
me down stairs" Meta said. only too glad to
change the subject.
Flo did as her mistress babe her, and Meta
vas almost dressed when her father entered
the room. He kissed her good morning and
csIessed her pale cheeks, while Flo combed
her short hair, which clustered around her
head in little golden ringlets. Gathering
her up in bis arms, he carried her down
stairs into the library. where Mrs. Woodruff
and her guest were, and deposited his light
burden in his own easy chair.
Now, my darling, you are to remain here
with me ali day. Mind now, do not ask to
leave me-"
'Dear papa. how kind you are to inhict
such IN agreeable punishment upon me-so
much like your old self. Good morning, Mr..
BTaden l am glad you are present as q wit
ness Of my fathers kindness" She also said
good morning to Lima, bat after that had
nothing more to say 10 her.
You are indeed fortunate, Miss Woodruff,
In having such q good father. must &C
knowledge q certain weakness myself, in re-
gard to him; IL is that of learning toshonor,
respect and almost love him in the short
time 1 have known him.
"Ah! Braden, l AN a man and do not like
to he iattered. l leave that for our opposite
sex" Mr.. Woodruff said, laughingly.
Papa, | belong to the sex you speak of
snd feel highly insuIted at your sarcastic
thrusts at u.s."
And /, too, uncle, am not IN the best of
hrnor over your remark, yet | am in doubt
as to " whether you meant this for the truth
Or to provoke an argument"
Il must say, that II it was for the latter
purpose, you have accepted l. 1t very readily.
What have you to say, Lina?" he said, a1-
dressing his wife, who had.beea very quiet.
Nothing, Give, as l see the young ladies
need no assistance"
'Can IT be possible that you, q woman,
have refused to defend your own sex?'
ktIf IN UQFa ncaaCnaFu n unnld find m
equal to the emergency; as it is, 1 decline
saying anything. But il you will allow me
TO say u word for the defence OF q friend, l
will say that Mr.. Braden is not a man given
to 6attery."
Thank you, Lima; you see, a friend in
need is 6 friend indeed such as you have
proven yourself to be to me- Arthur said,
taking her q and imprinting a kiss upon
1t.
has surely been OF great benefit to you, as IN
this country We find few gentlemen who
prove themselves so gallant TO married
ladies as 10 kiss their hand" Meta said as
she gszed into Lina's face.
Perhaps you are right, or perhaps it is
because | feel more at ease with married
ladies, for l am very shy IN the presence OF
beautiful young ladies'"
II pity you, sir, and only hope you may
soon overcome that shyness, for l dare say
that Is the reason you are still unmarried.
NOW TAKE my AuNlCe anu nave as llbtl6 VI 10
with married ladies as possible, for IL you
should fall In love with one OF them. it
would ruin both yourself and the lady. Not
only with her husband and family, but in
the eyes of the whole world. and to lose the
love aud respect OF your fellow beings is to
lose all earthly happiness, and you can only
wait for death 10 relieve you"
why, Meta, how earnestly you talk one
would think that you knew OF such a case"
said Mr.. Woodruff.
"0h papa! how ridiculous, yet perhaps
there is some truth in IT,"
"Miss Woodruff, / am glad you have talked
so freely to me on this subject, and thank
You very much for your advice; but whether
II will prove beneficial to me or not, remains
for the future to tell" He looked away
from Lima, for be knew that to catch one
glance of her eyes would be to reveal their
secret. Mrs. Woodruff IS face was flushed and
Der eyelids dropped. She could not look
INTO the face of the innocent girl. who had,
unbnown - Lima, discovered her secret.
Meta seemed unwilling to let the subject
drop.
The future. Mr.. Braden, is ours to make
it what We please
81 disagree with you, Miss Woodrui; moth
ing but the past and present are ours; the
fntUre belongs to God"
Il acknowledge you are right IN that. and
yet l was not sliOgethsr wrong, for if we are
10 be happy tomorrow, Wa must do right TO-
day. Am | not right, papa"
Yes. think you are, for in an unguarded
moment you may SOW the seed OF that which
for years and. perhaps, as long as lie lasts,
we NAV reap the wretched harvest. There
Ia Jack with the mail. One letter for you,
Gertie; the same for Meta. aud ever SO many
for myself"
Gertie and Meta opened their letters and
soon devoured the contents. while Lima
Woodruff watched Metals happy, flushed
face, and resolved, then and.ttere, to put an
end TO that happiness.
well, Gertie, l suppose your letter il
from home; how are your mother anc
trother?" asked Mr.. Woodruff.
quite we'll, uncle: which is not often the
case with mamma. Bot Hal is always well
and full of mischief. You would scarcely
know him, be is so handsome"