The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-23

stalwart manly frame, and thinking one OF the
greatest gifts after all, was personal appear
ance.
Our conversation, after so long separation,
naturally consisted of questions and answers of
personal nature, and 1 soon asked him:
Have you met your fate yet, Gerald!'
been in love, suppose you mean9" he re-
piled, laughing. We'll, you see l have just
come from parts where fellow must make
love, pretend to, to get along at ALL but
cannot plead guilty to any grand passion, as
yet"
"But how about you?" he continued. "Have
any bright rustic eyes come between you and
your books9n
Fool that l was. not to open my heart to him
then and there. Not to tell him thought of
one woman only! Yet | was shy and proud. l
could not even say that my love was viewed ia
vorably. A withered flower, given half in jest
do you remember itl A little preference, it
might be, over my rivals, and that bestowed Tor
the sake Of friendship, not love-this was all
had to show in the return for the love L mad
given and which L knew mustever give through
life. So laughed as he questioned me, and
answered as in lest
tainly invulnerable against the attacks of rustic
maidens hereaboutS"
Il hoped and expected to be introduced to
your future wife, in the person of the only
daughter of some neighboring squire; and would
have done you a good turn by sounding your
praises whilst l admired his fat oxen"
"Well, L will present you to all the eligible
daughters hereabout, and you can praise their
papas' oxen on your own account"
Thank you-although seriously, am tired
IIV1r,f oil nY6XE Ifn ND
am quite ready to meet my fate when and
wherever she appears
do not hesitate, my wife, to record these
trivial words, for | know they will seem to you
as sweet echoes of long stilled voice.
Gordon and sat talking nearly all that night
and parted at last, each happy to find the others
friendship the same as of old.
The next day, with little regret, I tossed my
books aside and did all in my power to make my
guests visit pleasant one to him. We shot,
drove and rode together, and the short wintry
days seemed even shorter with my light hearted
friend at my side. | took him to visit all my
friends save one; need scarcely say the reason
for that omission. Too we'll 1 knew that, had l
been girl, Gerald Gordon was the man who
might have won my heart had he chosen. Too
we'll / knew that if the eyes of love enhanced
they did not imagine your charms, and that his
interest, at least, could scarcely fail to be
aroused. So | dreaded to bring about meeting
between him and you 1t came at last.
would have Stunned that gathering could have
found decent preteXt, but the whole country
side were hidden to that ball, and my absence
from it would have been remarked. Besides
Gerald would have gone anyway. He was very
merry we drove over at the expense Of the
imaginary persons we should meet; but l said
nothing. The moment we entered the room
saw his eyes fall upon you. | saw his look of
surprise, of admiration, as he comprehended
your regal beauty at one glance, and
before the evening over 1 felt that what |
dreaded was afoot, and that my friend would
probably be my rival. If his attentions to you
that evening were no more than man might
properly pay to the most attractive woman in
the assemblage, they were sufficient to make me
fear the worst. Even as / write this l can see
his tall figure bending over you, and hear him
whispering words which. spoken with the easy
self confident manners of man of the world, l
knew intuitively must have been sweet to any
young girls ears.
At last that night, gay and enjoyable to all
save me- ended. You had departed and after
that it needed little persuasion on my part TO
draw Gerald from the scene We started on our
drive home, with the stars shining pure and
clear through the frosty skies. was sullen and
unhappy; my companion brmful of curiosity to
learn all l could tell him concerning his late
partner.
''ls Miss Howard friend of vours?" was his
first question.
81 have known her some years. Do you ad-
mire her? Although / need scarcely ask" |
added. bitterly
Admire her. should think so. have seen
some Of the most beautiful women in the world,
but never one l admired more She was not
very we'll dressed, of course but that is only a
milliners business"
So he talked on and on as we drove that six
miles of road. and my heart sank within me.
and cursed the friendship which had led him to
visit me and induced me to press him to prolong
his stay. He spoke of nothing but you, ringing
your praises in various keys, until l relapsed
into sort of moody silence, or only answered
his eulogistic remarks by monosyllables Prob
ably he noticed my changed manner, as on
reaching home said:
"You are awfully tired, | can see Philip; so l
will be merciful to night ard not keep you up
for another cigar. Good night"
Whether he kept me up not it mattered
nothing. Weary as | truly was, there was little
sleep for that night.
When met the next morning it was the
same again; your image clearly was before his
eyes. Although he spoke jestngly of the havoc
you had wrought, knew that more than Jest
lay under that laughing EXTERIOR that the i'm
preston you had made was no transient one.
tried TO hide my feelings, and to answer his
playful remarks in the like vein, but my efforts
were of little use. felt that his keen eye de-
tected something amss with me- He looked
inGuisitive, but said nothing for a while. After
breakfast, as we were discussing our plans for
the day, he asked
Would it not be poiteness to ride over and
inquire how Miss Howard is after last nights
dlSslpatlonE
1 started, and answered: "If you wish it par
tcularly we will do so;" and, as | forced the
words my voice sounded strange and felt that
the color had left my cheek.
The manner of my assent must, l suppose.
have strengthened any suspicion he already felt
as to the true state of the case with me, for he
crossed the room. placed his hands on my shout
ders, and with his bright, searching eyes looked
deep into mine
Tell me truly, Philip--truly, minds there
anything like love between You twol'
| Even then l might have told him. but was
too proud to say loved without love in return.
Too proud to throw myself or his mercy. as ii
seemed to me such confession must, so | met
his eyes without qualing and answered firmly:
There is no love between us"
'But you do love herr persisted Gerald
Il admire her for her great beauty; that is
ALL"
And even as told the lie saw that he be-
lieved what he wished to believe and l knew