The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-21

ing-room and startled rs with his tone, HAS
anyone seen Iselinp And somehow, without
whole house: HAS any one seen Iselinp And
nobody had. 4
What day it wasl How full and how fearful!
Mr.. Sapghurst had his horse saddled, and went
galloping through the storm to the next house.
Iselin's words and locks of last night may have
rushed over him with new force; and all the men
on the place were sent up and down the shore
and into the town, telegraphing and inguiring,
and all In vain, while work, and play, and almost
life itself seemed suspended in the house, and
still the storm ragged on.
AT nightfall Mr.. Sanghurst came home. There
was rot trace of Iselip. / myself had been out
battling with the tempest as far as the place she
had shown me the day before, but the cradle was
boiling pit of foam and spume that no one
could approach-only on a jag OF rock there was
caught tiny shred of blue wool, rag of lseiin's
skirt 1t might have caught there the day be-
fore, as she climbe and skipped about the rocks,
light as mountain goat But all that could be
certainly known was that she was goEe, and that
her long waterproof cloak was gone with her.
They reasoned, with their white faces and falter
ing tones, that she had gone out into the storm
last night for her bed had not been slept in; as
yet they hardly dared state the supposition to
themselves that doubtless some tide some wave.
some wash of the sea had swept her in as she
ran along the shore in the sudden fury with
which she had seized her cloak and run out. |
hardly dared look at Mr.. Sanghurst; he did rot
keep still moment. white as ashes and restless
as leaf in the wind, out in the storm and in
again twenty times an hour after the dark set
In.
And what night it was! The tempest re-
sounded through the black heavens, and the
house rocked and trembled; the huge waves
pounding on the shore sent a thrill though
every timber; the scream of the breakers made
us startan shver, sheets of rain slapped against
the eastern windows with force that made the
haar @l1OV 1ctf IN caTlCn
of suffocation. Through 1t all we heard far off
a faintrepeated minute gun. And to think of
this little creature out in all this tumult of the
elements-we could not think of it. We could
do nothing; but we could not sleep; we did
not think Of separating for the night when
the clock struck 2 we were still In the draw
ing room. or going and coming about the
house; nearly every room in the house was
lighted; and one after one the searching parties
had returned. drenched and worn and unsuc-
cessful At length Mr.. Sanghurst came in for
the last time His mother went out to meet
him; and Miss Fairweather started up and took
his hand and led him to seat, faint and dazzled
from wrestling with storm and darkness. And
just then, l know not why or how, perhaps
moved by sudden blast of cold air from an
opening door, perhaps by the common impulse
of our overstrained nerves, we all turned to one
of the long windows, and there, cloaked to her
feet her hood thrown back and all her
hair flying in the wind and rain,
a little form leaned against the
frame as if blown there, and little
white face pressed against the pane, wild and
CHASTITY with wide-open eyes fixed in sort of
horror-not because of the storm OF any OF its
fatal possibilities, but because of Miss Fair.
weather there leading Mr.. Sanghurst to his
chair She could not contain herself. II see
you! You mustn't think don't see your piped
her voice shrilly above the gale.
''Iselin! Iselinw cried Mr.. Sanghurst.
1t is her spiritw cried his mother "ls Is not
Iseln 1t is little ghost"
But almost before anyone spoke Miss Fair
weather had left him, and Mr.. Sanghurst had
dashed through the open door in the hall, and
round the piazza, and had grasped the little
ghost and brought her in among us, struggling
and fierce. what in the world is all this fuss
abouta" she exclaimed breathlessly.
ooh. Iselinw cried the mother, wringing her
hands as if she lamented her lamenting. You
have given US such fright. We feared you had
gone out-we feared you had destroyed yourself
or been lost in the storm"
What should I destroy myself forl" cried
Iselin. Because l couldn't destroy Miss Fair
weather. I hope I have a little spirit! You
must have thought 1 was fool WE'LL" she
continued, throwing off her cloak, will tell you
the truth. did 60 out to lie down in the cradle
and let the waves cover me--but it stormed SO
was afraid-and l ran back and went up into
the west attic and stayed there till it should be
pleasant again. do 30 hate storm! And
thought at last | would come down and get
something to eat and have a breath of air, and
found all this TODD, and the houle lighted as if
there were going to be a wedding and
There is going to be wedding" said Mr.
Sanghurst, taking her arms and drawing her
into his own, while several people melted stimuli
taneously from the room, feeling, if they felt as
I did, that they had wasted greatdeal of vital
ity for nothing. 'And that to. morrow" he went
on. II shall wait no longer to make sure of such
an elf"
'.Do you mean mel' she asked, Withdrawing
and looking up at him in slow wonder.
Whom else should means"
II thought-Agnes-'
miss Fairweather2n he exclaimed ir great
spirits. ''She is to be married next week herself
to the Professor. The ring, and the cake and
the veil are all ready"
"Oh!" cried Iselin then, with blazing eyes, and
totally regardless of any auditors that were left
Then that is the reason! You would never
have taken me if you could have had her"
''Hushl you absurd tyrant~ half whispered
Mr.. Sanghurst. jealous of a dictionary! L
would never have taken anybody but you'll
love q lock of your hair better, you tormenting
sprite, than could love all the brains and body
of a blue stocking. And if there were justice
of the peace in the house, should insist on
marrying you here and now, that 1 might never
let you out of my sight again"
"Ohp cried Iselin in something like real dis
tress, II don't wonder you all thought l was a
fool or | never would submit to this. Butt
suppose" and she smothered the rest with her
face in his breast. Are you sure you mean mef'
she murmured, looking up And then suddenly
starting at the toll of the clock 1T is striking g.
and all these people out of bed!" she exclaimed,
her rosy face dazzling with it's glitter of tears
and smiles. and bushes. ''Mr. Sanghurst
may be fool l suppose / am. But not such a
fool as to be married without veil. and we'd
ding cake, and all the rest. And we can't posi-
bly, arrange those things tomorrow. Besides,
it's tomorrow now"
1--WE will borrow Miss Fairweathersr said Mr.
Sanghurst.
Poverty.
The city woke. Down the long market place
Her sad eyes wandered but tears they shed.
Tn her hare home little child Law dead