The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08


"Di |" exclaimed. "Who is thatp
She gave quick look into the garden and then
| at me without speaking.
| IA fine looking fellow" / said. who Is he "
IA friend of Uncle Blakes," she said quietly.
/ IA young Enelishman, come here on business.
| HAS he been here longf What Is his name 7"
Montague" said Di. answering my last ques-
| ton with certain hesitation Roger Montague.
/ Uncle Blake knew the Montagues in England
| long ago"
''And what sort of a fellow is hep inquired,
with a sudden feeling of contempt.
| Di pursed up her mouth obviously.
III can hardly say; sure to qua rel
| when we talk that let it alone now
'Humphl And will he be here long2"
| She shrugged her shoulders.
Pm sure don't know. Come, Robert. let rs
| talk of something else. Did Betsy Livingstone
send me my tabinet dress? She promised it last
| month
'She dbl answered. sitting down. "And
| your cousin Hensley is coming up. And all the
Hamiltons are in New York There is my budget
'.And they say Kitty Schuyler is quite belle.
isn't shel" said Di, with true feminine curiosity
about one of her sex. 'And Nancy Thomas has
gone to Philadelphia
"All true enough" reioined.
We had pleasant hours chat before supper
| time, when my uncle and Mrs. Braun and the
| guest, Mr.. Montague, came into the room.
There was something very prepossessing about
| the young man. At least Di seemed to think
So She scarcely noticed me, but, for all her inn
| periousness gave her real attention to Mr.. Mon
| tague in such way that half annoyed with her,
| stood up to leave an hour earlier than l need
| have gone She was then sitting in corner
| of the fireplace, her cheek resting on her hand,
| the glow casting red shadows on her dress,
| Furnishing her hair, touching softly the white
rose in her hand. She was picture fit for any
painter, aud stood looking at her sadly. loving
| ly just rs felt, for moment before said
| goodnight The rest were all busy in the other
| end of the room looking over county map Mr.
Montague wanted to see.
''Well, Di. my dear" l said. leaning on the
chimney piece, and looking down at her with
SMILE now that I've come back, you don't seem
so very glad to see me-"
She lifted her dark eyes, with critical ex-
preston In them, to my face.
ooh yes, Robert am glad" she said, coolly,
| "you look ever so much older, and taller, and
broader since you went away; not quite the same
| Robert"
"And you look ever so much older, and pref
tier, and gayer." retorted; will you 60 to ride
| She cast her eyes down, with a faint blush
81 promised to go over to the Hensleys to-
morrow with uncle and Mr.. Montague" she said,
softly "He may have to leave soon and -'
| "And you can't afford to lose any of his
precious time," said, scornfully. Every we'll
| good night, now, Dr."
was STOPPING down to kiss her cheek, as had
always been my custom, when she drew back
/ suddenly, and looked up smiling We were both
silent an instant. Then she gave little shy
curtsey, hardly lifting her eyes from the ground.
Goodnight Robert she said gravely
! bowed Quickly, and with hurried good
| night to the rest, went away.
| My mother was waiting for me when / re-
turned, and at once asked me how l found
Diana. ! could not say much, but asked if she
thought her changed.
''She has a reputation in Marchtown for
/ great deal, said my mother.
"For what?"
| Fer beauty of course, but also for coquetry
Uncle Blake has had five offers for her, and she
/ has refused them ALL People say"
whats" inquired.
saThat this Englishman will win the day Di
| treats hin. with more Difference and submission
than she has any man yet, and your Uncle Blake
/ is most ar xous for it"
| In the few weeks that followed I saw Di very
| rarely as there was much of an engrossing
| character on my mind.
| War was imminent with England. Every
| true-feeling American was reused to excitement
and Indignation. We began to hold small meet
| ings. Finally, regiments were recruited there
was wave of warfare through the land. The
| sound of drum and cannon seemed to be in our
ears when We walked or slept My uncle Blakes
house was no place for me at this time. His
| sympathies were in reality English, though from
a policy much affected at the time, appeared to
| favor the American interests l could not talk
to him; moreover, he had an English guest,
and when l went to the house it
|
intimacy between Diana and young Montague.
| Sometimes, very rarely, Isaw Diana alone. Then
certain fippancy in her manner panied and
annoyed me. Could it be that she, too. was
English at hearth Meeting her one day unex-
/ pectedly at our own house-she had ridden over
| for the first time in weeks-I taxed her with it,
abiding to the cause For q moment the old
confding Di seemed reused She looked at me
with gentle sort of surprise
II thought you, at least knew me- Robert"
/ fanfnachfullv nj for mo
II thought SO, too" answered her, ''untll
came home. Two years do a great deal, Di"
| She said nothing but walked away with an
angry light in her eyes. 1 had. found, spoken
rashly. From that day Di grew colder and more
distant toward me until finally all semblapce of
consinly intercourse was at an end between us.
But for the intense outer interests of the hour ]
would have found my heart very heavy, but
there was no time for any thing less serious than
our countrys desperate burden Of wrong.
Hearts. brains, hands, all went to feel, plan,
work for redress. A fortnight more and we were
at war, Lexington and other battles fought.
| Then the Nations cry turned to heaven and
General Washington for help. The very dark
ness of despair seemed closing in around US.
| Husbands and brothers left their homes upon an
hours warning, and there are records of womanly
! courage and devotion within their households
not excelled by those of the brave hearts and
| hands stilled on the field of battle
My uncles house was upon neutral ground,
and he upon territory which seemed to be
| equally OF Diana l saw very little, but the
| English visitor had disappeared and my cousin
had grown pale, cold, distract, the very shadow
| Of her former brilliant ref.
| The regiment commanded was stationed for
| some time about ten miles from Marchtown, and
occasionally tried to hear bits of news Of Diana.
| Once sent her little note, when one of the
rare safe opportunities offered, but received no
reply, and ! understood that, no matter how
keenly her judgment went with America her
heart had followed young Montague wherever he
/ had gone.
| We had some slight engagements near March
town; then the enemy withdrew, and for about
! week we were left in undisturbed possession of
the field My regiment was stationed at the i'm.
| promptu Notifications we hal erected while
some twenty miles beyond General H was
quartering with small detachment of men for
| q day or two, in order to make some special in