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

friend the jantor did not give it to me. 1
thought Miss LenoX would be interested.
because she knows Mr.. Chiltern and his
lady mother and all the sweet young ladies
OF the family"
"Yes-I-am-sorry Poor Mrs. Chill
ternW
She was not thinking OF chivalric Dolly
Chiltern. She had forgotten all about him,
even as the words passed her lips She
was thinking OF Randall Mackaye, and of
the intensity of her hatred for him. How
queer" that one drop of gall could turn
love into hatred with such celerity
She was casting about her cOnfusedly
for some way out of this escandre which
should not make total wreck of her self
respect. Her ideas of right and wrong
seemed suddenly turned topsy-turvey.
She was glad her father was still in Eu-
rope. Things "blew over" she supposed.
But, oh for some strong, wise, good woman
friend-somebody to put loving arms
about her and tell her what to do, what 10
say, what to leave undone, what not to
say Could she ever face the world again?
And while Jeanne wrestled alone with
the horror and the shame of Randall
Mackaye's perfidy, Miss Hildah sat by the
parlor fire crocheting woollen cap ~ be
put IN the next missionary box, and Flor
ence moved noiselessly about the room,
laying out Jeanne dinner-dress.
These two women were all the girls
womanhoodl
81 suppose we will hear it all tomorrow"
said the Frenchwoman, carefully pulling
out the ribbon bows on the sleeves OF the
dress she had thrown on the bed. Her
back was turned to Jeanne.
Hear what in the papers tomorrow
about the trouble at the club-the
lady's name, and so on. Fortunate lady
Now she will become the fashion! Ny
Lady Eunice once said"
She heard short, quick gasp behind
her. Jeanne's head fell forward on the
toilette table before her She had tainted
Florence laid her quietly on the bed
and cut her corset strings. She was well
trained in such service. 1t made her
think better OF Jeanne. She was not such
q little pleDeian after all. 1t was only
your true aristOcrat who could and did
suspend animation at the proper juno
ture.
Jeanne opened her eyes after awhile
and looked up into the cynical face of her
! French maid. She could never remember
looking into a mothers eyes.
What is the matter with me, Florence?
l feel so stupid"
Miss Lenox tainted. That is all. Ones
| first affair always excites one undulv.
Miss Lenox had better try to 90 to sleep"
Jeanne turned her face YEARLY TO the
wall. Yes, she would like to sleep. 1t
/ seemed pleasant to think of going to sleep
and forgetting.
The maid placed the tall Japanese
| screen between the foot of the ped and
/ the window. She would not be needed
for some hours. she felt quite sure. In
I the meantime perhaps there had been
/ some developments at the studio. The
/ janitor was under a promise to keep her
/ posted" She would 90 back to him.
Jeanne sObbed herself TO sleep. No
/ tears would come to cool her hot dry lids
as long as Florence was in the room, but
/ as soon as she found herself quite alone
| the pent up torrent broke forth with
] plebian violence.
But all her tears had been shed and all
/ her bitterness exhausted and she was
sleeping like little tired child when Miss
1 Hildah came limping into the room, her
cane punctuating her progress audibly.
/ She came over to Jeanne's bedside aud
looked at her Wonderingly
"Was the child sick and never a word
| to her about it? She was made of pre-
cious small Importance IN this world, Of
none to Jeanne lately
Jeanne"
Jeanne started up in alright. The
room WAS almost dark. Miss Hildah was
standing over her, looking fretful Was
there any more trouble for her to hear
about?
Are you sick, JeanneP"
"No"-she began winding her dis
ordered hair around her head-"no, Pm
not sick. Aunt Hildah."
"You look like it. Your cheeks are
fiery red. 1 do believe you have fever
Let me see your tongue"
81 am not sick. Aunt Hildah, and 1 do
not care to show my tongue"
"Wel, well. don't get snappish. There
Is a person here, Jeanne. who wants to see
| you. She says she wants 10 see you very
| much, on particular business"
"Did she send in her card?"
"No. She says YOU don't know her, but
she begs you will not refuse to see her.
Have you seen her?'
ayes. Jansen showed her into the par
| Tor. / should say she was a lady in spite
of her extremely plain dress. Begging
for some charity, suppose. Shall l tell
her you are sick p
But ! am not sick land think l should
rather enjoy hearing about poor people
and miserable people, just now, Aunt
Hidah. Send her in here, please"
"EnjOy hearing about poor and misera-
bic peoplel Jeanne Lenox, YOU are
enough to make one convert TO the the
Orv of original depravity."
Miss Hildah thumped out of the room,
and Jeanne. getting off the bed, completed
the coiling of her hair just as the door
opened to admit her visitor.
Miss Hildah had opened il without
ceremony, and, over the strange woman's
shoulders, was casting a severely warning
look at Jeanne:
II have told the lady, Jeanne, that we
have so many calls On us from our own
church that we rarely step aside Tor
strangers"
Yes. Aunt Hildah, but l will make my
own statements, ii YOU please"
Her visitor was throwing back the hood
10 her waterproof. which she had drawn
over her bonnet to protect it from the dry,
powdery snow. She was looking at Jeanne
with strange intensity. She felt quite
sure that the child had been shedding
many and bitter tears.
"My dear" she said, II have come here
begging, but it is not for any church
charity. l have come here TO beg your
pardon, and-if possible right great
wrong have helped to do vou."
II don't understand you. Who are
your"
a. The black waterproof lay on the back OF
a chair now, and there stood revealed to