The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05

roads will be delightfully."- dry by o'clock, and
-eh!' A futter In the hall caused him to turn
his head that way; 1T is Miss Tyrrell."
Miss Tyrrell-Captain Hamilton's fanceel
Miss Tyrrell was not on the piazza when we
reached there; the Colonel walked me up and
down, his chatty manner strangely disturbed,
while he glanced Tow and then in the direction
of the hall door. Did he, then, know as much as
his wife and Defiance knew about the coquettish
beauty who had laid two affectionate brothers By
the ears7
We trod the piazza till the gong sounded, while
the sun was veering TO the west and each tree
was vocal with the songs Of many birds.
Madame was not in the nah when we entered.
The Colonel STOPPING a little more than usual.
or so 1t appeared to me, led the way to the sup
per-room. He Went to a lady seated between
the two vacant places, opposite my side of the
epergne.
sMy dear Miss Alice!"
"How do you do. Colonel Featherley?' re-
turned a cold ringing voice.
Madame, at the end Of the table, smiling and
fair to see, now spoke:
Miss Tyrrell, our guest, Mr. Althrop"
Colonel Featherley moved aside, and was face
TO face with the original of the miniature in Capt
Hamilton's room-a dried woman of forty or
more years. whose low, broad brow held two un-
beautiful corrugations; whose hazel eyes gilt
tered with light that frightened little beyond
pearly teeth and features slim and regular-the
subject of the miniature indeed. but with all the
softness and girlishuess rubbed away.
The Colonel had the bearing OF q timid and con-
tritious man, his wife at the other end of the
table sending him a reassuring smile and
then-frail little Madame who controlled the of
Tended woman seated between the empty chairs
of the sons of the house: for when Miss Tyrrell
cegan contemptuous reloinder to some state
ment the Colonel had made. Madame Featherley
merely pronounced her name, Alice" and the
harsh sentence was not finished, the thin lips
fiatteniDQ into a Yan0uiShA0 smile.
Miss Tyrrelrs bearing toward Defiance was
more deferential yet; and once, when the negress
offered her something from the table. her fn-
gers all sparkling with jewels went up and
pressed the scanned ebony hand that held the
proffered dish.
And then near the close of the meal as De.
fance presented glass of water to the lady. the
salver tilted, and away went the glass to the
floor, where it broke to pieces. Colonel Feather
ley grasped the sides of his chair.
II hope our guest will pardon me, he said
And them sternly, Defiance, are you aware
that that glass was one of the set which Captain
Hamilton gave to his mothers"
Miss Tyrrell slowly looked at him.
Excuse me, Colonel Featherley, she drawled;
"the glass was one of those which Mistress
Featherley allowed me to present to her last
Christmas day. Those of Captain Hamilton are,
presumably, safe Here nanny" She laid a
bank bill in the old woman's hand you can
repair the injury to your sensibilities.e
"Defance!'
81 dom nebber mean ter impair muffin ter my
sensibleness, Marse Kunuel," cried Defiance; 81
don mean fob ter keep hit" and laid the bill be-
side Miss Tyrrells plate.
The lady smiled.
~ should have scarcely expected from Grand
ison Featherley such small appreciation of my
consideration for servants feelings" said she,
and with her silver fork daintly lifted the bill to
her plate, where she minced it into shreds speak
ing in her provoking manner all the time She
had 1osN aAG
ton to her. but on laying aside her knife and
fork she said across the table,
''You are from the North, sir believe"
miss Alice" the Colonels voice was firm.
She impatiently tossed her head.
'Mr. Althrop, in the preposterous qnarrel of
some years ago. between your part of the world
and ours, which side Of the argument did you
make your owns"
Really. Miss Alice" tho Colonel began, while
Madame ratified the teaspoons in the holder
''Really. Colonel Featherley," retaliated Miss
Tyrrell II am infringing upon none Of your pre-
negatives Mr. Althrop Colonel Featherey like
my deceased father belongs to period that is back
of you and me- decade of mannersms and form.
While you are his guest he would no more ques-
ton your antecedents than he would deny a crust
to beggar in the quarters. Yet, after you had
left his house should he discover that you or
yours were deficient in those qualities which he
considers essential to the formation of a gen.
tleman's character. he would refuge to recognize
you again even though you had been year
within his walls and at times his favorite com
panion-to whom he had impaired his most
sacred family secretS"-the last part of her
speech directed to the Colonel at whom she shot
% sharp glance
"Alce" murmured Madame's sweet voice, and
Mics Tyrrel Struggling her shoulders, arranged
at the collar OF her gown single orange blossom
which she took from the epergne
Madame made movement which put an end
to awkwardnesses and we arose. In the pres
ence of Miss Tyrrell the old people did not offer
to detain me as | made my fsrewells then and
there-farewell words spoken hurriedly, for I
had now become anxious to leave the radius of
their sorrow, whatever its nature might be: and
Miss Tvrrell forced the anxiety.
In the hall when we came to the DRAWN groom
door, looked in at the pictures the faantel-
piece. The brilliant afternoon light flooded the
apartment and made the painting dull and fat
but the eyes looked down as ever, calm and OBJ
serving, a ray of sunshine straying across the
hand of the younger boy. holding, doubtful and
tirnid, to the bold protection of his brothers
arm
STOP clashed the voice of Miss Tyrrell, who
all the way had been arranging her orange bios
som. 'StopW Iknew that she designed further
onslaught on the Colonel. ''You are no longer
Colonel Featherley's guest. you have said Fare
WE'LL" Pray answer the question l put to you,
sir"
With stride the Colonel had left his wife's
side and had his hand upon my shoulder
This gentleman is still! under my roof" he
thundered che is my guest while he is upon an
inch of my ground, and my ground extends a
mile each way around my house"
Miss Tyrell laughed and turned to Madame.
Gomez she said tenderly, so suddenly tender
as to be startling. ''Come! shall we not go now2"
She took light shawl that hung on a get Of
antlers and arranged it about Madame, eolici-
tous not to crush the lace on the stiff robe.
The Colonel buttoned his coat and pulled up
his satin stock.
II am still your host Mr. Althrop," he said in
his firm manner; ''aliow me to accompany you a
little way on your journey"
His wife and Miss Tyrrell had gone out on the
piazza before u.s. Up against the side Of the
house rested two wrcaths of fresh flowers, one
of bright red roses. the other OF pale orange
tnds-bridal blossoms.
Defiance, as though it were no unusual thing
for her to do, strung the gariands upon her arm,
waited for US TO pass and fell in the rear.
Mias HrrraM Cd nrad ao;r, nxrrirl Al,c