The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-24

M UGH ADO.'|
A NoyELETTE-BY FRANCES HoDGsoN BURNETT.
Author
and Novels
PART Nv.

PAR
He, too, had neglected an engagement on ac-
count of severe headache" and he had come to
dispel this ailment by promenading the terrace
or at least that part of it which lay at the foot
Of Mrs Huntingdon's lawn-for the rest Of the
evening
Nell could see his face quite plainly in the
moonlight. And it had never been such beau
tiful face in its brightest glow as it was in its
sadness and pallor. And why was he there2
Bad as he was, there must be some strong feel
ing which iupelled him to come to the place,
and haunt it so when there was nothing to be
gained IL was what man with q warm heart
and-yes. tender love filling it-might have
done.
Nell leaned against the uncovered trellis
trembling, and soon on the leaves near where
her cheek rested great drops fell and shone.
'sWhy are you not goodg' she whispered
brokenly. why are you not a gentleman-a
mani I should-like you-then. / could not
help it Oh, can scarcely help it now!r
And at that very instant, as though he had
heard the words-though he had not-he stopped
just below where she stood and looked up. And
the arbor. There was nothing to be done. It
was impossible to go away There was no time.
AS she made her involuntary step toward the
entrance-a step which brought her into the full
moonlight-he reached her, and they stood face
to face It was as if he had received an electric
shock. A sharp tremor shook him for an instant.
Nell looked up at him. and then looked down.
will you let me pass91 she said in a low voice.
IL can't" he said with desperate, misera-
able effort, until you tell me why you did that
heartless-that cruel thing to me this after
noon,"
Nell could not speak. She put her hand upon
the rrellis to steady herself. This was too sud-
den.
you ought to tell me-" he persisted. "You
must Surely woman would not do such
thing as that through eaprice-a woman like
you'll may not be very attractive fellow-I
may go wrong sometimes-I know I'm hot.
headed and rash-and obstinate-and I have a
deuce of temper-and perhaps you have a
right to dislike me, but you might have spared
me that. Why did you do ita' passionately.
''You-you know Why" cried Nell ''Do not
presume to-ask me!' Yet the words were
not spoken valiantly, and her voice was not 80
clear al she had intended it to be.
IL don't know why" he said. lis every
thing going to turn against met have tried-I
have tried to keep things straight-but it is no
use-and you might have helped me-if you
would"
IT." exclaimed Nell, with pride.
'Yes--you9' fercely '"There have been
women before this who have not felt themselves
too good to help men who could be helped by
for me-if you had been al;ttle kind-but to kill
man at such time as this! Do you think
] have not trouble enoughs Do you
think I don't feel the disgrace-and
bitterness? I had tried-I gave the
thing fair triai-and failed. came back
here more crushed than you know! Ilonged for
q sight of your face-and kind look. You
have never given me one yet. butt seemed as
If now you might. perhaps. And you struck me
was suffering most--you, the
woman love"
Then Nell lifted her head.
How dare your she said. Glow dare your
"DareI" he echoed with fire and defiance that
almost overwhelmed her. "What daring is
there in loving woman9 What man, if he is
man at all, cannot dare that much9 A dog might
love you-the worst fellow alive might love you.
Perhaps, am not quite the worst, and l tell you
again love you. You cannot help it-neither'
with break-''neither can l."
"Let me pass said Nell. II wish to leave
you We have nothing to say to each other"
She began to tremble. She did not wish to
leave him. She wished to stay-to hear him
cry ont against her and arraign her-to hear
him say anything That was the worst of oil
that was why she trembled.
But he only saw the tremar and agitation in
her face. He stopped short moment and looked
at her as he had done that day on the lawn.
els this only dislikef" he said, az if wondering
us it only hatred, or is it something elser
If he had had less power-if he had wrune her
heart less when he spoke she would have been
more pitiful. AS it was, her only safety lay
in gathering her strength together in one merci-
less effort.
'Tt is more than dislike" she painted 'Tt is
contempt! Will you let me pass now?"
YES" he answered. And he moved aside,
and as she went he turned and stood still, star
ing blankly at the moonlit sea-
When Mrs. Huntingdon returned she did not
find Nell down stairs, and hoping that she was
asleep she went to her own room and retired
without seeing her.
She had been in bed half an hour, but had not
gone to sleep. having laid awake. in fact alb
sorbed in thought, when she heard a low knock
at her door.
he >ks91 -: L.
gave soft light to the room, so that when the
door opened and Nell came in she could see her
as she neared the bed and knelt down by it, and
30 seeing her she quickly put out her hand
'Dearestp she exclaimed
Mamma said Nell, 'show soon can we 60
away-how soons"
She began to tremble as she had done in the
arbor.