The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-03

thought her governess plain, then sud-
denly perceived that she was interesting,
and twenty-four hours afterward declared
her lovely.
Kate was happy in obtaining such a sit
uation at the outset. Nothing there reused
the impatient scOrn of meanness, the-quick
pride, or the biting ridicule which pru-
dence would never have restrained had
they been challenged. Her mistress was
charming woman in the best sense of
that term-so thoroughly good-hearted
that she never thought of dismissing the
girl for her prettiness. "It's not the poor
| child's fault" said she to her husband.
1--WE must hope that Jack doesn't admire
that stvlew And Admiral Bulstrode
agreed the more heartily because he was
one of those who could not see where Miss
Shafto's beauty lay.
But it would certainly be annoying IL
Jack did admire that stYle-mueh worse
than annoying if he carried admiration be-
yond the abstract point. Though still
young, Mrs. Bulstrode no longer hoped to
give an heir to her husbands ancient
name. Jack would represent the family
at his death, and would succeed to
the estates which had known Bulstrode
as master from immemOrial time. The
admiral found some solace for his disap-
pOintment in this fact, since he regarded
his nephew with pride and a very warm
affection. 1t was painful reflection with
the old sailor-suspected by none, but
constantly haunting him-that in thirty
years service he had never found an OPP
pOrtunity to distinguish himself. Almost
all his contemporaries had the X. G. b. at
least, but his name would be recorded in
the annals of the family with no testi-
monial of merit. Jack would retrieve its
gloriesl At twenty-six years of age he
had won his brevet-captaincy upon the
field, and had been mentioned twice in
general orders. Furthermore, he was the
best and noblest young fellow in En-
gland!
Therefore Jack ought TO marry-should
marry-must marry-to insure the per-
manence of the stock. For two wears
past the admiral had been urging the OBJ
legation by every mail, while his wife had
been diligently seeking a bride. This pur-
suit gave to Mrs. Bulstrodes 8 hospitalities,
friendships, and correspondence the air of
bustling interest which made Kate feel
lonely, as she has explained. At length
Jack was persuaded, or rather convinced
for he could not bring himself to an
inclination. Three days before the ad-
vertisement appeared he reached the
castle, and forthwith defle of maidens
was arranged.
Mr.. Williams reported that Messrs.
Jordan We're solicitors of the highest
standing, and Hannah Penrhyn, Kate's
old nurse, consented to act. She dis
patched her reply:
"LOyalty's advertisement has met the
eye of the young lady to whom it was ad-
dressed, and she is glad to find an oppor-
tunity of expressing her gratitude for his
kindness long ago. That she failed to do
So at the time caused her mnch distress
she looked for him everywhere on ar
rival at FolkestOne. His rug had been
preserved with pious care, and it will be
forwarded to Messrs. Jordan Immediately.
''The young lady takes note of Loyalty's
promise to make no inquiry about her,
and, that both parties may bear it con-
stantly in mind, she assumes a name de-
rived, like his, from the motto OF king
X. +. p. T.. Troth-for short, Miss Troth.
"And she awaits Loyalty's explanation
of his object in seeking her out after five
years.
Reply frankly, please, to the care of
Mrs Penrhyn, IL Deepest, Richmond"
The answer came as speedily as cross
posts would allow.
"MY DEAR Miss TRoTH-I would rather
not have told you at the beginning why l
wished to renew our acquaintance, lest
the information itself should defeat my
object. Utterly ignorant of the circum-
stances around you, l cannot guess how
you will be affected. But since you made
the demand-and certainly it is reason
able-I must run the risk.
'My friends have been urging me to
marry for long time past, by arguments
which cannot be resisted; but my per-
Il
have never seen the lady whose charms
tempted me to think that the grave re-
sponsibiEties of marriage would be COM
pensated by the happiness of her society
through life. Pray do not misunderstood.
l have not looked for such a lady, and |
have been very little in the way of find
ing her by accident up to this.
But 1t is my plain duty to take wife,
in so far as that duty is not counterbal-
anced by another which forbids a man
to marry unless he love with all his
heart and believe himself loved in return.
Subject to these conditions, / acknowl
edge the reasoning of my friends, and,
therefore, it is right to give myself, or to
make myself, the opportunity of discover
ing person who must exist, if we can
rely upon tradition-the helpmate who is
destined for me, for whom / am destined.
NOW, my uedT MISS lTOIu, IN JllQklDg
of this matter continually for many months
past, with equal persistence my thoughts
have turned to the little girl who sat with
her head upon my shoulder through a
long, wet, miserable night on the deck of
a channel steamer. l scarcely could see
her face, but | think she was not pretty,
and have never asked myself whether
she NAV be pretty now. But her eyes and
her sweet voice under sufferings of mind
and body have never faded from my men,
ory. The impression grows stronger, in
deed, for l was only twenty-one, and a
boy OF that age takes little notice of girl
in short frocks. You could not have been
more than fourteen?
''These premises | feel bound to state at
your demand; but are you able to leave
them there, as mere statements, without
drawing a conclusion? | have heard that
your sex ignores and despises logic; but
again, from my very limited means of OBJ
servation, l have myself remarked that it
works a straightforward syllogism with
unfailing accuracy. 1t would be agreeable
at this moment, and in this case, to be-
lieve the former proposition if | could.
But however it be, | entreat you to forget
an explanation which is offered most un-
willingly, since various reasons and mo-
tives may induce you to break off our cor
respondence at this early stage, after
learning my position. They may be such
as l could not gainsay. But If motif
they are mere objections of convention