The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-19
Written for the Indianapolis Sentinel
META WOODRUFF.
By B1rs- Adcfe Deftch Frank.
CHAPTER XIV.

oOO-%
hundreds o, guests GINNING and goirg. Guests
from far and near. representing many ma
tions. Some come FOR pleasure, TO view the
beautiful scenery, while many come in
search OF health.
The hotel is large and vel built, TO &C
commodate from q thousand to fifteen hun
dred guests. On the porch, which runs the
whole length and breadth of the house. sits
. handsome young man smoking cigar,
who is evidently lost in deep thought. Be
side him is q middle-sged gentleman who
sits idly gazing a. his son. These two men
are Eugene day and his father.
Mr.. Hay has grown stronger day by day,
until he is now al most we'll His son has
grown thinner and paler, and his eyes have
= grave, sad expression. His cheeks are no
longer rosy and he is silent most of the
time. SIX long months have passed by. and
ne has not received one line or word flom
the girl he loves so well.
MY son, / have made up my mind to
start for home tomorrow, as / feel strong
and well, and fear this climate does not
agree with you, ss you are looking
wretcbed," said Mr.. Hay.
Nonsense, father, am perfectly we'll,
do not want ever to return to America"
What do you mean, Eugene? Iwouid
not live in Europe the remainder OF my life
dnder any consideration"
at least let rs remain abroad as long as
u was our first intention OF doing" Eugene
said eadingly.
Il fear Eugene that something worse is
the matter with voc than you are willing to
acknowledge TO me. By the way, have you
heard from Meta lately2'
Not for several months.
10 nh oh To Ioo
so pale and thin"
II loved her father and love her yet with
all my heart. The thought OF her proving
untrue to me is more than / can bear
she seemed 70 be . most noble girl, aud |
am mt Oh surprised at her conduct. Bat,
my boy, there are many more who would
he true.
she mas shaken my faith Ia all her sex"
You must not say that, Eugene, for you
mad mother who was AL that man could
wish for. Because one woman mas proven
herself false 10 - s. cred promise. is that
reason her sex should ali be condemned
Oh no, my boy. you are not " ise in allowing
your mind 10 dwell upon such unjust
thoughts
DO not blame me, fatler I can not help
it,"
Here comes your cousin, what hand
some lady she is"
Handsome indeed but heartlessn an
swered Eugene scornfully.
You are wrong. She can not prevent
men from falling in love with her / would
10 God you would make her your WIFE,"
Would you have me marry Der when my
heart belongs to Meta Woodruff
she loves you, Eugene, and would make
you love her. Marry her, my boy, and make
my old age happy"
What IL she refuse my o fer of marriage ?''
said Eugene thoughtfully.
She will not, can not, loving you as she
does"
Mr.. Hay had no reason 10 believe his niece
loved his son, except that he thought every
porc Ha8st love his noble boy.
"Then as it pleases you, father, will marry
her. for tince Meta can be nothing to me, /
care for no one as do you.
''God blfs you. Eugene; YOU ara dutiful
son, /" he said shaking Eugene's ha1d warmly.
As she Is coming this way L will retire 70
my ROOM my mind is too much disturbed
to meet her as / should" he said, turning
away from his father. He did not want
him to read in his face the pain it cost him
to comply with his wish; he would rather
remain single the remainder of his life than
10 marry a woman he did not love.
Entering his room he threw himself across
his bed and wept like child. Oh, Eugene
Why do you do this? Why do you not re-
turn to Meta Woodruff and ask her for an
explanation of her cruel conduct? That
unhappy girl would welcome you only too
10 the contrary she is true to you.
He had no doubt but what Meta had re-
csived his letters; Ii was not pride which
kept him from going to her II she did not
answer his letters, so full OF love and tender
pleading, che surely would not see him.
''Ah, uncle, you are looking so we'll this
morning; / dare say you will be wanting to
return home soon" said Flossy, rs she came
up TO her uncle.
81 do now child"
.T do not blame you in the least, for am
also tired of France, French peopls and
fashionable French society, and long for
home again."
~ bad thought that perhaps We might be
compe lied to leave you here. some oil
these noblemen SEEM to be desperately IN
love with my beautiful niece" ne said
watching Der attentiyely.
Yet, do not care for them. But | must
tell You of some one l do care for very
much, she said, her eyes sparkling witt
pleasure.
Eugene, of course, +" exclaimed Mr.. Hay.
81 90 like him, but not IS l do someon,
else. be is so nice, uncle; he has large
handsome black eyes and moustache which
10 charming. His name is-wsll, shall
never tell you unless he asks me- to"
"Flossy, / was IN hopes that you would
one day be my daughter
What do you mean, uncls?' she asked il
astonishmenL
That l want you to marry Eugene.
thouaht you loved him."
"You are wrong. How little you under
stand my AZURE Gear uncle. One wculC
think that 81 your age you could read ant
understand everyone
UNFORTUNATELY am neither clairvoin
or O mind reader"
II DO not believe that such gift was eyel
given to mortal being"
Nevertheless il Is true But il is of III
use in nv trying to convince you of thi
fact for know shall fail IN the attempt
"fou are very kind to yourself more 81
than 10 your niece. By the way, received
a letter from a friend of mine in New York
in which she told me of the Disappearance
of Miss Meta Woodruff"
Has she eloped with someone?" Mr.. Hay
asked, excitedly.
ssMy friend says nothing definite is known