The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-24
something else also. and happiness leaped into

Hamilton saw was that her air of cold dlsda1n
had hed, the next that she wore the dress he had
seen IN the moonlight Her loneliness was so
scftened that 1T was new thing If he had been
Jack Hamilton and had dared to neglect his din
ner and look at her as he did on this occasion ne
would have been stigmatized as presumptuous
criminal As it was. Donald and Mrs. Hunting
don were very good to him and exhibited IN their
kindness the most beautiful tact. Was it Don
aid who took his mother upstairs after the meal
was over and they had sat talking for an hour, or
was it Mrs. Huntingdon who took Donald to
show him his apartments2 1t mattered not in
the least to Hamilton when the door closed and
he found himself alone with Nell
he had always been an impetuous person and
he was no less impetuous now. And yet it was
Nell who spoke first. There was one thrilling
moment of silence. and then she looked up at
him with the most lovely appeal in her eyes.
Il know ought to ask your pardon, she said.
You cannot know how wretched feel-how in
the wrong-how-oh, how sorry"
He rose from his own seat and came and took
the one her mother had left close to her own.
Don't be sorry" he said. his voice low with
impassioned happiness. There has been sorrow
enough-you don't know-if you are sorry
must be. Let me have nothing but happiness.
"Oh, but" said Nell. ''think what 1 said to
you-what cruel, untrue thngs-when you were
in such trouble-when all the world should have
been kind to you. can't bear it'll"
She put out her hand in pretty, pathetic
gesture. To say that the next instant Hamilton
held 1t pressed close within his own seems almost
unnecessary.
He looked at her second adoringly.
well" he said at last, ''be sorry-a little,
since it makes you look at me like that"
Then Nell ceased to look at him at all. Her
eyelids fell, and she became a rose in bloom.
mo-" he implored. don't do that. You owe
me something; pay me by being kind Which
was, perhaps, triae unworthy. Yet there
occasions when man is but dust. you must!
You-you will" He held the hand closer and
closer and his own was trembling II shall say
too much" he said rashly. Il know / shall; but
that you can't think of me as Las I wish you
could. But You said those things-the things
you said that night were untrue. You know you
said You hated me. Win you tell me now that
you didnt"
He bent over her, unconsciously drawing her
little to him with the hand he held, and yet he
could hardly hear her low voice as she answered:
'Yes-I will, she said; II did--not"
"Ah!" he cried. 'ff you only knew how happy
you make me- If You could only say-a little
more. know It's too much to ask, but"
There was little. breathless pause, and then
Nell slowly lifted her eyes, their lashes wet the
sweetest, softest. dearest look in their depths
that ever woman's eyes wore.
II know owe you something she said, trem-
ulously. mo woman has the right to make
man suffer when he does not deserve it, and then
not try to pay him afterwards. 1 do owe you
something. and want to pay you. And If you
if what say makes you so happy, perhaps /
can a little. II will tell you
"WharW he whispered, because her voice fell.
'"Tell mel"
81 said," lower Still. ST said-that hated
you-because l did not"
He swept her into his arms and held her
trem bing against his breast.
Because you. did not he cried IA word
more-one word, Nell"
because I never did-because I thought I
ought uo-because / knew I could not-because
was unhappy-because did not know what to
do-because / think-I loved you! Have have
paid you now?"
He thought so. How he told her that he
thought so-with what torrent of words-with
what passionately happy tenderness does not
concern u.s. All that had passed was nothing
"My dear mother" said Donald later in the
evening, you must excuse my saying that
cannot refrain from contemplating you two
most charming women with admiration and de-
light. When | think of the high moral tone you
took in this matter, OF the lofty scorn you dealt
forth to the wrong young man. of the persistent
and laudabe manner in which you EMBODIED the
right one IN your embrace, so to speak; when
think of that guileless looking, slippery little
cad's quiet enjoyment of his postion-for he has
a sly sense of bumor by no means despicable-
and when / remember. above all, that you &C
cepted the flowers which / find the maligned
victim chose-and, of course. paid for-and
drove haughtily past said victim as he humbly
toiled along the dusty road. while you splashed
him with the mud from his own chariot wheels,
will confess that restrain my pleasure in the
humor of the situation with difficulty
MY DEAR" answered Mrs. Huntindon, ''you
make me absolutely unhappy. I cannot think
of it. twas objectionable"
ut is rather too bad" said Donald "that the
fact is if you had not been such charming
women-f You had been a trife less fastidious
and refined. and would have condescended to
gossip a little and listen to gossipers you would
have found out your mistake. 1t was because
you felt it better taste to exclude this reprehen-
sible young man and all discussion of him from
your presence that you were enabled to remain
in state of blissful ignorance. But would you
mind answering me question: Why did you
pick ont that particular young man as being the
wicked one?"
'Well. in the first place." said Mrs. Hunting
don, II thought that Mrs. Dalton looked at him
when she was pointing out the hero of the
stories. and then"
'You thought" said Donald but why did
you think2 Was it matter of looks! Upon the
whole I think he has the advantage of the orig.
inal Jack Hamilton
"Oh. Donald" exclaimed Nell, with charm
ingly involuntary indignation.
'Oh, think he has little" said Donald.
considerably. Come, what was it, motherl
Confess. Was it because he looked less interest
ing--or more SO! Wait, let Nell speak for her
self first. Which was it. Nell2o
Nell hesitated and reflected. Then she blushed
q little.
az don't think" she replied, ''that it was be-
cause he was the less interesting"
my dear mother. said Donald, turning to her.
Mrs. Huntingdon hesitated longer than Nell
had done. She reflected more deeply. She be-
gan to feel herself obliged to confront most
confusing subtlety and remissness
I'm afraid" she said with o most self-re-
proachful air-'My dear Don, I'm afraid-it was
because he was-more So"
And Donald broke into a shout of laughter
-reprehensiele and TO be deplored, to say the
least of it.
THE END.
Gen. Sherman Won't Lecture for 81 600 900.
St I,ouis Republican