The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-11
TROPs MOTHER.
young Ladies Journal. /


asoHt il from the beginning Help yourself
to cigar first, and pass the box to me. l
knew you would want to hear the particu-
lars, and IL have been frs ing to put oil the
svil moment. Pm getting al old man now,
Harry, and al this shook me good deal-at
the time.
Come here, Trot, and EFT on my knee.
There that's better. SCENE odd, Harry,
don't II, 20 see an old bachelor like me nazs-
ing tiny bit of girl like Tfot2 -Four years
old to-dsy, aren't you, Trot? How the time
fiesl
.sYou see, my dear lad, you ought to have
told her before you went away. She never
guessed that you thought o. her in that way.
It might have saved her-Rho knows?
ut must be nine years since yonr Uncle
Will died and left Violet in my care. She
was only fifteen then. Don't you think
Trot is very like her? The same large brown
eyes and long lashes, the same loving little
ways
she came TO me one morning soon after
you started for China, with letter IN her
hand.
Look here, uncle she said, kneeling be-
side ne, and holding the note Where conid
read; irs from the Colds and they invite
me to 90 and stay with them at ventnor.
Msy acceptr
"'Do you want to go. violetg asked.
OF course DO she answered laughing.
We are so quiet here at home, and this
would % such . delightful change. Please
let me, uncle. I'll write you long Letters,
and tell you about everything
81 did not want 10 part with her even for
little time, for the three years she BAD been
with me then had made my life quite diff.
ferent matter; bat il seemed selfish 70 keep
the bright, merry girl always shut up with
crusty old man. gave her leave to GO and
then. when after o fortnight she wrote, beg.
giDg 10 be allowed to stay longer, as her
friends wished, l had not the heart to re-
fuse. She Was there five weeks and then she
came home.
THE very day after her return he came
that Contemptible EcoundIel whom ia those
few weeks she bad learned to regard as
hero. How he found out at first that she
had a little fortune of her own don't know.
He asked for me and told me that he wanted
my remission 10 address my niece.
He was good-lOoking young fellow, and
had frank, open manner. that was sure 10
win girls favor, but | thought of you,
Harry, ard determined TO prevent the mat
ter going further If / could, took a strong
and apparently unreasonable dislike TO him,
and made many inquiries. hoping TO find
out something that would Justify me IN for
bidding him the house, but entirely in vain
-Out STUDIED, observed every little act ana
word, until 81 last was convinced that
knew him through, and that he wss 40 ft
husband for my little Violet
by this time it had become kind of
tacit ersseemenk ard know should seem
almost brutal for interfering. but L couldn't
bear the idea of giving Nlolet into his care.
vowed 10 myself that nothing on earth
should induce me to do SO, ano teld him
10 discontinue his visits.
ssTbe result Of trat WIS that be csme 10
definite understanding With Violet, and she
p omised 10 marry him, with or without my
consent.
Don't look at rne SO reproachiully, Harry.
IT may be that / acted unwisely all through;
but II SO | have been severely punished for
my folly. You have Lex your cigar out
Here are she matches.
"You went me TO tell you all she said and
did-her very words. rs we'll IS / can rs.
member. That's q hard matter, for my MEM
ory's not so good as it used TO be.
81 was sitting here one evening. when
Violet came in slowly, and sitting down
where you ere. looked at me very sadly for
some minutes.
Uncle. dear she raid at last, L can not
understand you. / never believed that you
could be so hard and cruel
II did not speak.
at ls not ike you to be so unjust, so ar.
bitYary, she went on. 1T seems to me, uncle,
that in the matter Of marriage a woman
should choose for herself and not be infiu-
enced by any one. / have made up my
choice and given my word but Oh! / should
be 90 much happier if you we're net angry.
Do forgive NE and be your own kind self
again..
YES when you yield to my wishes' I
answered. eoldly. You are q mere girl,
Violet, and have had no experience OF men.
IL you were ten years older J should leave
you TO take the consequences of your rash
ness. but as it is
CAS- il is-what then2 On uncle and she
slipped from the chair and kneeled on the
rug at my feet 'Prsy-pTay be your old self
again Your were never angry with me be-
fore, and IL seems 50 strange and unnatural
to see you turn your head away from me
without smile. Do you love me only il
have no voice, no will of my ownr
Listen to me, child said, looking her
In the face. i have striven to be a father
to you since brought you here; have
loved you, heaven only knows how dearly!
your making a complete wreck of your life.
i want 20 save you from sad fate and you
think me tyrsut.'
''She took my hand in both hers, and
pressed her face on 1t, then looked up with
smile.
would help me 10 convince you. he always
took nay SIDE.
ct ought not to have told you that my
dear boy, but it was so fresh in my mind, as
il struck me forcibly st the time knowing as
did your love for her. Forgive me my
want cf tact.
she visa not given to shedding tears like
some women or che would have cried then.
Her cheeks were hot and burning IS they
touched my hand. while her eyes were f.
verishly bright She used every ar2umsn:
she could ind to induce me TO consent 10
her engagement. and as / remained silent
she drew nearer and gszed up eagerly in my
face.
"'IoV relent uncler she whispered in an
aeitated way. 'You will let me be happy p
:" In that way, never l told her, sadly
sand sternly, and l tried y draw way my
insers, bnt she chung to them tightly, while