The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-20
HEARTS ARE TRUMPS. 7"

uOuScs VIII JcocdInlue duu WlSlaIld, IOScS
and Virginia creeper trailing and climb
ing from roof to basement, and surround
ing the house with belt of sweet odors
and with the soft hum of velvety bees. A
CHEEKY. sunny house, through the open
windows OF which might be caught peeps
of bright, chintz-covered furniture, sunny
landscapes in broad gilt frames, flowers in
china stands upon the tables, flowers in
wicker stands upon the floor before the
mirrors, and always more flowers.
"A CHEEKY place" was Mr.. Butterby's
comment when visitors waxed ecstatic over
the beauties of the warm, comfortable
house and well-kept gardens. ga CHEEKY
place! Not picturesaue-no no; there Is
nothing picturesque here l always say to
Nellie-that's my niece-'Buy what you
like, Nellie / say, please yourself, but
shun the picturesque; keep the place in
order can't bear too see place going
to the dogs. Picturesque. indeed! No, no,
Nothing picturesque for me-" 1Estheti-
cally minded visitors were apt to raise
their eyebrows at this point. "And Nellie
is a good girl She never forgets my wishes,
and she is always as bright as asunbesm'
Mr.. Butterfly was wont to grow warm
when descanting on his niece's projections,
but when the niece appeared in sight,
even the weary listener forgot his fatigue
and Endorsed each word OF praise.
Nellie Normandy was the only child OF
Mr.. Butterby's dead sister. and had lived
with heTuncle ever since she was two years
old. Now. in her nineteenth year, she
Dafr Il tod crirl
possessed OF a good deal OF straight
forward common-sense, a good deal
of dignity and resolution, and
good deal of willfulness. But. after
all, these points were but so many
side points in her character, and the main
point, the leaven which ieavened the
whole lump, was a thOroughness which
stamped each word and deed, and which
left no doubt as to her ideas, her opinions,
or her interests. With her, sunshine was
sunshine, bright and joyous, and dancing;
laughter was an act which blessed
both him who laughed and him
who heard; while the rare tears
were the sign of modification and
grief passing the bounds of wOman's en-
duranee. 1t seldom happened that any
one presumed on her good nature, but on
those rare occasions she was apt to display
a quiet gravity which crushed the offender.
And then, perhaps, that astounded sim
ner would go away and speak OF her as
being naughty and disagreeable. Disagree
able with those sensitive lips. and that
impulsive, loving heart. No, indeed.
Proud she might be, but uncivilly disa-
greeable, never.
She had no memories of the father and
mother who lay side by side on the sunny
slope of the old churchyard. AS soon as
as she was old enough to understand her
loss she undertook the charge OF the mar
row observation-disclosures their graves, but
she was a healthy-minded girl, whose re-
ligion was devoid of poetry, and she did
not mourn loss which she did not feel.
And being also one OF those bright, active
girls, who not only like to manage their
own affairs, but who consider that they
manage them extremely well, she and
Uncle Sam soon learned each others ways
and views, and lived out the years together
In unbroken harmony.
Mr.. Butterfly, too, was a happy-minded
individual, not given to fretting anxious
thought for the morrow. He knew that
his niece would come into" two thousand
a year on her twenty-hrst birthday and he
intended to make further provision for her
at his death. So her future was assured;
andthe only matter still undecided was the
name for which she would change her own.
Well Mr.. Butterfly was wise man.. and,
after much meditation on the subject, he
said aloud, to his reflection in the shaving
glass: eli that young woman can not choose
for herself, at least it is pretty certain that
no one else can choose for her"
But, for all his philosophy, he was as he
was wont to observe to himself, "by no
means such an old fool as some young
fools considered him ;" and he took un-
commonly good care that none of the
neer-do-wells OF the county should set
foot in Harden hall His jewel should not
be stolen if a surly watchdog could insure
Its safety.
Giles Grimshawe was one of his betes
noirs-a plausible young fellow, whose
handsome face and winning WAYS caused
Mr. Butterfly to draw himself up, and to
stiffen as if he had swallowed the poker.
Giles Grimshawe was well aware of this
poker-swallowing, and he swore that he
would 'make old Sam look alive - but, in
spite of feints and strategies, endless and
well-planned, he had not vet penetrated
into the treasure house.
And Old Sam said with a chuckle, that
''some OF the old fools could beat the young
knaves yet" also. that he had not shaved
all his young days among the coal pits in
order that a graceless Grimshawe might
squander his money upon race-courses. 81
may be a self-made man." he said, but at
least am an honest one; whereas, who
ever knew Grimshawe that understood
the force of the eighth commandment"
Giles Grimshawe's cousin, the Honorable
Jim, also made up his noble mind to throw
the handkerchief to the pretty heiress,
and was not little amazed to find that
she simply did not understand his long
winded compliments, and appeared utter
" Indifferent to his presence. Indeed, it
once happened that, after paying some
what lengthy afternoon call, he overheard
Nellie sigh deeply-he was detained for a
moment in the hall, and the draWing-room
door had not been firmly closed-and then
Y excaim. in the words of the weary turn
ispit: Even the biggest leg of mutton
lmust get done in time! but oh, Uncle
! Sam, what a big leg of mutton this has
been ~
The Honorable Jim was sorely exer-
cised when he reflected on this little
speech during his homeward ride
However, besides these and other suit
ors. eligible and ineligible, there was one
who, during the past month, had come
frequently to the hall, and who, by his
courtesy and tact, had completely won
Mr.. Butterfly heart; though it is needless
TO say that that heart was not the heart,
the search for which brought Roger Mar
lowe from Swendon Chase to Harden, a
matter of five miles as the crow flies, but