The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-02

how 90 you know, DOCTOR
Where is he now2"
who was she, DOCTOR"
Dr. Milbank fully appreciated the tute-
tage to which Dolly had spent life
apprenticeship. II was dreadful to have
to account for a careless remark to FIVE
different women.
'Pm sure | don't know-anything at
all. just imagined, L suppose, that she
might have father. Go on, my dear
Mrs. Chiltern; ] am deeply interested in
this pretty little scheme of Dolly's aud
his wife's."
"Well-after we have found the i'm
possible and secured the unattainable, we
are to furnish it according to our united
tastes, without regard to cost.
THAT is the incest part of all. l adore
poking around in carpet stores"
And buying silver"
"And brio a-brac."
"Oniv she Is an artist
"And may have views of her own"
John Milbank was quite sure that the
woman for whom this pretty surprise was
to be prepared hal views of her own. He
sat caressing his close-cropped mutton
chops absently while the discussion ragged
about him.
"How long time to do all this in?" he
dokCNl, 10 ARdlu.
Three miserable little weeks"
THAT is short"
short Ii Is no time at all.
Suppose / were to tell you that be-
lieve know OF an apartment which would
suit your friend in every particular-that
is, perhaps; and that, as | would like to
accommodate the owner, | should esteem
IL personal favor If you held this matter
in abeyance until she has examined these
rooms"
Can we see them2 Are they newly
furnished?"
They are newly furnished and rather
pretty. But as for your seeing them at
present can't say. The proprietor Of the
house occupies the parior floor The suite
l speak OF is up oneflight. should think
1t embodied everything lady would want.
and if Mrs. Chiltern approves l could
send her word when the rooms could be
SEEN"
Suddenly a bright idea struck him. 1t
would be absolutely necessary to take one
woman into his confidence.
my coupe is at the door; suppose you
let me drive you there now, Mrs. Chiltern.
1t may save all OF you ladies a world of
trouble"
All five of them would have liked i'm
but as the coupe would only hold two.
and the doctor had distinctly invited Mrs.
Chiltern, the other four would have to
bide their time.
Mrs. Chiltern was gone about an hour.
When she came back there was a sup
pressed excitement about her which it
was impossible not to notice.
will they suitP'
ITO perfection They are superb"
"And have you taken them?"
Subject 10 Mrs. Mackaye's approval"
said Mrs Chiltren, her eyes dancing in the
most remarkable manner.
"When can We see them?"
Not until she comes. The proprietor
is rather peculiar man and seems to OBJ
| ject to having the carpets trampled over
unnecessarily. And L don't blame him,
for they are beautiful and delicate in the
extreme. Maria, the doctor says you are
not to stir out of the house for the next
ten days. My dear girls, now that this
task has been providentially taken out Of
our hands we must give our attention to
the reception for Jeanne and Dolly. OF
course all the Rock W. Gods and the Fosters
and the Nerplanks must be invited. One
| Of you take your pencil and tablet and
the rest OF you help me to think"
|
slice taken out of the year. but it seemed
to DIR. Miibank that an unusually long
| period of time had elapsed between that
morning call of his at Mrs. Chiltern's and
the moment when his man announced to
him that there were two ladies come to look
/ at the suite OF rooms upstlirs.
| Then for half a second be fell to trem-
bling like boy caught at naughty trick.
But Mrs. Chiltern had approved, and
Mrs. Chiltern would make it all right.
| He could hear them walking softly
| about upstairs With q nervous little
laugh he flung his head back defianty,
and, leaving his own parlor, sprang lightly
up the stairs and opened the door 10 the
suite. They had just reached the little
slcove. Her hand was upon the blue
velvet portiere. She drew it back, and
then leaned forward with an audible ex-
clamation RandalPs masterpiece was
there before her.
"I-don't understand-what is this?"
| She turned her puzzled face over her
| shoulder. Where Mrs. Chiltern had been
standing John Milbank was standing,
looking down into her face, holding out
his hands TO her Just as he lad held them
| out TO her on Tea Island, before-he
knew.
81 have been tricked-decoyed. Where
am i? What does this mean?' She
pointed to the statue.
She could see Mrs. Chiltern's form sill
houetted against the windows of the par
Tor which she had Just been expanding
her lavish encomiums upon. Three long
rooms were between them. Close at hand
stood the only man she had ever seally
and understandingly loved, and he was
protesting, explaining pleading, all in a
voice of such intense enrnestness that she
thrilled at the sweetness of it. and turned
her face from him that he might not read
| it too easily.
"But this?"
She pointed to the alcove where Loves
young Dream stood upon its pedestal.
II could not let 1t pass into profane
hands, my love. 1t has been enshrined
there almost as long as you have been en-
shrined in my heart When j brought il
here it was with no thought of this mo.
ment ever becoming possible, Marianne
You believe that, do you not? i said to
my heart. that no other woman could ever
reign in it, and the cold marble that re-
produced your features, my dear, gave me
more pleasure than any other woman oil
flesh and blood could do. But now. this
is my home, Marianne, and i ask youtc
enter in as its mistress and my wife."t
! She put her hand in his very geAtly