The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-17

All rlght, mum. L guess ne needs q
sister or some womankind to take him in
hand. / can tell you"
The electric button below cut short the
elevator boys confidence. He drew the
sliding door between him and Mrs. Roper
and shot downward.
Adoctor came, looked at Randall, looked
at the glass by his side, gave few direc-
tons to Mrs. Roper. who simply an
nounced herself as his nurse, and went
away. Randall still slept
A young man came, tall, fair-haired,
clear-eyed young man, who greeted Mrs.
Roper courteously, bent solicitously over
Randall. put basket OF grapes near the
sofa, and. leaving a message from Dolly
Chiltern," went away.
No one else came. The short November
afternoon wore away quickly. 1t was
growing dusky in the studio. Out
there in the corridors the gas was alight
Mrs. Roper cast about for something
which would produce a mellow light in
the studio. Nothing suitable could she
find but the antique lamp. swinging by its
three silver chains, in the arch of the al
cove where stood that shrouded thing"
She climbed on a chair to light it. Zone
of the sort of things the foolish virgins
carried" she made no doubt. The yellow
flame responded quickly to her match. 1t
astsoft shadows over and about the yelled
statue. over and about Randall, living there
in dull sleep, over and about girls form
which was suddenly framed in the open
doorway. She held bunch OF rOse-buds
in her hand.
Mrs. Roper glided noiselessly toward
the door. brlsting all over with vlrtuOu5
Indignation. Putting her two hands on
the intruder's shoulders she quietly
backed her into the corridor, untilshe had
her Immediately under a gas jet, all the
time peering angrily into the yelled face.
Now, madam, who are you and what
are you doing here? Heavensl Miss
Lenoxp'
Her sacrilegious hands dropped from
the shoulders of Jeanne's velvet basque
and hung Imply by her sides. II might
have known that basque. anyway" the
little reflection shot through her in that
one second of amazement.
'Roperp
The recognition was mutual. Jeanne
bore no malice for the recent assault upon
her. She clasped both hands about her
assailant's neck. Her pretty face was
pale and voebegone.
Don't keep me from him, Roper. l did
not know you were a nurse. But I'm glad
it Is you who are with him, Roper, Oh,
don't keep me from going in. He does
not know il. | come always when l know
he will be asleep. 1 should def 1 could
not"
Mrs. Roper could feel her trembling in
her grasp. After all. if Randall got well
this pretty thing would make him a sweet
wife. But what risk the poor, mother
less thing was running
Miss LenOx, are you engaged to that
young man in there2" she asked, gently.
"Yes-no-that is-oh, Roper l know
am putting myself completely in your
power, but"
You are safe with me, Miss Lenox
but there's the world at large"
The girl snapped her little fingers
fiercely. That for the world at large
l love him. He loves me. He would not
speak out, because l was rich and he was
poor. Oh, my love, my love, how could
you be so foolish ?"
She pushed by Roper. and gliding noise
lessly into the room, knelt for a second,
with clasped hands, at the head of Ran
dalPs lounge. 1t seemed scarcely mo-
ment before she stood by Mrs. Roper.
with shining tears in her big eyes.
II have not harmed him, Roper. He
don't know that l have ever been here.
Nobody does but Florence, my maid. If
/ could not come here and kneel there to
ask God to make him well could not
stand il, Roper could not stand it.
| have left the roses"
Mrs Roper traversed the long corridor
with the girls little hand in hers. Poor,
motherless, hayward child So reckless
| and yet so pure. She wished somebody
would lock her up.
When she got back to the studio Ran
dall's eyes were wide open. A feverish
spot burned on both his cheeks. He
looked up at her absently, as she bent
over him. Then the light OF recognition
came slowly back into his eyes.
II thought, maybe, you had gone away
from me, Becky. Who did that"
He pointed feebIy toward the swaying
lamp.
II did. 1 cast about for lamp that
would make a soft light, and that was the
only one l could find. A poor, heathenish-
looking thing it is, too"
81 like it. l am glad you did it. Would
/ you mind taking that sheet off her face,
Becky" His eyes were fixed eagerly on
/ the statue. 81 have not cared to uncover
| it for anybody else, but I'd like you to see
how beautiful she was. Take the sheet
| off. Becky"
Mrs. Roper walked slowly toward the
| statute. Poor Ran, ne certainly must be
wandering, to talk of thing of marble as
| her. The sheet was off now, and, though
the face was not visible from her point oil
| view, the little dressmaker stood back In
| an attitude OF startled wonder and admir-
ing awe, which was not thrown away on
/ Randall.
You like her, Becky?"
Like it, Randall It's superb. She
J looks as if she had just turned her head
away to listen for something she wanted
/ to hear. And her neck, and that arm and
hand Randall, the world will ring with
your name after once that thing has been
put on exhibition.
Then it will never ring with my name,
| Becky"
Come, now, that's sick mans fancy
You think. because you are a little done
up, the end of all things have come. Wat
till l get to coddling you with all The
messes you used to love. Ran, don't you
remember the time you came to schoo
with the scarlet fever?"
But he was not listening 10 her. lie
was lying on his side, gazing fixedly al
the statue, over whose brow the antique
lamp shed a soft, lifelike radiance. lie
was repeating her own words:
Listening for something she wanted Il
hear. Oh, my love, my love, my beauti
full, have you not heard it OF late? Have
you not heard all my remorse, all my love