The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-12

-tneTe was no opportunity "a private
| speech. Mr.. Chcssall was gere ally by
the side OF his betrothed, and what was
passing In Or. Wilson's mind could only
| guessed at.
But on tho day after Mrs. Lllburne's
dinner the expected explosion came.
MISS Gray was district visitor. and
| Adelaide had accompanied her TO VIII
lage about mile and a half from knag-
| ford. ON their return they were over
| taken by Or. Wilson, who had been out
| iiahing. His nsh basket excited Miss
Grays curiosity, and. being found
ers and conversation lowed morriy as
| the three journeyed together toward
| their respective homes. Suddenly Miss
Gray stopped before n stiie.
u must call ut this cottage" she
said pointing TO pietureaquely wretch
ed howell "A hundred yards on. TO ask
| after a little patient You two can ait
on the etllo and talk about Borneo tlll !
| come back. | won't Ice long"
She glaneod significantly at Adelaide
as she trlpped of
When the two were left alone a long
| silence ensued Adelaide felt that tho
| moment was critical, and her heart beat
furloualy AZ last. 10 break The horrible
awkwardnesa OF the silence. she made a
great effort 20 command her voice, and
| said;
When will you finish your book. Or
| Wilson, suppose II Will be fun OF
| dreadful adVenturesY'
She stole n timid glance M him as she
spoke, and saw that she had guessed his
mood rightly; for his face wore the
| tragic mask and his eyes glowcd
| "AdVenturea2 Yes" he replied
plenty OF them-'movlng accidents by
| food and field People will read all
| about them by and by, but they viii
not read why II was | went out there
and risked my life for speedy gains
| But l suppose you know, You can't
| quite have forgotten those old days
| when ! loved YOU so and told you Of my
| love, and you listened and-good
heavenl | remember everything you did
and said, out In the poisonous Jungle
] have lain awake night after night un-
| der the stars ana con1ured up your race
| and recalled every word and smie-and
| then at last / come back just In time to
| witness your wedding"
Or. Wilson was fairly launched on a
sea OF Wild words. and the poor girl list
| ened In terror.
II know I've treated you badly, Ern-
est" she walled at last; but be gener-
| Gus and forgive me. Think OF the scan
| dal. OF what people will say about me-
| Go away and leave me I'm peace. What
| have you 20 gain by making me miscr-
able-tust when | ought TO be happiest
/ too, before my wedding
| DIR. Wilson looked at her sternly.
Your happiness!" he cried. "Ah! If
| you really love that man"
! Miss Gray Joined them again.
| Il haven't been long, have r. she
said looking from one TO the other
/ And / hope you have learned lot
about Borneo, adelaide"
She kept up the conversation vlgor-
| ously talking glbly and making IN
! quiries about tropical heat and tropical
| vegetation, til they reached Mrs. LII
burns garden gate and Adelaide lett
| them. Then her manner suddenly
changed she became suddenly grave
/ and silent.
DIR. Wilson" she said at last. Il hope
| shan't give you offense II l speak to
/ you very frankly"
| lie looked at her gravely. with some
/ comprehension OF her meaning.
rs IL about" he began, and then
/ hesitated.
About poor Adelaide" she replied.
! Yes, IL is. 1 want you TO 60 right away
/ from knagfOrd. and leave the poor girl
! alone You think she has treated you
/ badly. / know: and you've told her so
/ this morning. can see that. Let that
| be enough, and go away now, and don't
| brighten the poor child with any more
| useless heroics'
she has told you everything then"
| DR. Wilson said. half savagely.
| Il don't know about everything Miss
! Gray replied, calmly; but good deal
! I've no doubt you feel very bad about
| the business, but I'm sure | wish things
had turned out differently. Your devo-
/ ton Is very grand and noble, and ! adj
/ mire IL very much indeed; but I do think
/ you are just bit unreasonable. Five
| years Is a very long time, you Know
| And then you needn't plume yourself
/ too much on your own constancy, be-
| cause you were in Borneo, 1t seems
nearly all the time. and l suppose the
young ladies in that interesting island
were not very serious rivals TO poor Ad-
/ elaide. However, Wen admire you very
I fV.I NKrfl afalK 90, QTrrn ~
and write your book in some other quiet
| village. And then you can think Of her
| as badly as you like
They had reached the point where their
ways parted, and Miss Gray turned off
| abruptly. not wishing TO give him the
chance of replying. But she faced
round again to say quickly:
Remember, DR.. Wilson, I've had my
| troubles. and they've left me hopeless
old maid"
The doctors first impulse was to be
| angry with Miss Gray as a meddlesOme
| intruder, but her closing words touched
| him with conjunction, and he only saw
| in her evidently weil-meant interfer
ence a fresh proof OF Adelaide's weak
| ness. She hadn't even been able TO keep
| his secret He mediated much on the
| advice he had received and tried TO make
up his mind 10 leave KnagfOrd forth
! with. To remain was torture-the heavy
dull pain of disappointment, goaded by
constant pin-prickS OF mOmentary tr-
ritation. That eternal Mr.. Chessall,
with his constant thirst f." iscellan-
| eous information about your wonderful
discoveries in that interesting island,
and his absurd tone of exaggerated de-
ference. And then to feel obliged to
watch him walking or sitting with Ade-
laide, and TO note his proud air of pro-
| prietorship; Mrs. Lilburne, too, had hit
| him hard once or twice. Her maternal
| pride over the approaching nuptials was
hard to bear-she felt so pleased that
| dear Adelaide would not go away from
Knagford-it was such a suitable match,
! and they were so much attached to each
| other. and she had seen IL coming on
! for a long time before they were actual
| ly engaged, etc.
DIR. Wilson'S reflections drove him up
TO Mrs. Lilburnes on the afternoon Of
| the next day. He was determined to see
| Adelaide once more alone, and then-to
be guaided by circums tances. One pas
| sionate appeal might yet win his cause
| and If not, then he would choose some
| Tyrolese or Swiss mountain height
| where he could work hard at his book
and where natures gradeur might help
TO make him forget feminine fickleness
| He was so eager for prompt decision
| that he was very disappointed when he
reached the cottage TO find that AIDE
| laide and her mother had gone to Ply
mouth for the day. The reflection that
| this errand had probably some relation
| to the approaching event was an addi-
| tional evaporation.
He moved slowly away from the door,
| and then, led by a sudden impulse,
| turned toward the little arbOr in the