The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-14
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL 1889


could not bring himself to go. Was Sell
swyke sometimes dull to him ? Miss Fair
fax's wreath was made and twisted round
her hat, and now she was sitting by the
edge of the bank and looking down into
the water, and watching q row of trout
living with their heads patiently turned
up stream waiting for such food as might
come.
Throw that line in" she exclaimed;
81 should like to see you catch fish,"
"Then come TO the dub" he said, won
dering whether she would.
Robin, l am going to some pool with
Mr.. Rokewood," she exclaimed; "he Is
going to let me see him catch fish"
MANY fish, most likely" replied Robin
carelessly, and she went.
She took a great fancy to the agents
house, and left the inn for it almost di-
rectly, and the next time they saw Mr..
RokewoOd, which, to tell the truth, was
very soon, they expressed much gratitude.
He, too, might have expressed gratitude,
but was prudently silent. There was
shady walk at the back of his kitchen
garden which ran almost beneath the
walls of the agents house, and when
Mr.. Rokewood walked there, which,
now that he had become aware
of its advantages, he did every
night he could hear such music as had
never before delighted his ears The Fair
faxes, who evidently considered piano a
necessary of life, had hired an excellent
one at Scorton, and now no night passed
without Agnes playing for couple OF
hours, and, as the windows were open, Mr..
Rokewood could hear to perfection. Every
day added to his envy of that brother.
Agnes was young, pretty, clever, alice
tionate, and, above all, musical, and that
brother of hers protited by all these good
gifts daily. The FairfaXes were both ex-
tremely friendly with Mr.. Rokewood now,
but he observed that even if he happened
TO meet them near their own door, or
walk home with them from young Fair
fax's sketching place and 60 quite up to
their door, and never by any chance gave
him an invitation to 90 in, even though
he often lay in wait for 1t. Perhaps they
have taken it into their heads that my
mother ought to call, )" he thought, and re-
coiled at the immensely of the idea. Hav-
ing once thought of this, he thought of it
again, and presently it lost some of its
awe, and at length, about six weeks after
Miss Agnes's arrival, the day came when
he said to the spare, angular lady. clad in
rich silk who was his mother, Don't you
think it would be kind 10 call on the Fair
faxes, mother? They are quite gentle
folk-very well educated, and"
II have no intention of making their &C
quaintance, Geoffrey," said Mrs. Roke-
wood, frigidly.
"Have you any feeling against them,
mother"
81 have no feeling either for or against
them. 1 simply do not want TO do it, P"
Mrs. RokewOod answered with stony in
difference.
IF 1 say I should very much like you
to do it, mother, will you call?
IF / could see any good reason for
your wishing it. of course l would"
''It would be kind"
$50 many things that one does not do
would be kind" said Mrs. Rokewood, and
Imagined that she had given him an
answer.
"They are very nice people"
any not calling will not make them less
nice"
"Miss Fairfax is an admirable must
clan"
''You go to the housed" she exclaimed
with certain vehemence of surprise, for
it was so unlike him ito make himself
common" in this way.
"NO, have not been to the house, but
l have heard her play. / happened when
| was smoking one night to stray out OF
one garden into another, and at last
went into the Elm walk, and, mother,
you have no conception how magnifcently
she plays! The windows were open and
heard"
'There you attack me in a weak point, p"
said Mrs. Rokewood-she was passionately
fond of music.
call on her, then, and she will play for
you"
al don't want to call on her." answered
Mrs Rokewood decisively.
Her son said no more, but that night
when he was in the Elm walk he heard a
low football, and presently a slight, frail
figure, shrouded IN black, stole through
the darkness to his side Don't be
startled, Godfrey" she whispered; it's
your mother come to hear this music.
don't think l should have dared TO come
if had known what a long way it would
seem in the dark"
He gave her his arm and guided her
ialtering feet nearer to the house. There
thew stood listening some time, during
which every fiber of Mrs. Rokewood's be-
ing was thrilled with delight. That night
she would have crept to the agents hou sc
on her Bonded knees to call on Miss
Agnes, but next day the ice had reunited
and left no weak spot.
"Come into the garden with me, said
the squire the next evening after dinner.
She said she would not but went, and after
her nature had once more been softened
by what she heard, she said, "Geoffrey, l
will cali on that girl, ifyou like, to-mor-
row."
THANK you," said he, much pleased by
| this concession; "you won't repent it.
They are both charming; it's just one of
those cases which show the folly OF yield
| ing to first Impressions.
"Yours was bad, then 2"
"Not when saw the people themselves.
| IL was before / saw them that / didn't
| like them. l accidentally heard some tel
egrams they sent each other" Then he
told his mother what he had heard in
| Browns shop.
II am glad you have told me that" said
Mrs. Rokewood, who WIS sitting rigidly
! by her own fireside, "for now I know
that shall not call. should never like
| them"
She was inhexible, and his state of
mind about that and vexation at his own
folly may be inferred. "You may do
what YOU like" he at last exclaimed,
| angrily-they were both people of strong
| temper and will-"you may call or not,
exactly as YOU please, butto-morrow morn
ing shall 20 to Miss Fairfax and ask her
10 be my wife,"
The idea was 80 preposterous to Mrs.
| Rokewood that she was not disturbed by
il. "You scarcely know the girl, she