The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-10

den strange departure winch, natural enough az
the minute, appeared now in the light of subse-
quent events so extraordinary, which now looked
like fight, but from WHAT From happiness,
from well-being from everything that the heart
of man could desire. Mr.. Ford was person of
very sturdy mind, not given to fancies like his
wife, but after fortnight he had found he was
almost more anxious than she was. He ques-
toned her closely as to divers past life. Had
abe ever heard of any ENHANCEMENT There
must be some who has claim upon him,
who would expose him to Grace, If not worse"
he said, at which Trix was naturally indignant.
''You men have such bad imaginations," she
said. How should he have any ENLARGEMENT
He has been fond of Grace since-since-"
''Since he saw her here six months ago, Trix.r
Trix grew very red, and the tears came into
her eyes, 'You mean, Tom, that Oliver, that
that my brother got fond of Grace only
when"
81 don't mean anything of the Sort" said Tom
Ford, lit is women for having bad imaginations,
though, perhaps, in different way. l mean
that he had forgotten all about her. But when
he saw her again. and saw how nice she was
for she is very nice woman, poor thing, Far too
nice to be made wreck Of for the sake of some
baggage"
"Foml You have taken leave of your senses,
/ think"
MY dear, you know well enough, just as well
az do, that Oliver hasn't been immaculate. But
why the deuce didn't he have the courage to tell
The truth; why didn't he speak to you. or me, if
It comes to that! If he had made clean breast
Of it"
1--WE don't know yet that there is anything to
make clean breast of" said Trix beginning to
cry. And she put on her bonnet in disturbed
way, and went over to Grace for comfort, who
might be supposed to want comfort more than
she did. Grace was very pale, but composed,
and met her friend with smile.
II don't know anything" she said, 'but he
asks me to wait, and mean to wait. Why should
we condemn himl There must be a reason. and
when he can he will tell u.s. 1t is not out of
mere wantonness he is staying away"
They had all given up tacitly the fiction about
the sick friend. That had been dismissed at a
quite early date; the reality that was in it being
beyond any guesses they could make
'Oh, Grace you are the best of US all! You
are the one that is the worst treated, and you
are the most kind"
''Trx we don't know that there is any i'll
dued, very pale. 1t almost overcame her COM
posture altogether when the butler came in with
large parcel, one of the many wedding presents
that are arriving daily. II have not the heart
to open them" she said, leaning her head upon
T rixs shoulder, who flew to her with instant
comprehension. 'tAnd yet want to open them
that nobody may suppose Look" she said,
pointing at table covered with glittering spoils
'Look at all that and the congratulations that
come with them. And to think that 1 don't know,
don't know, even
"Oh, Grace, all will be we'll, all will be well
long before that"
Grace did not reply at first, bat she shook her
head. HE does not even say that all will be
WELL he says only-wait And 1 will wait" she
said, composing herself. Trix did not get much
comfort out of this visit She went home indig-
nant, angry beyond telling with her brother,
though she could not bear that her husband
should give utterance and emphasis to her fears
And for some days after the talk of those two
people was of nothing but Oliver and what his
meaning could be. Mrs. Ford sent off a long
and eloquent letter to him the next day, but
received no answer to that any more
than to her former letters. And Ford,
too, wrote, which was very much more
serious. Ford, who never wrote letter,
except on business, leaving everything else
to his wife. Ford put before his brother-in-law
indeed the business view of the matter He had
come under certain engagements, did he intend
or not to fulfill them2 He told Oliver that his
-I..xA H.
all his interests, that he was destroying his own
credit and cutting his own throat. What did he
mean by itl but added that whatever he meant,
which was his own concern he ought not to lose
a moment in coming back, and doing what he
could to repair the fearful mistake he was max
ing. The letter was curt and business-like, but
very much in earnest Oliver had come by that
time to condition of mind in which arguments
of this or any other kind was Of no avail. He
never read it; did he not know everything that
could be said to himf had he not said it all and
twenty times more to himself?
After this appeal, however, and that much
more eloquent, certainly more lengthy one of
Trix, silence fell again, and the days so anx-
iousiy watched at every post for letters passed
on and brought nothing. The excitement the
tension, the fear of suspense grew hourly. AS
yet they had managed to keep it to themselves.
Nobody knew, unless it might be the servants
who know everything. Grace was the strongest
in this effort; she replied with so composed a
look so steady a smile, to the curious questions
as to Mr. Wentworth's long absence. that curl
osity was baffied. Trix did not know how she
could do it. She, herself, grew red, the tears
came to her eyes in spite of herself. 1t was al
ways on the cards that she might break down
altogether, and take some sympathetic visitor
into her confidence She was like her brother,
not of so steady soul as Grace, and this was to
her insupportable, as his more terrible anguish
was to him.
It was from Tom Ford, however. the man
without nerves, the cool headed, mercantile per-