The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-14


low festherr) with express and declared pur
pose of 'takln' the shine out of Mirandy's
turin fxlBin's", aud Liz hes spent the
greater part of three days in perfecting = Ger
tain wonderful arrangement OF her moiasses
candy colored locks. which arrangement is
declared by her friend. Miss PFice. who has
lately visited Chicago % be the --latest
European style" 1t is a teari0lly hot after.
noon. ar there has been no rain for fort
night. The little grass plot IS browl aud
dusty, the san beats down fercely on the
yellow, sandy path. Inside the house an
early s7ppef is set out on the table; flies are
buzzing about the wire gauze cover which
protects some sticky-lookIng preserve" and
n big bumble-bee, which has come IN through
the window and accidentally tumblsd
into the pewter milk Jug, has managed to
get out Of il again, much 20 his own aston
ishment, and is slowly travelling across the
table, leaving little dr0ppings of
cream TO mark bis progress. Mrs Tiffany,
her cork screw curls gathered in q knot be-
hind one ear, her sleevea tucked we'll up TO
to the elbow, displaying liberal expanse OF
red arm, is standing on the doorstep. Liz,
attired ia pink gown and profusi0n OF
cheap iewelJy, is lolling on horss-hsir 50
ia reading dime novel,
And the Deacon brings Miranda home
Slowly and YEARLY the days have become
y
have lengtbereo into years, and two years
have gone By sir cs Miranda's Homecoming
II is again al evening In Juoe, and the Dea-
cans pslm-leal hat Is used vigorously to
beat of he mosquitoes as ne and Miranda
stroll down the quiet, deserted oath "Fa-
ther," she ibsFins suddenly, y want you
20 DO something for me Now, thAs's
kind y couT ous,p remarks The DesojB, Ter
/ vas jes a ,hinkin' MirsDdy, what thar
wss I could 90 fer TO make YOU happieG'
Why, fatheTW she cries with q iittle At-
tempt at q laugh. what has pat IL into your
head TO imagine that I'm not happy Such
silly old father "M'aadyn says the
Deacon, quietly, I've knowed on Il for a
long time.--Iye knOwed on Il FOR months an
mODtha Did ye think | couldn't zee the
locks that's bin q grown IN yer eyes2 DID
We think idn't Know nv gal was lgellih'P'
20, don't ny that don't say ihatl" she
cries. with sharp pain in her Yoice. II
didn't know fOa noticed have tried,
have tried 80 hard
That's whAr Il is Mirendy," SAYS the
Deacon, teuderly You hey tried, and
can't abeer 80 Gee ye tryin to ba nappY.
Don SO tfy, Mirauds don't ye now. That
@as what killed ser mother Add lbe
Deacon sghs, Some folks be- continued,
Oraeulnrly kin 30 happy agn eaT0umsian-
cep, aud aome f1lks cant 10 wa1nt fra her
uttur Mirbuty, aud 10 ain'l in youfn.
Don't We Try, MY ufetty, don't 80 try"
Father. ia,herl che tobn, aud suddenly
buried her quivedpg face gpon hts shoulder
The Dtason gently strokes her bar. "Et
pwOuld 80 5 . nny good 90 tell A., MThady,
be faye. hes|iatlnRly. "Yoe, will tell YOU, -
che answers quickly. II infant 90 have
tod you long ago. bal nl hfot put it oil,
and alterwafd -somehoW- oonldn't'
And then. With eyes on the eroaBi apl
little, hUi, trembling hands claapod before
her che tells her story, hoN Fitzgerald Wnn
the uncle OF her little nhurgsH their moth.
cr brotheri how he had perrieieuuy sought
her loclely, and h0R she bad Al liflt tried ~
rsIulsa him. how Mt last. ono uight Ia
Nenloe, he bad aaked heT 10 be his wife, and
she, loving him dearly ~, Indeed, the bad
done all along ooosented how theg had
b,en very, very happy how he had said
that lac WAS too fo0f u claim her lof a l0ag
cline Yet, and hade her wall patently uutii
The time should come, how they hsd parted
Ina London, and then how ghe had heard
three timca from him ia the brut elk months
The last letter, from New York promialng a
speedy Wait. how aha had answered IL, aud
alter months hat written again, Hnd how no
ahANer had come, not even line, mol u
word In All the long months
And this ia al, kho does not speak OF the
sleeplees nights aud the wearing days OF tho
fevofish eegernesg OF past time ana the hope
less blank when n has patand--0l the quick
bounding OF her heart NJ every strange step,
hiss followed, o. the nnoongennl oompan'
ions aud surroundings which have made
these things dOuhly hard 90 hear-of all thia
khe n silent. She tells hol story quietly aud
steadily, and the D.acon listens without q
word.
by and 10y he ssys slowly "Ive bin
thinkin' for some time my pretty, OF gain'
on n trip somewhona-llsi you and me
Eogother. Would you like a. Mirand, 20
she locks mp In surprise, puzzled NJ hia
manner aud almost wounded that be foima
90 take so little interest. then seeing that he
"a waiting for on answer, she says, lrSing Ia
tCRp cheeriuluess YES, father, very much.
IL u 90 Jacksonvilie" naming place dly
miles distant, beyond which che Deacon
little journey seldom extended
NO says the old man, hesiialiuely I've II
90 east, Mirandy. What would ye say 20
New York; o, father, no" she cries turn.
ing away and hiding her burning lace In her
hands. Not ihat--l couldn't"
"HG don't need 10 act SO, Mlrandy,' he
taye, gently. Would gsk ye % DO any.
thing We hadn't oughier d02 Wen go 10
yer Aunt Lbby's, my pretty she'll be glad
10 see ye Tor yer mothers sake Then In a
low tone aud hurTitdly "IhAr's many
things might have hRppened-maybs Ia
went away and never got yer letters lhar'1
no tellin pears a Il 'twould be more con-.
ftItable 20 know fer sure-al' thata that
b dead sure 60 Fet bstfef bargain up in
New York. kinder hated dOin' tho lob Ia
jacksonville; tain't much OF a place anyhow.
Kn 20 be ready ~ TIE norma, mirsndy P'
and the Deacon assumes The cir Of plea.
anticipation MIrandy's heart thr0bs wild.
~ she tries In vain ID crush the unfeason.
ing Joy which fills her aud gives against her
viii, lightness ard buoyancy 60 hsr stops
aud brightness 10 her dark eyes. Sac spends
She first part Of the night Ia hasty prepare.
IHtions and afitrTagd, with no thought Of
sleep sits az the open window Ok her room,
her head buried 10 her hands dreaming per
hans. less 81 tie future than Of the past.
in the gray dawn OF the next morning
father and daughter are al ,eady on their
way, and tie evening OF the second day
hDds them III New York. Aunt Libby "a
ceives them with open arms. aud TO MirEndy
he evening passes ike dream. Long a.
terwsrd little scraps Of conversation and an
Il IL Z l. -. u. l.. Il