The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-24

Dy 1eellng that tortureS yOu-SoueLn1ng you
| can't get rid of, day or night
Nell made slight movement again
After you said your last words 70 me- he
went on. II told myself should be fool to let
myself be- stabbed to death again. vowed l
would get over it / tried, but it was stronger
| than / was. l never shall get nd of it.
And those last words, / kept thinking
them over, and arguing about them until
had frantic fancies. 1t seemed as if, Alter all.
didn't deserve them. was in love With you.
and when you seemed to dislike meso could
not give up. couldn't help it, but that wasn't
contemplate. Any man who loved you would
feel it go hard with him to give up all hope. And
so at last / began to think. perhaps you had
heard something against me which was not true.
And If | could know might explain it It may
seem like vanity-perhaps it is vanity-but.
great heaven. if you knew how have sui
feredw Somehow he seemed so much at her
mercy-she had never seen in any human face
such panied, pleading look as there was in his
1T seemed impossible that such earnestness
should cover such wrong.
II thought would come to your mother. he
said. "Whatw
There was sofa Just behind her. She made
one desperate effort to control herself-t0 look
at him steadily and speak in calm voice-her
lips parted, but only oquiver. She sank on to
the sofa and dropping her face on to her arms,
burst into tears.
He flung all caution to the winds then-he
actually dropped on one knee by her side.
Have l said too much!' he cried. imploringly.
Eyes, have. Don't do that-dont. / never
saw woman cry before, and to see you do it.
Only say one word and l will 60 Have yon
heard anything against me-"
She interrupted him.
"Yes, she said, you shall know-you shall
know-you might have spared me the telling.
Do you think mau can be dishonored and base
base"
He sprang to his feet.
basel" he almost shouted "Dishonored!
Tell me what you mean! What have done to
be dishonoreda swear some one has lied! Ask
your brother-ask Donald if am such a scoun-
drel-"
Nell lifted her proud, tear-swept face.
ut was Donald who told u.s." she said.
donald" he cried with flashing eyes. "Don-
aid against me9"
And then the door opened and some one else
entered-a tall, young man. whose keen blue
eyes regarded the scene through his eye glasses
with an expression of some bewilderment.
Nell started from her sofa with little cry.
She made movement towards him, but Jack
Hamilton was before her. AS the new conner ad
vanced he met him half way.
Tell me what this means" he demanded,
towering to magnificent height and it m ust be
confessed wearing something of the manner of
highwayman. "Some one shall tell me! She
says am dishonorable scoundrel, that am
contemplate villain"
my dear Nell, "interposed her brother mildly,
what language"
But Jack Hamilton did not seem to hear him.
on she says you told them all this; that you
warned them against me-"
Donald Huntingdon's eyes lost their smile.
He began to look serious.
81" he exclaimed; there's mistake some
where"
He walked over to Nell and took her trembling
hand
Nell" he said, ''what is the matter9 Don't be
so agitated. What is it,"
Nell's head fell upon his shoulder
donald " she said. 'slet me 90 I can't bear
it any longer Mamma will tell you"
He was charming fellow Donald Hunting
don and he had always been Nell's friend, ad-
wiser and protector. He put his arm around her
in kindly, caressing support
NO" he said, II won't let you 60, Nell, until
this is explained. Such things should always be
set Alright at once. Somebody has made mis-
take Let us find out about 1t. When did ssy
anything against the best fellow l ever knew
the fellow with the biggest heart and the most
stupid habit of sacrificing himself to those who
don't deserve it. l may have said he was an
idiot. Nell; he has heard me say it himself; he is
ems name did l say anything else against Will
Hamilton"
She almost started out of his arms
Donald" she cried; 'Oh! Donad'
"Yes." he replied. patiently. THAT means
something, of course, Nell. but it is not exactly
an answer"
"We thought" she exclaimed in tones Of an
guish and humiliation, which wrung the very
soul of the injured Hamilton-we thought-we
thought he was-the other"
Both Donald and Hamilton started then VIC.
lently.
What" cried Donald ''you thought he was
the other! You thought he was Jack Hamilton2
You saddled him with Jack Hamiltons sins and
adorned him with Jack Hamilton's rascalities.
You have been treating him as Jack Hamilton
deserved to be treated2' He released her from
his arm little and looked at his friend. Upon
my word. WILL" he said, II don't know how we
are to apologize to YOU"
But Will Hamilton no longer wore the air of
highwaymau. He looked even gentle and sub
dued; sort of colossal timidity pervaded him
tender timidity-his deep, beauteous, long
despised eyes yearned towards Nell and saw only
her dropping face and shrinking. lovely figure.
His wrongs were forgotten.
Tit was mistake" he said. cit was only
mistake-and it is nothing. lam very
sorry"
You are sorry" exclaimed Donald. "But
you are not the person to be sorry. never
heard such thing in my life feel as if had
inadvertently gone upon the stage and had just
made my entrance in the last act. I expect to
hear the prompter-I anticipate the ringing
down of the curtain"
And at this fitting moment the door opened
once again and admitted Mrs. Huntingdon
Donald left Nell, and going to her led her to
Hamilton.
"Will you tell me who you suppose this gen.
tleman to be2n he inquired.
''Mr. John Hamilton, replied Mrs. Hunting
don. with touch of embarrassment
you do him an injustice" said Donald. HE
is my friend Will Hamilton, whom recommend
ed to your special kindness, and he has been ap-
parently tbs most in-used man on the cont
nent"
Mrs. Huntingdon turned to Nell--she gave her
quick. soft, maternal look
"Nell. DEAR" she said, Bertha wished to see
you for moment. Perhaps you would like to
20 to her."
And Nell went, feeling the release from the
highly charged atmosphere came not a moment
too soon. She did not go to ner maid; she went
to her own ROOM hurrying with beating heart
In few minutes she was kneeling BY ner pil-
low. she could scarcely tell why. She was sob
bing iittle--strange. happy, soft, passionate
sobs.
''Ohm she said. II knew that you were not
wicked; my heart knew it. Something believed
IN, NH r