The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-10

silRht, and prettlly, narmieSSly plonue, Win
sleek little fair head and shy pair of blue eyes
the other, tall 1.-THE, muscular and more darkly
splendid than seemed absolutely called for
What" exclaimed Prof Chatterton lit seems
| impossible, butt Isl"
Mrs. Huntingdon looked up at him. She was
slightly flushed herself. She had had time to
see that Jack Huntingdon's orientaliy-frineed
eyes had flashed one glance around the room
and then rested steadily upon the knot of bright
hair softly coiled low on the nape of NelPs
neck. his gaze being as disgracefully eager as II
it had been her averted face.
"Do you know began Mrs. Huntingdon, a
little hesitantly.
THE two young men who have just come in,
finished the Professor, hesitating a tride also,
and showing some signs of monetary mental
disturbance; "I-may say / door did. One
of them should scarcely have expected-are
they friends of yoursr checking himself hastily.
NO" Mrs. Huntingdon answered. my son
knows Mr.. William Hamilton, but"
1t was the Professors turn to flush now. His
elderly cheek warmed.
He may be very thankful that he has not the
honor of knowing Mr. Jack Hamilton" he said.
1T is questionable one. have suffered from
it myself. II should not speak, but l feel
strongly on the subject, and it startled to see
him here. Other places less pleasant to him
would be more fitting his peculiarities.
Nell moved her head slightly The movement
gave Mr.. Jack Hamilton view of the side of
her cheek-only mere hint of view, but
enough to cause him some speculation. He
wondered if it often wore so deep and burning a
rose and if not why an elderly scientist should
has 49, n<.I@ Ma
Even as he talked to Marian and Hester Beverly,
and was quite equal to encountering the vivaci-
ties of those young persons, and others as viva
cious, he did not lose sight of the bright. small
head, even though for some time he only saw the
back of it and now and then the curve
of the glowing cheek He observed
that the Professor seemed to be
telling Mrs. Huntingdon something in
which both were interested, and he wondered
what it could be- If by some magic power he had
been able to discover that the conversation was
not entirely unconnected with himself, he might
have borne himself with less composure. He
looked composed enough, but, upon the whole,
he was not quite SO composed as he looked. He
had restless and not at all pleasant feeling that
the object he specially desired to accomplish
this evening might not be easily encompassed.
He did not know why, and his fine, vigorous tenn
per rose trifie when he reflected upon the pos
sblity. He had not been accustomed TO en-
countering obstacles, and they did not please
not submit to them easily, at all events. Life
had been rather lucky affair for him SO far; he
had usually obtained what he desired. He bit
his lip and knitted his black brows, and wore, for
| a moment, his piratical aspect, out the next he
turned to Marian Beverley with jest and most
unpiratical laugh.
Mamma" said Nell to her mother, as they
moved away from Professor Chatterton. mann
ma" And Mrs Huntingdon felt that she touched
her dress and even held 1t second.
What is it, my dearg" she asked. little sur
prised. How lovely the girl was! What a brill
liant color she had! How her eyes shone
Mamma" said Nell, II wish to be quite near
you Do not let US be separated"
And there was actually thrill Of excitement
in her low voice.
At least she would have the protection of her
nearness against the glances OF the eyes which
followed her. Even when she did not see them
she felt them, and somehow it seemed almost
impossible to look up without meeting them. 1t
was very strange that she must see them when
she raised her glance 1t was not likely that he
was watching her every moment; he was talking,
he was being presented to different people. She
knew the pretty young women before whom he
made his bows, and who seemed TO find his re-
marks we'll worth listening to and laughing at,
and yet she felt as if she could not lift her eyes
without Immediately confronting his. They
might have been the only two people in the
room.
How can be 80 conscious7n she said to her.
SELF .How can be9 Perhaps he scarcely sees
me at all. If he were anyone else should not
notice it." And her color rose and fell and rose
again. and whether he watched her or not there
was not change in her face lost upon one man
at least
"Confound It'll" he was saying restively to him
self. "What obstacle could there be? I'm not
such an Objectionable fellow as all that. hope
He shared the public passionate affection for
and delight in Mrs. Maria Huntingdon but there
was one moment during the evening when his
sentiments for her underwent sudden change,
and he reveled in her. 80 to speak. This was
when she was placing her guests in position for
doing justice to the paper" she was going to
open the intellectual feast with. She was ar.
ranging them in chairs, and as he wavered near
her uncertainty for moment, she turned upor
him.
''You may sit here, next to my niece" she
said. mr. Hamilton, Mrs Huntingdon-Mr.
Hamilton. Miss Huntingdon"
1t was over in ar instant Two more bows
and he was sitting by her SIDE 1t seemed al
most incredible. The flowing wilderness of her
dress touched him; the fragrance of the lilies
of valley she held filled the air about him.
She had bent her head SLIGHTLY in recognition of
the introduction, but she did not speak.
He remembered afterwards that she scarcely
spoke at all while he was near her. He ad-
dressed himself to her mother at frst-he had
manner which was considered very attractive
to mothers. His wit and fine picturesqueness
fascinated them. BE could always make the
| said and did But Mrs. Huntingdon did not
! laugh, and, indeed, he did not sustain his repu-
/ tation during the interview. He was not brill
liant at all.
II have the pleasure Of knowing your son. y
| he said to Mrs Huntingdon. I'VE met in
/ Paris"
She made tiny movement which might al
most have been called a start. and there was a
| transitory expression of something like surpries
| in the beautiful eyes. She turned upon him:
Donald spoke of yourself and your cousin in
his last letter. she said.
Her manners AMI tone were very gentle and
| graceful but she was wondering at the hardi
hood of his daring to speak with such com
placency of the acquaintanco--of course he knew
what place he held in Donald's estimation-Don
aid was too frank and courageous to have pal
| tered with the matter. 1t was additionally re-
pellant that he should brave things out in this
way. She did not find it easy TO talk to him, but
she did her quiet and clever best to SO far engage
him that it was not necessary for Nell to utter
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