The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-10

ers death sincerely, but could not, after her
first anguish of grief was past find any cause for
self-accusation. And yet the memory remained
like an unhealed wound, every touch OF which
gave pang After the prescribed year of mourn
ing she had never made her formal entry into
her old world; and though society still knew her
as mere bowling acquaintance it had ceased to
occupy itself with her affairs. Her life seemed
like long, empty corridor in which every foot
fall gave sharp resonance; usually, however,
it was only her own footsteps that fell upon her
ear; for her aunt was a noiseless and unob-
trusive creature who wore the very softest of
slippers. Gentlemen appeared occasionally, in
dress coats and opera-hats, but most of them
impressed Catharine like mechanical tops, which
could be made to do anything, if you only pressed
tho right spring. Her wealth, position and in
tellect gave her secure feeling of superiority
which she scarcely betrayed, but which adorers
were quick to divine. She was not supposed to
be popular with men, though there were those
who had been heard to swear ecstatically
about her in corners of fashionable
clubs She was so tall, so divinely serene and
immovable that one could afford to worship her,
even after having received a refusal The only
one VINO apparently bore her grudge for such
cause was Mr. Ronilly; but then, he was mar
RED now, and owed it to the dlminutive Pussy.
nee Kemp. to laugh ostentatiously at his youth
full follies. There was not the right ring, how
ever, in the laugh-a fact which Mrs Pussy sus-
pected. But then. she had tally-ho, and was
occasionally permitted to blow horn, which
compensated her for the ills of life.
1t was a couple of days after New Year 188,
that Catharine Van Tassell, mutfied in. rich furs
to the tip of her nose, drove down Broadway in
her stylish landau, and with her clerical looking
coachman Fletcher and a dunky on the box. It
was one of those days when the sunshine and
the keen, crisp cold stimulate in the female
breast a desire to shop. Catharine, who was
not above the frailtes of her SEX had felt the
universal impulse and had yielded to it, She
was about block below Madison square when
the carriage came to sudden stop She leaned
out of the window and inquired what was the
matter
"A man fell down, mann" Fletcher responded.
why doesn't he get up again!"
HE can't, nam; he seems to be dead"
Then hurry down and pick him up, or he
will be run over"
The clerical gentleman handed the reins to the
turnkey and descended with much dignity from
the box There was by this time perfect jam
or carriages, drayS and stage coaches and 1t was
a perilous undertaking for man of Fletchers
size to venture down under the frothy bits of the
horses, amid the huge wheels of the stages and
the threatening carriage poles, which seemed
bent upon knocking him down wherever he
lodged. 1t was therefore much to Fletchers
credit that he succeeded in snatching the pros
trate man from under the very noses of pair of
enormous dray horses, and after having received
various bumps and thrusts, in depositing him
safely on the sidewalk. Then he called /. police
man, who teiegraphed for an ambulance. and re-
mounted to his elevated station. He brushed
himself carefully after the profane contact, and
seemed much Disguised
hat kind Of man was it, Fletcher9" his
mistress asked.
"A tramp man." said Fletcher Selling the
reins Did you knock him down with the car
riage poleP mo, man; he fell down of him
self"
Drive up to the sidewalk so can see him.
Fletcher obeyed. inwaroiy grumbling There
was dense throng on the sidewalk; men came,
stared and went; through sudden accidental
gap in the crowd Catharine caught glimpse-a
glimpse-it was so terrible, so unexpected she
inf Elnf, han
whipped up the horses and drove on. When ten
minutes later he opened the carriage door before
her mansion on the avenue he found his mistress
IL dead swoon. She was carried up the steps
There was a strange blight upon her fair face as
the wintry glare fell upon it--something pnched
and painful about mouth and unsupported lines
of suffering traced with sudden distinctness
But scarcely an hour had elapsed when she was
again in the carriage, TALL calm and reSolute
and directed the astonshed Fletcher to drive
her to all the hospitals that were
connected with the ambulance service. ST.
Lukes and the Presbyterian We're visited but il
was at one OF the obscurer down town establish
ments that her search was finally rewarded. She
had made donations here before, and her name
procured her ready admttance. She stated
her errand to one of the sisters in charge, and
was conducted to the room where the latest
casualties were receiving medical attention.
There, grim and sallow, with his long, raven
locks and his large, burning eyes, lay Greifen-
stett A doctor was leaning over him and listen
ing to his heart beat
us he much hurtp asked Catharine
She had nerved herself for the encounter and
betrayed no trace of agitation.
He is not hurt at all, madam" said the doc
tor. with perfunctory salute. "he has simply
been starving to death He dropped from ex-
haustion."
Il feared it was the pole of my carriage which
knocked him down." she remarked, as If to ac-
count for her interest.
mo-, said the doctor administering a slim
uant want knocked him down broken
life, frustrated ambition"
As she still fingered he turned and sent her a
glance of professional scrutiny Her blood
surged back into her checks; she could almost
feel it gushing through the capillary vessels in
the tips of her ears. With the warmth came a
desire to weep to give vent to her overcharged
feelings. But she held her distraught nerves as
with an iron clutch, determined to exhibitnoweak-
She stoo1at the foot of the bed gazing with
eyes full of tenderness and pity upon the famil-
lar features which by their sallow swarthiness
were strongly outlined against the pillow. Grad
ually she became conscious of responsive CLEAN
in the sombre eyes, then flicker of recognition,
then sudden lntentness of vision.
'.You hat come at last" he cried huskily,
raising himself among the pillows, but again
sinking back exhausted You hat killed an
immortal vork-de lnfnities have gone to
smash-de eternities gaf up de ghost ven you left
them. l hat gone to smash too, Miss Van
Tassell. gif up de ghost some ay-diminuendo
rallentando--but not now; not now
ven / see YOU Miss Catilarna, for now
the infnities come rushing back upon me again.
All, What music could make-with you how I
could make the souls of men resound! But how
hollow how dead, how worthless | without
youl You strike me as a bell and l resound.
Oh, do not go do not go haf got de cavatinal
Bravo! Bravissimo! Where is my pianos The
procession off de newborn storm!-de dirge Of
de dead planets--de thunder march-from land
to sea-from sea to land--oh, God-and de
noiseless paan of de sap that mounts in de blade
of grass through de tiny fairy web of luminous
green cells andantino grazoso-oh, l would stake
ton into de bargain-and the slow march Of
creation through myriad eops-andante mestoso
and the beasts and birds-those splendid bat
winged reptiles, with deir dissonant screams
lowering over de tepid pools. All, my God! il
you had been with me, Catharina, how glorious
| could haf made dat! But / vaited-and I
forgot to eat; after dat all my pupils dis