The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-20

have you ever seen pretty girl at the in
slant when she opens her lovers letter?
there is no prettier sight on earth-and
read:
"SwENDoN CHASE.
"wednesday Sept. 2.
DEAR Miss NoRMANBY-Will you and Mr..
Butterfly dine here on Friday evening at
o'clock. Ny aunt, Mrs. Colquhoun, and her
daughter arrive that afternoon, and am IN
viting few friends 10 meet them. L hope to
call at Harden tomorrow morning, but j send
this note at once as should be sorry If mean
while you formed any other engagement
81 think that you will be interested to meet
Mrs. Colouhoun. She has travelled good deal,
and is enthusiastic about ferns. Yours sin
cerely, ROGER NARROW.
Here Mr.. Butterfly appeared, and was
told OF the invitation.
''0f course, you will send an accept
ance," he said.
"Shall /? l think it is hardly necessary
to do so, as he says that he is coming here
this morning. But l Will do as you wish.
Samson, tell Harding to saddle the pony.
l want him to ride at once TO Swendon:
Or stay, will write the answer now, and
you can take it round to the stable: see
that Harding starts without delay. There,
that is finished. Now, uncle, will you
have another cup of coffee ?"
Mr.. Butterfly finished his breakfast with
less alacrity than usual, and retreated to
the library with what was almost de-
jected air.
cit is coming" he said to himself.
There is no doubt about it. He is going
to do il. And she will say yes am sure
she will. She has bought more new fnery
in the last month than she had bought in
the previous half year. Yes; itlsComing.
| And she'll say yes Eth, dearl after enjoy
| ing Nellie's companionship all these years,
it will be hard to live alone. There she is
in the garden, with rosebud tucked IN
| her belt. She's going to say yes. Eth, dear |!
there can be no doubt about 1t.
Meanwhile, the object of this sohloquy
was very busy watering her pet plants,
and picking such flowers as she needed
| for her china bowls. She caught
! glimpse of her uncle through the
library windows, and waved her hand
to him Then she wandered away to
the veronica bushes, at the edge OF
| the lawn, and half-tamed squirrel sprang
down from a fir and followed her with
| short. swift runs and bounds, now stopping
short with uplifted tail and eager, suspi-
cious eyes, and now coquetting from bush
to bush, advancing and receding, as the
promptings of fear or greediness dictated (;
| dashing into the sunlight as Nellles Of
| fered bride appeared more TEN pting. then
running up some gnarled trunk, as suspi-
cion again assailed him. And Nellie,
growing eager with the sport, flung aside
| her hat and laughed, and continued her
temptation with increasing Zest. The sun
| shine streamedthrough the branches upon
| her sunny hair the bees flew and hummed
among the veronica bushes; and man
who was crossing the lawn, paused invol-
UNFAIRLY to feast his eyes upon the picture.
Suddenly she saw him standing there,
and instantly bees and squirrel were alike
| forgotten; for had not he come again to
see her, and was not new glory added to
the glories of this perfect September day
| He came forward to meet her.
"Well!' he said.
"Good morning." she said lightly. She
wondered why he looked so pale, and why
he switched so nervously at the bushes
with his riding-whip.
"Welll" he repeated.
| "Oh, don't spoil my veronicas :, she
cried, hastily, as one of the blossoms fell to
the ground.
"Never mind that rubbish" he said,
hastily. "Nellie-Miss Normanby-do
not trife with me. What is your reply Y
He bent forward, and gently took heI
hand.
"What on earth do you mean" she
asked, in half amazenent, half alarm, fol
his manner bewildered her.
did YOU not receive a note from me
this morning? I posted it yesterday"
His brow was crimson now, and he
watched her face intently.
Certainly; sent Harding off with the
answer about an hour ago.
"And-vou-Nellie, Nellie, give me 6
favorable answer. Say yes, Nellie"
She shrank back n little, and looked al
him with quite serious dignity.
Certainly" she said, gravely, 81 shall
be very pleased Sir Roger! what dc
YOU mean? Are you mad? Let me goP
for he had slipped his arm around he1
waist, and was kissing her, raining down
passionate kisses on brow and cheek, until
with her disengaged hand she thrust
him from her, and, with dexterous move
ment freed herself from his arm.
"But-Nelie-W
"Im not Nellie. How dare you call me
| Nellie? Are you mad
"But, Miss Normandy, il I am not tc
call you Nellie"
Don't speak to me" with furiou;
stamp. "0h, you are the horridest man
that have ever known Why don't YOU
| ~ DdCh W lONi bOuAh ACoo ohh sOut
grizzly bears? And I'll not come to your
house tomorrow night. l won't. l said
in my note, that l would dine with you
but l won't. You horrid, unconverted
mani"
An angry light stole into his eyes.
"But, Miss Normandy"
"No, 1 won't listen to you And ]
won't dine with you tomorrow. Dine
with you / would rather have my din
ner on the doorstep than sit at the same
table with you."
'Then will bid you good morning." he
said gravely. His lips were compressed
and his eyes were hot and proud. He
raised his hat and walked away stiffly and
determinedly, with an assumption OF
leisurely indifference.
Presently she heard him mount his
horse and gallop down the avenue The
| color faded from her cheek, and, with lips
apart and straining ears, she stood listen
ing, listening, until the sound of the
And then she turned and looked around
her with puzzled, weary, piteous eyes.
The squirrel ran along the branch at her
head and invited a renewal of their game
the bees hummed around her as before
but the glory of the day had fed; the sun.
lit path between the veronica bushes was
no longer the high road to the earthly
paradise.
Roger moderated his pace after awhile
but it was some time before he could col
lect bis thoughts. Seldom before had he
| l.oav, co otortlad rax-ar bod ba with