The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26

Grace! thought you could not Dear 10 nave Lex
out Of your sight"
81 hope was not such an ass as to say so;
hut canuot help myself-it is an oldfriend--"
''Who is he, do I know himl' she said, as
Grace had said You men are so ridiculous
about your friends. Probably somebody that
did you nothing but harm, and whom you would
be thankful never to hear of again."
'.You speak like an oracle, Trix; but must go
all the same.'
"And why don't you say who he Isl All, it
was great deal better for you, Oliver, when
you had no friends that your sister didn't know
Of Tell ne who he is, at least; tell me his
name"
.sYou would not be bit the wiser. You know
nothing whatever about him. Trix, take great
sare of her while am away
'Oh, as for taking care of herr He went
out of the room while she was speaking to put
his necessaries into his bag. A telegram had
been put into his hand as he entered the house,
which had made his face. if possible, still more
grave. And as he left her with that troubled
sountenance, bis sisters mind was full of COM
motion and anxiety. She ran over every name
she could think of, of people whom she had
heard him speak, wondering whose urgent claim
this could be. She, too, felt the influence OF that
sudden cloud which blotted out the sky and
brought the sudden deluge of the spring shower
pouring about the ears of the wayfarers the
darkness assisted her womanish imagination, as
it had done that of Grace. 1t was like a sudden
misfortune falling when no one thought OF 1t.
And Mrs Fords mind was greatly exercised
When Oliver came into the room again, ready
to start, she got up quickly and went to him,
Selling with her two hands the lappels of his
coat OLIVER" she cried, II hope to goodness it
Is a him, and not. You couldn't you wouldn't
1T is possible"
Suspicion seems always possible, he said
narshly, putting her away from him. Was it the
natural indignation of the one unjustly blameds
eff that is all you think of me- what will it mat
ter what sayl'
''Oh," cried Trix who was mpulsive. II beg
your pardon, Noll. 1t was only that lit was
because was so anxious, oh, so anxious, that
everything should 60 well. You won't be long
mot any longer than you can helpq"
mot moment" he said. "If l can return
tomorrow will. hope SO with all my heart.
= Going at all is no pleasure. Take care of her
while / am away
1t seemed to Trix that he was gone before she
had convinced herself that he was going. 1t was
very sudden He had not intended to go at all
till after his marriage He had said so only this
morning, and why this change all in
an hour friend! 1t must be very
intimate friend, she concluded, or he would
not have thrown up all his plans to 60 and visit
To ha yvba ie he g
likely to wait the convenience of another who is
about 10 be married. She told her husband,
when he came home in the evening, and he, a
good man who was not won't to trouble himself
by searching out hidden meanings, received the
news with great placidity. us it any one we
knowT" was his first question. II hope it may
be the sort of friend who will leave him some
thing-a legacy couldn't come at better
moment" This was wonderful sedative to her
alarms, and turned her thoughts into quite a
different channel. 1t would be, indeed a most
suitable moment to have legacy left him.
Every time is suitable for that, but when man
is about to be married, nothing could be more
appropriate. Mrs. Ford went across in the
evening, after dinner, to see Grace. They lived
quite near each other, and the Fords for that
evening had no engagement. She found her
future sisterinlaw sitting over little bright
fire, reading novel, with papers beside her on
the table, lists from the furniture shops, and
some made out in her own handwriting of things
that would be required in the new house. Miss
Goodheart received Mrs Ford very cordially.
ut feels so odd to be quite alone again." she
said, with a little laugh, which was slightly
parvoue sfapd ,chan ono 1idptf Co r
was glad to find a new book. Poor Oliver, he
will not have pleasant journey hope he will
find his friend better. Is he friend of yours
toog"
''He was in such hurry he had not time to
tell me. nor to ask him" said Trx, which was
not, as the reader knows, quite true.
There was a little pause after this, as if they
each would have liked to ask questions of the
other; and then, no questions being possible as
neither knew, they plunged into furniture. which
is very enthralling subject Trix, having ex-
perience, was able to give many hints, and to
suggest number of things Grace had left out
kitchen things, for instance. How can any one
know about pots and pans, and how many are
necessary, without practical knowledge supplied
by recent experienced
They both subdued little dull pain they had
about the region of their hearts by good long
talk on this sabject. and parted quite cheerfully
when Mr. Ford-who never had any pains in
that region except those which are produced by
digestion out of order-came to fetch his wife,
''Oliver will take the opportunity to do several
things on his own hook, now that he has man
aged to tear himself away" that gentleman said.
'"rhe great difficulty was to tear himself away.
And only hops his friend will leave him some
thing
This, though it was so prosaic, gave a real
comfort to the two women. 1t brought his mis-.
sion quite down from tho mystery that hung
about it to the range of commonplace affairs.
1t was not till Wentworth was fairly gone
from the station, shut mp by himself in a COM
partment of a frstclass carriage, and unap-