The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03

self that he had not heard Of her before Here
was lady, evidently Of the most miraculous
attainmeuts, of whom he knew nothing; he
knew the persons of whom she spoke as being
her intimate acquaintance; some of them were
OF world wide fame. and her familiarity with
them was quite interesting. In his desire to
retrieve himself and conceal his deplorable
Ignorance OF her works and reputation, he made
his manner as suave as possible. and FASTENED
to receive her remarks with respectful apprecia.
ton. Since his landing he had discovered that
there were many things he did not know
of America and this might be one of
them There were many distinguished people
In the room and he had seen her address several
of them and hold them in conversation His
eye had not CHANGED to fall upon the more vigor-
Gus and alert few who had spent their evenina in
avoiding her. in examining the floral decorations
when she approached, in hurting themselves
with almost unseemly violence into converse
tion with their nearest neighbors when they
heard her voice, in importing life and reputa-
ton for decorum by darling round corners
and into groups and behind portieres
This had escaped him, and having seen
those who weakly gave up selfrespect and sub
mitted to the inevitable with serpent smiles or
shameless attempts at vivacity, he was properly
impressed. He did not. Ii is true, find her theo-
ries absorbing, or her manners engaging, but ne
felt that this might be the result of intellect of
purely American growth. 1t shared, perhaps,
the boldness of the landscape, the rudeness of
the Rocky mountains and must be regarded in
the abstract If he felt any lingering uncer-
tainty as to her status, she removed it before
their interview ended
my home is in Boston," she said.
Then she explained to him that Boston was
distinguished by being the residence of many
persons who knew her-literary men and women
whose nance the world had heard. and whose
works she had approved of and given her sane
ton to. She had told each of them which novel
would succeed. which poem make its mark. and
she had had differences OF opinion with philoso-
piers and sages who had plainly quailed before
her. The fact that she knew some of their aunts
and disapproved of some of their daughters
seemed to add solidity to her anecdotes.
Il did not quite understand" said the Profess
sor afterward, what her reference to her grand
parents sgnified She seemed to lay stress upon
them. One Of them had a pair of boots of Gen.
might be mistaken-but they seemed to-er-
confer distinction upon-er-somebody."
With the besotted blindness of mind Injured
to grandfathers he had failed to realize the fine,
broad significance one carefully preserved, ex
humed and re-exhumed ancestor may bear in a
civilization of pristine freshness, but vaulting
desire to emulate.
He was not at all sure why he found himself
under strict bond to visit Mrs Maria Hunting
don and be presented to North Brabant under
her ausplces-he was very vague about it. In
secret he did not wish to 60 and preferred not to
be SO entertained. IL he would have admitted it
with manly frankness. he did not like Mrs Maria
Huntingdon, and was totally at loss as to how
her grandparents should be distinguished by the
mere fact OF being grandparents and having
but ne had wavered and fallen into the snare of
their posterity and was to go to North Brabant.
And in some way he connected the whole affair
with the boots of General Washington.
1t was the morning Of the day on which he
was to arrive at North Brabant that Nell Hunt.
ingdon. in glancing at her mother, who was
reading her letters, saw upon her face q some
what disturbed expression
"Are you reading Donald's letter, mammal
she inquired with swift anxiety.
Mrs Huntingdon looked up. Eyes, DEAR" she
and"
And what, mammaf asked Nell
He speaks of the two Hamitons."
Miss Huntingdon blushed quite suddenly.
She had thin. pure skin which showed color
quickly.
"Ah!" she exclaimed rather under breath and
involuntarily. and then added. What does he
say9n
Nothing favorable of Mr. Jack Hamilton
everything that is kind of Mr.. Will 1t seems.
says he is of the best fellows he eyer met
He does not know he is here, of course. but is
in hopes that he will come; but this is very
Nell. He hopes that Jack Hamil-
ton will not be with him. 1t seems that the
very worst must be true Mr.. William Hamil-
ton is very fond of Jacks mother who is a
widow, and breaking her heart over her only
son, and he tries-Mr. William tries-to
keep an eye on him, and make quite q compan-
ion of him in the hope of influencing him little
he is the only person who seems TO have any in
fuence over him. He has been headstrong,
dissipated. reckless fellow ever since his boyhood
and he would have gore to the dogs'-that is
Don's expression--long ago if it had not been for
his cousin. He even says his dissipated habits
are not the worst that he is tricky and sharp
6nOnQh uba
don't know him. He says: He deceived me
cleverly enough at first His looks are his strong
point, and he knows how to make capital of
them"
Nell Indignantly. "It is a cruel and unfair
thing that such beauty should be given to such
mani 1t becomes detestable"
Mrs. Huntingdon looked up with slightly
startled expression.
SIS he so very handsome2" she said, uneasily.
Yes said Nell when one is near him :"
NEAR him. exclaimed her mother. Have
you seen him since he was playing tennis with
the Beverly's Nel9"
"Oh. mamma" said Nell breaking down into
the prettiest distress in the world, II did not
mean to tell you because thought it would dis
turb you. but-but have seen MIN great many
times. l have scarcely been out once without
meeting him. lit almost seems as if--yes as
# he did it on purpose-though that can hardly
be possible"
~ 40 JuS' "has Sucu q HAL Wouiu 90, intef-
rupted her mother. 1T would be his way of
showing his unrefned admiration
Nell drew herself up and flushed beautifully
His admiration" she repeated "Of me,
mammal"
''Ah, Nell" said her mother, almost pityingly,
it is just such women as you are who are ad-
mired by just such men as he"
Then" said Nell, haughtily, II wish that /
were-were different"
mo, no. my DEAR" protested Mrs. Hunting
Ion; wish that he were different! If he were
all that charm and strength
think what he might be9"
no BE CONTINUED NEXT sUNDAY.l
Distance.