The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-25

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| returned to the aforementioned corner
and produced the volume / had been perus-
ing with so much interest
This is probably what you were looking
for, SIR / said.
He took the volume from my hand with
evident pleasure and just as evident sur
prise.
Ladies do not usually care for this sort OF
literature" he said apologetically, when he
saw that had read mis- face.
] replied:
Ladies have little incentive to care FOR
such things, because society promptly and
most emphatically discourages all such indi-
cations of strong-mindedness. OF course it
can make no difference to woman whether
the house she lives in is built in Corinthian,
Doric or Gothic style, or has no style at all.
In her an affectation of pretty, childlike
simplicity is considered very interesting,
and if she can be interesting. why need she
aspire TO become Intelligent
II think you are mistaken Miss Allston.
I think the days when a woman was adj
mired for her ignorance may safely be
named in the past tense."
"You are man of society, and ought to
know; but my small field of observation has
shown me that some women, at least affect
frivolity and simplicity in the presence of
company, from which inferred that society
admires that sort of women
Perhaps it does, after a fashion" he re-
Piled, with smile. "But, depend upon it,
Miss Allston, the scepter of belleship was
never yet wrested from an intelligent con-
veTsationalist by an ignorant woman, even
though the brilliant woman has a much
palmer face than the other. People love to
be entertained, and one who can offer wit
and wisdom without pedantry is sure to be
admired, and, il she can add genuine unself-
ishness to her list of accomplishments, to be
loved, also"
Perhaps" said l, "but have you not for.
gotten to return to the drawing-room
Thank you for reminding me, Miss All
stOn; may venture to hope that this will
not be our last meeting?'
II am, as ! told you, servant and prefer
not TO be patronized. We met by accident
If we meet again / shall not recognize YOU"
lie smiled good-humoredly. bowed, said:
1--WE shall see," and turned away.
/ felt vexed with myself for having con-
versed so freely with a stranger, and made
sundry good resolutions by which my future
department was to be governed.
1 do not understand what there was in the
trifling event Just narrated to stir my nature
TO its depths, but that night / did not close
my eyes till o'clock. / began to hate my
self for having remained so long in a mental
position without a single struggle to rise
above it. A beautiful thought came to me
at last with the suddenness OF inspiration.
had III many instances proven myself to be
good nurse for the sick ] had more than
once administered simple remedies with sue
cess in the absence of a physician. had
been fascinated by the study of anatomy and
physiology; why not add TO these knowl-
edge OF Therapeutics? Why not become a
physician, practicing among women and
children? The thought was healing oil to
my troubled spirits, and / was soon asleep,
happily ignorant of the long struggle en-
tailed upon me by my resolution, OF the cost
r. 1 a
suading patients that woman can be fit to
undertake ease"
1t was wonderful how often Mr.. Gleason
found IL necessary after that TO come TO the
pump at the kitchen door for drink, and
how he persisted i'm not noticing the glass
placed there for his accommodation, but must
always come into the kitchen, no matter how
busy was and trouble me TO get one for
him, and pause awhile to talk.
| found out one thing. | could talk, and
no one had ever tried 10 draw me out be-
fore.
1 was not alarmed when I found that
watched eagerly for his coming. ! told my
self that no one whose friendship was worth
caring for had ever before treated me like n
rational being and an equal, and that had
this friend been a woman my love would
have been Just the same.
We talked on every subject, from the love
of legends to international politics, and /
never dreamed that ii was more than the
pleasure of speaking on subjects remote from
puddings and pies that made me care for the
society of Mr.. Gleason.
had a terrible awakening. One day he
was just leaving me when voice on the
lawn was heard 10 call out:
"Wheres Mr.. Gleason"
"Down in the kitchen; | suppose, counting
the cook, was the answer, more suggestive
than ladylike.
1t was not the heat of the stove that made
my face burn at that moment and the
thought flashed into my mind that had an
unquestionable right to be courted, Just as
Mr.. Gleason re-cntered the room and said:
"That coarse Jest on the lawn has made me
resolve to ask you what had intended to de-
fer to later day. love you. Miss Allston
will you be my wife,
"Oh, no. no, Mr.. Gleason Where Is your
honor, TO triie with the affections of Elsie,
then seek to wed me? | am surprised be-
yond measure. | thought better OF you.
Co.
Il can not tell what you may have heard"
he replied, with a pale, stern face, but i
have certainly been no more attentive TO
Miss Elsie than courtesy demanded. | had
dared TO hope for a different answer. You
have accused me of disbonor. That parts
u.s."
Then he was gone. The same day he de-
parted from my Aunt Deborah's. "A sud
zen fancy LOT Sketcnlng among the noun
tains. Never thinks of anything but his art, y
complained the guests. The following day
Elsie's engagement was announced to the
person whom Aunt Deborah had chosen for
her. She could not live without plenty of
money, she said.
Six years passed, during the most OF which
| was not in communication with Aunt De-
borah or any OF my relatives, they having
with one accord refused to forgive me for
being ''strong-minded, /" and persisting in the
study OF medicine They were years of hard
work and almost uncomfortable loneliness. /
was engaged in professional labors in viii
lage in Vermont.
One day a messenger came in great haste
to call me to the bedside of a stranger who
was very i'll, perhaps dying. No male ply
stefan was to be found. Would go? 1 hes
itated but single moment. How thankful
was afterward that obeyed the impule OF
mercy and cast aside that ofprudery? 1t was
Mr. Gleason
When he became conscious, days after.
ward, he reached feebly for my hand and
said:
This is what ! have been praying for.
have found you at last, Hannah
That wasn't five years ago, and We have