The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03


! the Beverlya lawn as she spoke.
Eyes. they are evidently to play tennis" she
said. '"They have come out with Marian and
Hester Of course the small one is paired off
with Hester, who looks taller than ever He IL
with Marian and makes her seem like child
''He" said Nell.
''The one they call Jack" explained Mrs.
Huntingdon trife hasty "Mr. John Hamilton
suppose one should say. Ah!n turning toward
the door with a slight start, Good morning,
Maria!"
1t cannot be said that she seemed very greatly
delighted at the appearance of her visitor and
relative, but then Mrs Maria Huntin gdon's
friends and acquaintance were not given to
evincing symptoms of rapture at her approach
approach" in fact. being scarcely an appropri-
ate word. Mrs Maria rather bore down upon
her friends after the manner Of fne man-of.
war on the lookout for prizes. There was no
nonsense about Mrs. Maria Huntingdon. There
had been none when she was handsome eagle
eyed young woman. and there was none now,
when she was an unhandsome eagle-nosed old
one, with solidly- established reputation for
being the strongest-willed and most disagreeable
elderly matron ever inspired by the noble and not
to-be-setRside intention of trampling down, scarf
flying and subduing all such reckless and pre-
sumptuous persons as took the liberty of exist
ing in her fine, fresh, northeasterly atmosphere
She was, indeed, greater JOY to herself than to
her immediate relatives and acquaintance. As
far as she was concerned she was we'll satisfied.
She had had career She had visited foreign
spirit, and returning had written volumes, call
ing attention to the drainage of Florence, the
dampness Of Rome and the moral condition of
females on the banks of she Bosphorus; she
had given to the world her personal opinion
of all great men, movements and things
with liberal suggestions as to the newt
able result to the universe if her advice
upon all points were not promptly followed
and credit bestowed where credit was deserved.
She had quoted in illustration historical events
OF tragic nature which might have been avert
ed If she had been consulted; she had painted in
proper colors the benighted ignorance, obstinacy.
short-sghtedness and sinfulness of the universe
In general. and many celebrated persons in par
ticular. and had signed her name boldly and in
full to all such interesting detail, and sent it
forth to an unripe world That her books had
failed to find the SURPRISING sale expected of
them; that they had even been received with
cold criticism-in low columns-with pungent
jest and unappreciative doubt as to their
she vigorously wrote on. She indited
letters to newspapers, reviews essays
attacks on wrongs and weaknesses it was plainly
her duty to attend to; she wrote with fine
which could not fail to tell. She was "a literary
wo man." as she intended to be; she sought out
and pursued and hunted down with fell deter
mination all persons of note whose unhappy
fate it was to WELD pen. The more dis
tinguished the better; she did not bow down to
them or worship; she presented herself to them
on the ground Of fellowship she presented them
with her books and catechised them regarding
the contents; she commanded them to answer
her letters, to bestow their time upon her pro-
m Sh of in hact an
ner for the entertainment of her friends at her
dogmatic teas and argumentative luncheons if
they were not sprightly or brilliant, if they did
not exhibit their intellectual gyrations in man
ner to rebound to her credit and with spirit
plainly the result of her atmosphere she an
nounced that they "were not even" and could
not be depended upon" Knowing that an all
wise Providence had created them for her special
benefit and laudation, they invariably quailed
before this and endeavored humbly and in
proper spirit to improve themselves; being
usually weak Of mind, amably feeble of purpose
and tending to trifling modesties and refnements,
but few Of them had ever harbored the bold and
unworthy thought Of resenting her authority
and refusing her invitations. Some of them, it
is true, pensively wondered why they went to
Mrs. Maria Huntingdons grisly festivities
when they did not want to 60, why they sat at
her table and allowed themselves to be harried
and goaded into intellectual conversation, why
they permitted her to invade their privacy, de-
mand their attention and presume upon their
good nature; they sometimes thought it was out
of vague consideration for her relatives, who
were amiable and well-bred people, bearing their
afhiction with quiet, transformations dignity.
Sometimes they weakly endeavored to convince
themselves that it was because she had some
good qualities and was really auite-quite an
energetic person; but SO far no one had dlscov-
cred the real reason. The real reason was
that Mrs. Maria Huntingdon, in her
iron-clad and brass bound confidence in her
powers. and in her indisputable claims to con-
troll and manipulate individual society, the uni
verse was their superior, and overbore and over
rode them accordingly; before her fearless front,
unconscious Of all human weakness ordinary
mortals quailed. faltered and FELL and even ex-
traordinary ones retired with blanched counte.
nances.
She advanced across the room with martial
tread.
Good morning, Isabelle" she said, 'good
morning. Helen have just walked over from
Owlet's Nest. 1t Is delightful morning You
ought to be out-both Of YOU"
Nell lifted her head little from her work.
'sThat would have deprived US of the pleasure of
seeing you," she remarked.
$50 it would" said Mrs Maria Huntingdon.
with proper appreciation OF the painfulness of
such a contingency. "And / should not have
is no denying that you don't take enough exer-
else. There is nothing makes people so yellow
as not taking enough exercise.
"Are we yelowT said Nell. you make me
feel as if must take walk Immediately"
Her relative gave her sharp glance There
had been moments when she had wondered
vaguely if her sterling worth and fine, practical
common sense were appreciated and valued by
her niece Helena as they deserved. The soft
and refined voice and soft and refined manner of
that young person inspired her at times with
strange uncertainties She would have been
pleased to have had something more definite to
confront
well, she said, ''you cannot GO now, though
il you take my advice you will walk at least
three miles q day. Everybody should do. /
have done it all my lfe in all weathers. owe
all have accomplished to it, You can always
put on waterproof and rubbers But this
morning came to talk to you about something
have in view for next Tuesday"
MRS. Wadsworth gives party next Tues
day" suggested Nell.
ssThat need not interfere with me. I shall
have Profess OF Chatterton."
Indeed" exclaimed Mrs Huntingdon. ''You