The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-01

DOrhOOu, FanReu a Onxslue vi ChSAo
Thatchers house. asking for "a gal by the
name OF Mary Wsllace."
"What do YOU want?" demanded Aunt
Thatcher, who happened TO answer his
hail"
BE YOU Mary Walace?" asked Billy,
with an afiectation of profound astonish-
ment.
"No, amt. But I'm her aunt, and
YOU can tell me your buslness.
Right you ara, old gal, can; but III
see YOU furder, first" replied the una
Dashed veteran, who had already been
told by some neighbor that she was
"snorter"
What do you mean. you Impudent fell
lowg'
Il always does my business with the
principals, mum"
Mrs. Thatcher slammed the door In his
face and retired. But half an hour alter
ward, when she happened to be out in the
yard, she saw that the sailor had lighted
his pipe, seated himself ON the stona step
at the door, and literally laid siege to the
house She reflected that Uncle Thatcher
would soon be home to his supper. and in
view of the strange way be had actsd Of
late, did not know how he might take i.
into his head to look upon her treatment
of the visitor. Tartar as she was. she had
a wholesome respect for him when he
chose 10 assert himself. and deemed it
most prudent TO avoid an encounter.
With an iil-grace she went to Mary. who
was sewing in her room, and said snarl-
ingly:
There's an old vagabond at the door
who wants to see YOU"
Mary went out and found Billy calmly
pulling hIs pipe and waiting. lie looked
up at the sound of the opening of the
door. and seeing tho tai handsome girl
who stood there. sprang TO his feet, with r
beaming smile and outstretched hand,
saving:
"Ah You're the right one. 1 thought
I'd fetch YOU"
Mary gave him her hand, smilingly ask
ing:
Did you wish 10 see me, sirT
~ es; the mate las been out here try
ing to rig the pump on me. but il wouldn't
draw. What Pm here for concerns no
body but yOa aud Dom. Come out 10 the
gate, for she's 81 listening beside tha. win
dow. / Just see the curtain shake"
AlRrv started ct mention OF her lovers
name by this stranger. aud uuhesitatinglv
accom- panied him as he requested, while
l. unit Thatcher. who was indeeI listening
by the window, could almost have toFn
her sun-bonnet strings with vexation and
rage when they passed beyond range OF
her hearing
Billy. like many other malsdroits, fat
tered hlmse that he had no little skill in
conducting a delicate mission, and thought
il WAS rather a neat way Of sparing the
girls feelings to Affect TO be very busy re-
filing his pipe, without looking at her, as
he put the blunt question:
BE You Dorm HacEetts sweetheart ?"
Mary blushed and stsmmered, not
knowing what to reply.
cause" continued Billy. "hs's maybe
in sOme trouble.
Trouble! Trouble for Dorm, That
thought swept away in an instant her
timidity and maiden bashfulness, aud
anNiOusly she replied:
O.. yes; be is very dear to me. What
is il? What has happened TO him? Tell
me quicklyp
Don't Get excited II amt no great
matter. Bat they are LOOKING for him to
arrest him"
ARREST Dorm? For what?"
Murder and robbery"
Mary gave little cry and would have
fallen had not Billy caught her, and no d.
inZ her against the fence. awkwardly
enough, but firmly, sdjured her:
steady. steady Brace up Hold
hard pa
In few moments she rsgsined suffi-
cient control over herself 20 listen while
the Old sailor related 10 her, with charac-
teristic circunstsntiality OF detail, all the
events OF the preceding evening I'D 10 his
visit TO her. She did not for an instant
imagine that Dorm could possibly have
been guilty Of such crimes, but the mere
idea OF hIs being suspected of them so hor-
rltied her rs almost TO deprive her of the
power Of reasoning. How could he have
fallen under suspicion? How could il
come 10 be known that he was in the
neighbOrhOod on that fatal night? There
was but one person. she believed besides
herself who knew OF his visit, and that
was Ruth Lsnox. All. yes! There was
her aunt, who suspected 1t at least, and
who had questioned her so sharply about
him. Ruth Lenox would never have
breathed such a foul cslumny against
Dorm. But her aunt? "Yes, It would be
just like her" thought Mary.
Billy had no further Inform alton to i'm
part, no advice to give, and no consola.
lions TO offer The latter would have
been especially out of his line. 1t ssemed
to him enough TO give a person warning
to look out for him or hersslf, as tho case
might be, which, he reasoned, would be
all he would require under any circum.
stances; and SO. having discharged his
errand TO the Lest of his ability in the
manner we have seen, he relighted bis
pipe and got under way" with a clear
conscience as to having done his duty by
a shipmate.