The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-18

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Payne's lips. Then he held himself in with a
strong hand and spoke. very quietly. mo, /
won't mind. If You mean by that, DO angry. /
will not blame you. You were honest to me
from the first and we do not look for a rose to
bloom IN the storms of winter. Goodbye little
Nan, whom have loved all my life."
There was deep note in his voice that brought
the tears to Mans eyes. She sat there silently
after ne was gone wondering whether, after an,
love might not be worth more than some other
things, and whether any one else would ever
love her as John did.
That very week an unexpected invitation
came to her to pass two or three months with
her summer friend, Miss Amory. Blanche had
not forgotten her, then. Proud and glad as she
was of this, she would have been no less SO had
she known how urgently Quincy Amory had
logged his sisters memory.
Nan was quite used to have her own way, and
she got it in this instance weeks time found
her at home in the Amory mansion, under the
shadow of the dome of the State-house.
Blanches two sisters had gone on visit to an
aunt in Baltimore, and Blanche was lonely
enough without them to give Nan an eager wei
come. And now, indeed, Nan felt that she had
just begun to live. A grub might feel thus she
fancied, when he first discovered he was a but
terfy. Here, in tIis ancestral home where
British officers had danced stately minuets when
Massachusetts was colony, were all the delights
of which Nan had vainly dreamed. Pictures,
china, rugs, carvings, old silver, curios from
every country under the sun-the glory of ali
live.
Papa Allen had not sent his only child away
with an empty purse and Miss Amory helped to
choose the simple yet dainty costumes that made
the pretty country girl ten times prettier. And
If Quincy Amory had been touched before by
her wild-rose charms, he found them in this new
setting yet more beguiling And since he, the only
son of his father, could afford to please himself
in marriage, he began to say to himself, why
not?v Doubtless Nan might have said why
not?" too if such q wild thought could ever have
crossed her brain as that this man, to whom she
looked up with such unbounded and admiring
homage, could care for her. To be loved by the
most princely man she had ever seen, TO live al
ways in this new world of beauty-no, Mans
fancies were not strong winged enough to soar
so high.
But as the weeks went on, and she grew used
to luxury, it began to fill her heart not quite so
full as at first. Sometimes in the midst OF all
the glories that surrounded her, her thoughts
went back to Ryefield, and she heard Johns
voice say once more.
Good bye, little Nan, whom have loved all
my life"
Quincy Amory did not ask her to marry him
until she had been his sisters guest for three
months 1t was the very last day but one of
February when, one night he found that she.
little tired, perhaps of pleasure, had stayed |
at home instead of going with his sister to a
party, as had been planned Here was his
ready-made opportunity, of which he ayailed
himself in the most high bred and polished man
ner. Perhaps there was an indescribable some
thing in his voice aud bearing that brought it
home to Nan that he was comforting upon her
AN extreme distinction instead of seeking from
her, as John Payne had done, the GROWING grace
and glory of his own life.
If he had made his offer the first month Nan
was there, while yet she was dazzled by the
splendor and nobility of everything, have little
donbt but that she would have accepted it, Now
that she had grown used to things, they had less
power over her-and she began. instead of con
atty r1o IF hipth
and state, to ask herself if this high bred list
less young man really loved her. Suddenly she
asked the question out loud:
Are you quite sure you love me- Mr.
Amorya'
''Quite sure. indeed. Could have any other
motivel
And his words and his tone lent force to her
already keen sense that it was something akin
this Mayfower descended young man was pro-
posing to bestow on her. What imp of the per-
verse was it that would not let her say yesg
Please must think little she answered
quietly, just as she had answered John Payne
before. II will tell you tomorrow night"
And Mr. Amory seemed quite at ease. No
doubt he approved of the delicacy that would
not be too eager. 1t suited his TASTE and even
enhanced the girls value in his eyes. He talked
then about Indifferent subjeets-some new
paintings at the Art Museum, the photographs
at Doll & Richards from the pictures of 1.-The
Hermitage" a coming performance of the Pas
sion music.
Nan was glad at last, when she could civilly
get away to her own room and think the whole
thing over. A soft coal fire was burning in her
CRATE and it lighted the luxurious room with its
warm, soft hangngs, its sleepy-hollow chairs
and the dainty writing table with all its pretty
appointments This was just what Nan longed
for-what she had craved dumbly ever since she
could remember. She had only to say ''Yes" to
have it, and all it symbolzed her own for always.
What was the drawback? Why did she hear
nx,6 hnan -, @t,o%1 o1E
of Johns9 Was it possible that she, too, had
loved him all her life--al her life-and had new
er known it until now9 Was it because it was
another. and not John, who offered them to her
that all the external things she had craved so
long seemed to her, in this hour of no ACCOUNT
She thought late into the night, and then she
slept ftful sleep, in which she dreamed that
John Payne and Quincy Amory were each pull
ing her, one to the right, the other to the left,
and she woke with little cry on her lips lest
she should be torn in two.
The next morning she said TO Miss Amory
Il must go home tomorrow 1t will be the
first day of spring"
And, despite all persuasion, she kept to this
resolution. Quincy Amory heard of her pur-
pose with misgvngs. 1t seemed natural
that after having promised to marry him she
should think we'll to go away Her delicate
sense of propriety was one Of her charms He
went without misgivng to find her in the
library whittier she had betaken herself after
dinner.
well, my willful wild rose" he said gayly as
he took his seat beside her, ''are you ready to
answer mep
'Quite ready, Mr. Amory."
He smiled.
Don't you think you could learn to say
Quincy, nowar
mo, Mr. Amory. for shall have no right"
The careless smile died on his lips, and his
eyes looked into hers with sudden grave in
quiry.
'Do you mean, he said, 'that you do not like
met"
"Oh, no, no; I like you so much Imean only
that that is all 1t is not enough, is itp
THAT depends Do you care for anyone else
in that wayg'
Sudden bushes turned Mans face scarlet.
i am afraid that is it," she said. II did not
know it till last night. 1t was only when /
came to think what it would be to stay away
always from Ryefeld that I began to under