The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-06

noying. After all, though, what matter about
ones company when the end of the pilgrimage
is love-love! and the lovliest maiden in the
world!
This knocking and pounding were most extra
| ordinary. Was it the jolting of the coach over
the rough pavement No; it was the mob at
the doors of the Jail, come to drag the prisoner
forth and kill him: Nonsense; yo1der old book
worm is dropping his armful of books, one after
another. When they are all gone the pounding
will stop, unless he picks them up again. But
there again! Ha! So dark, too! What Is III
All right-yes-here!
Lund staggered to his feet. pressed his hands
to his eyes, stood unsteadily for a moment or
two, then CROPPED his way to the door and threw
it open. A glare of light from the hallway daz-
zled him, so that he blinked and shaded his eyes;
but there was a man standing there-a young
man. handsome. vigorous, laughing and holding
out his hand.
why. Ferris, old man. how are you! Have
you forgotten Jack Austenl They told me you
were here, and l was bound to get at you:
Your old tricks! The same old Lund! But no
more maps this evening. I've come to wake you
up"
Come in" said Lund, shaking his hand cor
daily. II don't know what | could have been
thinking of. l lay down a few moments ago TO
smoke a cigar-but that was before sunset, and
now it's dark. I wasn't sleepy-but l suppose L
must have-were you knocking longP
Austen only laughed, stumbled against a
chair, and sat down in it. Lund got a match
and lit his lamp. Austen glanced around the
room, and then fixed his gray eyes on his
friend with an amused expression.
"Sleepyl' exclaimed he; Il should say So"
You're asleep yet, and here it is not s o'clock.
Your habits cry out for reform my dear fellow,
and L am the man for your need. This isn't
half a bad little corner you've squeezed yourself
into. by tie by. And how comes on the science
of Esculaplus2"
Lund pointed to a framed diploma handing on
the wall, which announced to whom it might
concern that Ferris Lund had been admitted to
the degree of Bachelor of Medicine.
NJ dear doctor, accept my homage and con-
gratulationsw said the other, patting his friend
on the knee. But is this your official chamberP
Is it here that the cupping and blistering, the
physicking and philtering are transacted9'
Il haven't begun to practice yet" replied
Lund. There is no hurry; and | am more in
terested in the literary phase Of the profession
than in the practical have a notion Of writing
something"
"Bah!-the literary phase! Write a novel, or
an arithmetic, or a love sonnet, if you like; but a
work on medicine-no! What you want and
must have, Ferris, is activity. You are always
going into brown studies, and falling asleep.
Why don't you follow my example and join the
armys You might have been surgeon, if you
wished; but at any rate you'd have some fun!
you last, I've never had a dull hour-not even
when l was asleep, ard I've seen the world, and
l fiatter myself that l know something. The
worst of you is, youhave an independent income;
bankruptcy. However, 1 have three months
leave, and that is SO much to your good. What
are you going to do this evenings"
Well, I'm generally here in the evenings"
replied Lund, smiling at the vivacity of his com
panion.
"Of course you are, but now I'm going to bring
you up with a round turn. In the first place we
start in half an hour for the opera, where l have
the entree of Lady Pamela's box; and between
the acts you shall 60 behind the scenes and be
presented to the diva; and, as you are a hand
some dog, in spite of your laziness, l shouldn't
wonder if you got an invitation to sup with her.
You are sadly deficient in the discipline and
civilization which only woman can effect. and you
couldn't do better than begin with the divas
Number two-to-morrow (or next day, for you'll
want to sleep all day to-morrow)-day after to-
morrow, then, we start on a journey
"A journey" repeated Lund, looking up.
"a journey, a pilgrimage, a campaign, or
whatever you like. At all events. we take our
places on the coach and a days iolting, more or
less, will bring us to our destination"
And what is thatg"
A in good time. I'm not going to unfold
myself any further at present. But you shall
see some wise fellows and, which is more, some
householders, and. which is more. as pretty a
piece of flesh as there is between this and John
O. Greats; and one that knows the law, 90 to; and
a rich fellow enough. go to-; and one that hath
two gowns and everything handsome about her!
Come away! and if do not show you good
reason, forget not, when time ard place shall
specify, to write me down an ASST
"a travelling booth would suit you better than
the army said Lund; well, we will think fur
Their about the journey; hut as for tonight"
"Give me tonight" the other exclaimed, flour
ishing the light cane he carried, and Ill answer
for. Hullo! by Jove!"
There had been a crash. The cane had struck
the Venetian vase and knocked it off the mantel-
piece, and it lay on the floor in irremediable
fragments.
I'm awfully sorry, old fellow" said Austen.
"Was it valuable!
That's as one happens to feel, replied Lund.
But it had lived to a good age, and very likely
1t had served its purpose"
~.
Lets get out and stretch our legs" said Aus
ten a couple of days later. 'If we're the King
I'd make convicts ride all day in stage coaches.
And you are even worse than usual. / believe
in my soul you're in love with the diva"
81 would not presume-until the rest have got
through" Lund answered.
''Then what the deuce makes you so mum?
Anyone would swear you were Matching a SON.
net"
well. the fact is I'm puzzled, said Lund.
Puzzled? Oh, about our destination. Curl
osity-"
mot at all. Perhaps I could tell you more
about that than you could tell me-"
Been down here before then-eh9 Oh you
sly dog!"
"Wrong again. I was never in this part of the
| country since l was born"
Then what are driving at9'
"We!l. for instance; a dozen times to-day, you
have said something that l knew you were going
to say before you spoke"
'In other words, you find my conversation
monotonousf Thanks! If I used my tongue as
little as you do, I might ~contrive to be more
original.
Nonsense. Austen. 1t was the same with the
others-the driver, the guard, the old lady on
the hack seat recoopiZad them all aud ra-
membered what they were going to say, if the
expression be Movable. And this old posting
house; if 1 had lived here a month it could not
be more familiar to me-"
Austen stared doubtfully at his friend, and
laughed. 'Oh,y you were always full Of your
mysteries" he said.
I'll give you a test then. I'll tell you the
color of the near leader they're going to give us