The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-07

open back door, but perceiving no one in the
garden. II am really sorry to think that | shall
not be able to see it again."
The plaque looked much better upon the ia.
BILE resting on the Chinaman's feet and those oil.
the demon than it did when hanging against the
wall, and | gazed upon it with q pleasure which
l was willing to protract as long as possible.
Its q pity you can't have it, sence you like 1t
SO much,' said Mrs. Groma. IAN if she hadn't
come fur it in a reasonable time, I'd made up my
she give me a good price fur it, an that settled
it. But tell you what you kin do" said the old
woman, glancing at me with a twinkle In her
eye. as she proceeded to envelope the plaque in
newspaper. you kin settle the matter as me an
Billy did. You're a very good-lookin' young
man. an she's a handsome young woman. You
marry her, an then both Of you kin have this
dish.n
Marry herv!" ! exclaimed. At this moment
the back door was darkened. and the young lady
entered the room. I turned. and perceived that
| had been married to her for more than q year.
My wife started with surprise. What on
earth are you doing here?' she cried.
and you," exclaimed, ''are YOU did
you-p
HAS my. husband seen this plaquep she
asked. stepping quickly toward Mrs. Grome.
Your husband!" exclaimed the astonished
old woman, ''of course he has. He wanted to
buy it If I'd a knowed-n and her look of
amazement turned to one of sudden detection as
she thought of the bargain she might have made
If she had known how matters stood.
Nov, this is too bad!' exclaimed my wife.
How did you happen to come heref have been
to you On your birthday, and was so anxious that
you shouldn't see it, or know anything about it,
that l wrote a note to MIR. Curper, and asked
him to come and get this good woman out of her
trouble. when / should have certainly sent you,
if l hadn't wanted you not to see the plaque"
"But you see," said ], "ME. Curper asked me
TO attend to the business. as he had no time"
What an awfully provoking person he is!'
she cried. Il wrote to him in such a way that
he couldn't possibly find out who ! was, and so
couldn't tell you. But how came you not to say
anything about coming here while you were with
me at the seashore?"
Because said I. 81 was try ing to get the
plaque that / might give it to YOU"
"Well." said Mrs. Grome, here is the dish all
done up ready to carry away, an as You two are
married Already, you can both have it without
goin' to the expense of another weddin'."
At this we laughed heartily and took our leave.
AS we stepped together from the little porch we
met old Billy Haskell, who was coming around
the house with a rake in hi3 hand.
Hello" said he, with a look of sour surprise
on his face, $50 you got her, did yous"
Yes" replied, laughing, II got her"
Well" said Mr.. Haskell, his venerable brow
Swallowed with disapprobation, I'D a big sight
liefer the other man had got her. I'd a had the
money fur half last years crap in my pocket
pow, if you'd a KEEP out of this business" And,
so saying, he went his way.
''What does all this meana' asked my wife, as
l handed her into the carriage, and placed the
plaque carefully in her lap.
I'll ride back, said /, '.close to your side and
tell you all about it,"
The plaque was presented to me IN advance of
my birthday, and, placed in a good light. it was
much admired by our friends and visitors. Among
these was Mr.. Curper. to whom my wife and /
had decided Miss Janet Floyd should not make
herself known.
Where in the world did you get this thing2'
said he, regarding the plaque with much interest.
ut looks like a lawyer trying to influence a re-
luctant client. Ii that queue gives way, it will,
be bad for the barrister."
Taking no notice of his unprofessional remark,
l told him that the plaque had been procured
from the old woman whom I had visited at his
request.
s'It's too bad" he exclaimed. IT got no good
at all outof that affair. The young lady hasn't
answered my note, and I don't suppose she ever
will. l have had my trouble for my pay. But
you, you lucky fellow, have come out of this
business with this tip-top bit of brio. a brac."
'tMr. Curper," said my wife, 'tdo you suppose
that my husband should seelthese people. and
find out everything about the case. and do
everything that could be done, and get no re-
wardp
ooh, well, " said Curper, IF I had made the ac-
quaintance of Miss Janet, he might have that
plaque. and be welcome to n, SO far as I am con-
cerned; but you see I got nothing"
II really sympathize with you in regard to
Miss Janet, compassionately remarked my wife.
"What surprises me, my dear" said ], when
Curper had gone. lis your want of feeling-so to
put it-in connection with myself and that young
lady correspondent of Curper's. You must have
supposed that I was taking a good deal of inter
est in an unknown young woman"
why should have any feeling about it?7 she
answered. Il was the young woman"
But when you heard about this, you couldn't
have imagined that l knew you were the young
lady in question:
But l knew that / was the young lady" she
said, Tipping a little dust from the upturned face
of the Chinaman. land how could I object to your
taking an interest in me?'
But you know, II insisted, that I didn't know
you were Janet Floyd"
but what difference does that make" said
she, when I was Janet Floyd9'
II must admit" said /. shaking my head, "that
I don't understand you"
My friend, the reader, do you understand her?
1.-THE END