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

81 tell you, Susie. I would do any
thing to annoy him-anything in reason,
you know. He is simply the most self
contained, unimpressionable man I ever
met; and l tried to impress him, l did,
indeed"
I've no doubt you did," Susie replied.
with sisterly frankness. And you
failed, you say? Well, never mind. it
isn't the first time"
Susie" Connie said impressively, Il
never tried so hard in my life, only to
fail in the end. l stayed for a week in
the same house with him, and people
knew-they knew l tell youi He Was
very courteous-oh. maddeningly courte-
ous-but he wasn't one bit impressed
by my attentions; he wasn't even
fiattered by them. Yet goodness knows,
they were marked enough
yours usually are and Susie smiled
Don't you remember Maj. Barton. and
the Venners' picnic? You made your
self quite remarkable on that occasion
and yet nothing came Of it. I've always
told you it was bad form"
It's bad form Of him to be so I'M
grateful, and I'll pay him out for il vet.
You see if 1 don'tr she said vim
dictively.
why do you want to f1irt with him?
Because no one has ever succeeded in
flirting with him yet. Isn't that reason
enough?"
quite. I should say And do you ex-
pect to be more successful in your efforts
to annoy him."
YES L do"
But how"
'That. my dear Susie. is my affair"
81 couldn't understand your sudden
affection for that child before. but if She
is this mans ward"
"Yes?'' as Susie paused significantly.
Don't be hard on her. she's a nice
little thing"
I'm not hard on her" with a disdain-
full smile; ION the contrary, I'm her best
friend
"Oh? She didn't seem very cheerful
after you sent her to call on him the
other day"
mo"
Perhaps her visit annoyed him?"
1T is quite possible
cor perhaps he didn't like her going
over there with JACKIE"
THAT, also, is possible
Yet it was only Jack; if it had been
any other-and he is old enough to be
her father!'
who? Jack?"
''No. no; Col. Leigh"
quite old enough with cold smile,
but not. perhaps-in his own opinion
too old to be her husband"
What? Are they engaged, them
There is a sort of understanding, /
fancy; or perhaps it would be better de-
scribed as misunderstanding"
''But you did not tell us this?
''Why should 1? It's their affair." not
ours: and she never mentions it."
You'd better let them alone, Con-
ME-"
Il think I shall-now."
She was looking from the window as
81. nd q MT v,1u ~a1
about her handsome mouth; for she saw
two figures pacing UP the lawn side by
side, and recognized them even at that
distance. Yes, Col. Leigh would proba-
bly, be very much annoyed before all was
over; but OH, what pity it was only
Jacki
And what if Jack should mean bust
ness? for really, you know, it looks
rather like it,"
Susie. too, had come over to the win
dow, and she was drawing her own con-
illusions from what she saw there.
mo such luck. my dear. Jack isn't
a marrying man."
Luck? DO you want him to marry.
them
mo; but there would be compensa-
tions. We should live in town then, in
stead of this dull, out-of-the-way place.
But don't be anxious, Susie. 1t will all
end in smoke as far as he is con-
cerned."
And she?"
THAT. you must acknowledge. is her
affair, not mine." Constance said care
lessly, as she turned from the window.
Meantime the young people themselves
all unconscious of Constance's plots
and schemes-were rapidly progressing
in each others good graces. and for a
short space Col. Leigh, and all his claims
10 consideration and respect, were for
gotten. Yet he was coming to the dance
that very evening, and in another hour
or two Minnie knew that those severe
eyes would be upon her, and she would
be called to account for all her present
happiness. 1t was not a pleasant pros
pect to contemplate. so the poor child
steadily averted her eyes from 1t. and