The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-27

1855 QAcIESdIu OF CONSEQUENCES very
usual in her gentle nature. Perhaps
she, too, thought it was "only Jack"
and therefore would not greatly matter.
Time passed on all too quickly, how
ever-as is usually the case when we
especially desire to delay its progress
and soon Minnie had to hurry indoors TO
dress for the dance.
How much she wished there wasn't
going to be a dance at all, but just
pleasant, quiet evening with only the
house party; an evening when every
body would be free to stroll about the
garden in the deepening twilight, listen
ing to the thrushes' melodious evensong;
or TO sit on the terrace, watching the
moon rise slowly from behind the dusky
trees, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. one else
strolled or sat there. too, and seemed
In no haste to go in. Such an evening,
in fact, as the two last had been-even-
ings unlike any she had known before;
and never never to be forgotten, what
ever new experiences the future might
have in store for her.
But-this was the night of the dance,
and Col. Leigh was coming; would be
here almost immediately-COl. Leigh,
who had always been so kind to her, and
whom it was her duty to respect, and
by and by-to lovel Had not her mother
always told her this? Had she not urged
her to remember it almost with her dying
breath? Il wronged him." she had said;
1t is for you TO make amends. lie has
promised to make you his wife. Minnie,
and wish you to marry him; remem-
Der, have no dearer wish in the world
than this. You are too young yet, but
by and by he will ask you. and you
must say yes-for his sake and your
ownp
Two years had passed since then, and
Minnie was now eighteen; but Col. Leigh
had not asked her yet. nor had he even
Nod n Of
her of late. She lived with an old gov
erness. and an extremely quiet. not to
say dull, life it was for she had few
friends, and the old lady did not APP
prove of her visiting those she had. Miss
Framley had known something of the
consented to make an exception in their
favor and allow her young charge to ac-
cept the invitation Constance had given
her, though, had she known the kind of
woman she was Constance Myerson
would assuredly have been the last
friend she would have chosen for Min
ME. In point of fact, she knew nothing
of her. and great would have been the
poor old lady's dismay could anybody
have enlightened her comfortable ignor-
ance. Fortunately for her peace of mind,
there was no one to do this.
Thus matters stood between Minnie
and her guardian on the eventful evening
u AlAC W tlSDllS udlGt. ana uUuOuDleQ-
~ 1t could scarcely be considered a sat
isfactory state Of affairs to either of
them; but of all this, Jack, of course,
knew nothing. How should he?
II was 10 O'Clock and the dancing was
going on merrily-too merrily. perhaps,
for Col. Leigh's tastes. as he stood in the
doorway contemplating the gay scene
with a somewhat bored expression. He
had given up dancing years ago. and
was not one of those who take a lively
interest in watching other peoples
amusements. He watched intently. it
is true, but he seemed to take no pleas
ure i'm IL, and Constance thought she had
never seen him look so stern.
Minnie had cever looked prettier than
she did that night and excitement had
lent color to her cheeks and a light to
her eyes that intensified her girlish
beauty into positive loveliness. Even
Jacks stately sisters were not so much
admired as she; and Susie made up her
mind that. despite any plans Constance
might have to the contrary, Minnie's
visit should not be prolonged beyond the
date now fixed for its termination. For
she felt that under favorable condi-
tions, the girl might become too dan
gerous a rival.
OF course Minnie had been dancing a
good deal, but she was not dancing just
now; she was not i'm the room at all,
neither was Jack Perhaps. after all,
they had gone to see the moon rise.
Constance crossed to the colonel mis-
chievOus smile on her lips.
You must be frightfully bored by all
us frivolous people," she said sympa-
thetically. Won't you come into the
library and see Jacks engravings? He
has some very valuable ones, and l know
you are judge OF such things"
She spoke very cOurteoUsly, but with
out any of the coquetry that had for
mo " raH 60 1nh Xat no
distrusted her.
Thank you; but don't like to trouble
you so far"
TT is no trouble, colonel Come this
way
She led the way across the hall to the
library. a large room with French win
dOws opening onto the terrace.
1t was very dimly lighted. and through
the opened windows a flood of moonlight
streamed into the room.
"Oh. | wonder where Jack has put
them2 They are not in their usual place.
Constance explained, glancing around
the room. "Wait one moment while l
go and make Inquiries and before he
could raise any objection she was gone.
Col. Leigh walked up to the open win
dow and stood there looking out.
He was perpleXed and troubled. Past
scenes rose before his minds eye. throw
ing bewildering shadow across the
present; a voice from the DEAD seemed
to ring in his ears, crying ever with a
passionate insistence. Save her, save
her from my fate! She will be rich; save
her from such fortune-hunters as have
ruined my lifei Guard her and make her
your wifer' And he had promised to do
so; at least he had promised to obey her
last wishes in the spirit, if not to the
letter. for he remembered always-what
the woman who had Tilted him and
spoiled his life years ago seemed always
TO forget-that he was himself a poor
man, and that he knew that Minnie was
an heiress-a fact that had been carefully
guarded from her own knowledge and
the prying curiosity of the world at
large He would take no advantage Of
his position, therefore; his own wishes in
the matter had nothing to do with it.
He strove always to persuade himself
that he had no wishes in the matter;
that he was merely machine, and inca
pable of taking any sort of human inter
est in his gentle young ward. He had al
most succeeded, or so he battered him
self. tiH-was it only tonight or was it
not rather that afternoon two days ago.
when he stepped out on the veranda and
saw Minnie-his little Minnie with that
new light in her eyes. that new tone in
her voice? Poor child And yet
Suddenly he started and drew back a
little into the shadows.
Two figures We're standing together on
the terrace. and in the brilliant moon
light he recognized them at once.
He recognized, too, the motive that
had brought them here, and smiled con-
temptuously.
They were talking very earnestly, but
in n low tone; not so low. however. but
H..