The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25

large loyv-studded room and to obliterate the
family portraits on the wainscoted walls. Il
Eoftened the worn face of Miss Penelope Macil-
vaine as she sat before tina open fire. glancing
over her shoulder occasionally towards the near
est window, and signing AT the two farther
windows sat her sisters, Miss Sarah and Miss
Judith, as they had done for thirty years. They
also looked out their respective windows
In while. but they did not sigh, that being
Miss Penelops's privilege.
They were three old women. for Miss Pene-
iope even, and she was the youngest, would
Rever again see City. but they all secretly
stirred at sight of young Macolm Dunston walk
ing by JaciDth's side at the foot OF the garden,
where the hawthorn hedge divided the soft
green lawn from the high road
so tomorrow you leave Rothmere and
Scotland, Miss Jacinth." be was just saying
'sYou will return to America and forget usI'
He could not look into her face and command
his heart, and SO he watched the river over the
way as it ripped and tumbled over tiny dam
For moment Jacinth's lips quivered, but
then she lifted her downcast eyes, and there was
q quiet strength il their tender depths they
met his, that trorbled him. and his heart
Seled against his practical Scotch mind and his
self-made barriers.
Il have bad a long holiday, and il do not go
now / shall forget how to work, for my aunts
are so good to me-" she said, and looked mp low
ingly at the old brick house. unconscious of be-
ing watched by eager eyes.
II hope" said Miss Sarah, that he has
settled it: then the dear child can stay with us
until they are are married.
81 can't IN dsrstand you, Sarah; he is poorer
than Job; he's only clerk in the bank land he
hasn't any prospects"
HE is Mr. Dunston's son. Judith. Miss Sarah
replied softly.
"A nice, shiftless lot that, though I shouldn't
say il Of the minister
''Oh, hush. please" Miss Penelope inter
rupted; ''they are coming up the walk! Fetch
the lamp, Sarah, do-oh. I'm all of tremble"
TIE door was quietly opened just Miss
Sarah came in at ano Their with the lamp. She
placed it among the books on the table. and then,
antly at Jacinth
The family portraits the walls
would have 6isowned her, could they
have seen their hard-set features softened into
the tenderest curves, their long. thin noses be-
come thing of laughter, and their dull, straight
hair turned to sunlight.
He babe me goodbye and went back to the
parsonage by the shortcut acros the pasture"
sis that all Jacinth?'
s.All, Aunt Sarah" she answered. smiling, and
drew chair to the table, while they still watched
her as il spell-bound.
II am glad of It," Aunt Judith cried, and
broke the SPELL
Aunt Sarah shook her head. but she did not
trust herself to speak, and after moment of
Btupor they both left the room.
No sooner were they gone than Jacinths face
slipped into the palms of her hands. and lay
hidden until, at soft touch on her shoulder,
ghe looked mp with hopeless eyes.
'1You, Aunt Peueiopef"
Between the two had stood the wall of Aunt
Peneope's grief. luckless romance upon which
she had built the sad structure of her existence,
by right of which she enjoyed unstinted melan-
choly. which her sisters bore with the patience
of long habit. but which, in the unchartableness
of youth. Jacintn called selfshnesS.
My dear" Aunt Penelope said, and a faint
flush crept to the border of ner lace cap. my
dear, out of my sorrows and mistakes speak to
you. Thirty years ago." she falterec, 1.-THE man
who once said he loved me told me that the old
feeling had changed There was nothing to do
but TO bear it, but, God forgive me, how i'll
bore it. how selfish / was. Child, be better and
stronger than 1, and you will yet be happy.
You young, dear, and prettier than ever
was. and you will forget"
Aunt Penelope Jacinth cried. "he never
once told me that he'-she paused and hid her
face on the old woman's breast.
81 know. child, l know, it is not only words
xhas speak, God forgive him"
sit was mistake. that is ALL" Jacinth muir
INJURED, trying to smils then. with a cry that
broke down the barriers of her good resolves.
she threw herself forward on the table and
buried her face in her outstretched arms.
Have patience with me, Aunt Penelope" she
cried brokenly.
my dear it is not for me to tell you to do at
once what | could not do in thirty years" Aunt
Penelope said humby. when the door opened.
and Miss judith appeared. For moment she
stared in speechless CONSERVATION at Jacnth,
and then she sank into the nearest chair with
eloquent bounce.
With quick movement RJacinth was by her
side. and threw her arms about the old lady.
II love you dearly, Aunt Judith; forgive
me for my foolishness, for tomorrow I sail be
SO far away, and who Knows when we shall see
"See each other again" an indignant voice
repeated. and there stood Aunt Sarah with
tea-tray Don't talk nonsence. You are COM
ing back next year. sure! Now come and have
tea by the fire. So they sat about the bIaz-
ing logs the hearth. with Jacinth in
their midst resting her bright head on
Aunt Penelopes lap, while Aunt Sarah held her
hand and Aunt Judith patted her head softly,
and there peace in the still room and even
in Door Jacinth's heart, while, mile away in
pacing up and down the bare floor OF his shabby
room. II could curse my destiny if / did not
mean to conquer if" he cried stopping short in
his walk.
'fYet, IL had said tonight. tJacinth, be my
wife, wait and be patient until have earned
enough TO support you IN comfort why then
would have been the misery of waiting for her
as well as for Now / alone bear the
of parting. the fear for the future and" be
paused and looked silently out of the window
into the darkness, land the hope" something
seemed to whisper. Yet she shall be my wife,"
he cried. ''some day. with Gods nelpl When
can make her happy, when poverty shall not
drag her down 1t has my mother. I can
work, and, by heaven, will. and he stretched
out his strong arms like, young giant trying
his strength.
''Yet suppose" he thought of a sudden, ''she
sees in the meantime some one she love,
free from any promise to mel7 He stood still
and pondered. Then" he added, gravely,
''then shall have kept the sorrow out of her
life with the hope"
So DIal:olm Dunston took fate into his own
hands
In dreary. shabby New York street. Jacinth
Maeilvaine looked out of an attic window and
watched the forest of chimneys that stood out
against the steel blue of the spring sky, and for
once she was idle.
II was a shabby, whitewashed attic, with a
dim window a bare floor. and the cheapest of
furniture. In q corner hung couple OF gowns,
deliberately decorated and boldly proclaiming
rhnr hrr