The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20
Now. open them again, Z he said.


what they seemed to see?
Immediately in front of me, her arms resting
affectionately upon the shoulders of my magi
clan, lady-whom l did not need to glance at
twice to identify. Precisely. in every line and
feature, the lady of my Stiletto.
dropped upon my knees. Why should / at
tempt to disentangle the emotions that over
powered me! Amusement, hope, fear. joy and
incredulity were mingled in inextricable con-
fusion.
Finally was aroused by burst of laughter
emanating from Dr. Pexias
Get up my young friend" could hear him
say, and rub your eyes The phantom that
have evoked for your benefit is flesh and blood.
truce to magic. Mr., Mr.. All, par
don; your name!"
Roswell, l gasped.
Mr. Roswell, take pleasure in presenting TO
youlmy daughter, Miss Elsa Pexias."
She did, indeed, turn out to be the Doctors
daughter, and the Doctor himself proved moth
ing more redoubtable than venerable Portu
guese gentleman, of Hebrew lineage, with an
addiction to bric-a-brac and music. But as sat
at their supper board that evening | could not
escape a feeling that the whole transaction was
unreal and that presently should wake up to
find that had been dreaming One thing was
certain: Miss Elsa's face was the accurate coun-
terpart of the Stiletto's. only vastly more beau
tiful because 1t was fraught with life and youth.
improbable as my good fortune seemed, there it
was, staring me in the eyes,
paid my digestion call with commendable
promptness Then trumped up an excuse for
calling again in the course of the same week.
The following week called three times. At the
expiration of month had acquired the pre-
posterous habit of calling about every day
Toward the middle of July the Doctor an
nounced his intention of leaving town for the
country l reminded Jordan of his prefer of
vacation, and suggested to the Doctor the pro-
priety OF orr summering at the same resort. He
expressed his utmost approval So we went to
the Massachusetts coast, and remained there till
late in August.
If it were not for Person, who at this junct-
ture talks ominousiy of the virtue of reserve
should like nothing better than to recount the
happenings of that idyllic summer I should
like to tell how by moonlight Elsa and I were
wont to wander along the beach together,
and how as the waves dashed in at our
feet-out the Person., who is dangerously
my pen If / continue. I should like to
tell of certain hammock stretched beneath
apple-boughs in certain orchard, and to cata-
logue the books read aloud, as Elsa swung
therein. | should like, above all, to tell how
every day discovered new beauties in Esa's
face-how every day her eyes grew deeper, her
voice more silvery her touch more electrical.
But the Person, who claims to be an authority,
warns me that to indulge these desires of mine,
would but impede the action of the story; and
so must depend upon the readers imagination
to supply the elipsis.
In September, after we had returned to town,
| induced Elsa to go with me for walk in Cen
trail Park. There l mustered my utmost au-
dacty and told her that / loved her. Elsas re-
ply was such as to make me realize that half
loaf values infinitely more than no bread; and
to encourage me to speak with the Doctor. From
him anticipated no opposition, because / sup
posed that he had already more than suspected
my aspirations But on the contrary he avowed
that the suspicion had not entered his mind
'Of course" he admitted, 'it ought to have
done so, because your partiality for my daugh-
ter has been SO very marked. But fond parents
are blind; and besides. Elsa is so young that the
idea of her marrying had not occurred to me. |
fancied, with pardonable stupidity, that your
only sentiment for her was that of an elder
brother"
We were established at cafe table He called
the waiter and ordered kirschwasser for two.
'"This will help US to express our thoughts"
he said.
But now-now that you know my intentions9'
I inquired.
Nov l am going to explain to you my theory
of matrimony-with the assistance of this
cellent kirsch. He slipped drop or two of the
decoction and then went on. II am firm be-
lever in the adage that marriages are made In
heaven. At least, believe that people are fated
for each other. Before l consent to a marriage
between you and Elsa, must be persuaded that
you are the man of fate's selection"
mot hard matter that Is not the fact that
love her, and that she is not totally Indifferent
to me, sufficient"
"Not altogether ] demand some palpable
token from the quarter of Fate herself, some di-
rect indication"
"That seems unreasonable. do not under
stand"
"Of course you do not; you are not phloso-
pher. You take for granted, because you hap
pen to feel a tickling in the region of your
heart, that you are calculated to make Elsa q
good husband That isn't logical 1t doesn't
follow. AS far as my personal inclinations are
concerned, am very fond of you and could not
have a son-in-law more to my taste. But in
such grave affairs as this dare not trust my In
dvidual judgment. must, as have said ad-
wise with Fate"
"But that is superstition"
"Cal it so if you wish. Superstition is no
BILE institution. l am sorry to see it departing
from the world My young friend, for example.
here is this glass of kirsch With your eyes you
behold the substance, the material. But over
and above the material there is the flavor. the
aroma; quality too subtle to be seen, too VIOLA
tile to be held in the hand and weighed. Cor
respondingly, here is the uniyerse'-tilting his
palm as though the object in question had been
contained therein;-"with their eyes and their
instruments the scientists attack the material of
it-analyze it, give it name. But over and
above what they can weigh, and dssect, and
essence that defes them That is the subject of
the occult sciences which you repudiate as SUI
perstition."
''And the upshot is!" asked, impatiently.
That cannot agree to let you marry my
daughter until Fate has given me hint to the
effect that ought to do So"
'But what would you consider a hint if love
itself is not one!"
"Ah, that ] cannot tell. am sure that the
hint will be forthcoming, and that shall not
mistake it when it comes-provided always you
are the man."
"And meanwhilel7
meanwhile, wish you would not frequent
Elsa's society. l wish you to hold aloof from her
until have made up my mind
"Ah, Dr. Pexias, you are cruel low long am
to remain in this suspense, between heaven
and
"A day, week, month all your life, )" he in
terrupted. 'Who can sayl Very likely you
will meantime fall in love with some one else"
"Never."
Exactly the retort was prepared for; it only
impresses upon your inexperience. Now,
Mr.. Roswell, calm yourself, come back with me.
tell Elsa of my decision, and then go away and
wait. If you truly love her you can afford to
wait"