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


much Of place. consisting OF only dozen
or 30 struggling houses, two general stores
snd meeting house, on the line of the
Boshawa and So. Paul Railway. All the
buildings were OF wood and most oil them
were painted dark and hideous brown,
though here and there verands Of vivid
green or a brilliant blue doorstep marked |
che dwelling of seme unusually ambitious
Cornerer. AL dwellers at the Corners egreed
that old Dea. Tffsny's hOuse.was "thesmsrt-
est in the lot" ard this csrtsinly could not
hn denied. It stood on q small piece Of ris-
II g grouI d overlooking the railway track,
somewhat conspicuous position, where tas
eleven different col0rs which ornamspted ira
foft could not fail to DC observed of all
travellers. These eleven colors were the
ride OF the Deacon's heart; Ia would stand
IL tie hour and contemplate with placid
satisfaction and modest pride the green and
gsll0w stripes OF the veraDda, the slate col
oIFd coTnice, or, best Of all, the gorgeous new
bow window Ito Mirsndy's rsom." The
Deacon certainly had,as was said admiringly
- the Corners, IAN eye tor color" Even
his beehives were all painted, either yellow
on blue, and instead CT being clustered to-
eth IN corner, as is generally the Gaze,
we've scattered promiscuously about his gar
Eafden, according 10 a new and original
pen conceived by their owner, to VII I'm
fhsiF appearances afforded the keeDsst salts
elton. IL was his greatest plta8urs Ia lie
10 slaud at the gate OF q summer evening,
aiFred IN Il striped flannel shirt, palm Leaf
bat aud pair OF trousers depending on tho
FILL r. 4.
itxufiOusly smoking long stemmed corn
coo pipe, and contemplating with innocent
srd profound admiration bic msny cOlored
domicile and It's surrounding beehiveg.
The prospect might have been
lightly maned for some people by
"seshings," which wers invariably in
itll view on either side OF the house-lt was
leeUlisrity OF Mrs. Tihsny's always %
have something "on.tho line" Bat tho Dea-
cob didn't mind. on the contrary, he rather
fuioyed the sight Of q few lilac calico gowns
aud 'fising sun" oountcfpancs Tapping Ia
the hffezs. 1t kinder bHghiens things 40.
- see he need 70 say. But fond ~ ne vas
ol bright colors aud generously A. hc had
been able TO graufy hts taste, u did ones
hesrt good 10 SEQ how careful the Deacon was
~ hts lees fortunate neirhbors feelings. He
would stroll Gown 20 the village of an avan.
AK and fsGing mildly ~ tho particular dull
I'D dingy shade OF brown which orna.
b'tobtnith, woald hypoortically remark
tUai BE- didn't know but what such a color
81 tibet vantbest Tor the eyer. after ell, +" and
" at ~ IL hadn't been for Mirandys comm
lnu he didn't know a. he would how that
thar shnee OF blue onto the biw windef, bat
pale generally has n leanin % blue"
Miranda had heen away for tour yenra.
tifsi 81 school in a far distant Esaiern ely,
hud t1en, without coming home abe went
away 90 Europe for year, rartly a. gov.
erness 10 the two little onteri OF former
fCh0olmnie, partly ~ companion 90 their
lucy invalid mother. MfB. rittsny strongly
dtnpprovsd OF theno proceedings. She was
tol MlAnfaH own mother, aud naturally
her own girls, AZ and i,is took precedence
ga herelts She didn't see why that pale
iat MiIardy thould have oil the nook
tnfptu' aud tfAYelin' thar war goin's' bat
nn this point the Deacon, usually mild and
WELDING, had been hrm and loyal 10 the
memory OF his hrst wife, tho pretty, gentle
Eastern girl, whoae "h10k larnn' - had been
almost her only consolation ia tho pine boli.
tudes OF Romulua, and who had begred OF
BIN mot 10 let Miranda grow up West
Aud the Deacon had prom sed and bravaiy
lept his word In spite OF the un0ldlne and
laokfymose o0mplainings ot MIRA. Tiffany
the ssoopd and her grls.
Twice daring the four years didthe Deacon
visit her At school, and now nj last Miranda
~ coming home. IL IL the nth 81 June, and
she 10 20 tail for Amerloa the 10Th, and the
deacon stands &C the rate and lets his pipe
out half dozen times as he thinks OF his
lil,ie Ral,' and wonders hoa she will like
ihe Few Paper In her room, and whether
'ihot thar moequitv curtain hadn't oughter.
ahen blue Instead o. pink
Fer awey In the smoke and noise OF Lon.
utn Miranda IN parting rom Fitzgerald.
You know, be said, II shall be back In
New York next year, probably Tor good, and
then : shall pay n visit t0--what Ia it2'--
smiling "Remua9-no Romulus. and carry
tou of like the knight OF the fairy tale,
hore"
You won't like it-Romulus mean
she answers. the corner OF her mouth trem-
bling; 'il-it Is SO diiierent--I hate itl" with
quick passion, "and yet" dropping nor
voice, Il hate myself moro for feeling 20.
oh, help me, help me 10 bear Il al ~ she
cries suddenly, turning TO him with q
IiltOus li.tle gesture He s0Olhes her nall
impatiently-ia 10 a shade OF annoy anoe
which crosses his lace And then, You
n ust be brave. Miranda" he says. sue
moves away from him. pushing the hair back
rom her forehead, and looking up steadily.
"lteh sbe answers Il gill be Draws and pa
tent Tnen presently, as II longing % be
assured "NOu-you will c0me | know you
win with little break in the voice she
tries 90 keep steady. 'Of course" he says,
lightly. SEE looks At him bali wonderlBgly.
This rsftinF, which is so terrible 80 her can
Il BE- but a small thing to him2
a dreadful feeling OF doubt and Loneliness
rosrfs over Ter. she turns 30 the WinuOR
~ dumb agony and vazss into the crowded
street Fitzgerald psces the room for a few
aeuents Then he comes no to her 'Mi-
randa, Re says. this sort OF thing 10 awful
ven krou. We had far better cut 10 short"
be taxes both her hands She Is quite calm
and Uessive now. lt seems 20 her that al
feeling has left her. Through intense
suffering che has almost Vasstd into IN.
ronsCIcssI ess OF PAIN her face is white
ard still Fitzgerald looks II her curiou-iy.
'Muanca. listen" he says, gently, I'VE can
write you know little CLEAN of eager
ness pssses over her fac. Yes she sn-
sveTs Il had not thought Of that" Then
IL cf- Ia