The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15


cousin, you know
Twice removed" supplemented Mr..
Geer as he made his bow.
You couldn't have come In the Mabel
=, Immediately remarked Mrs. Story.
AS he heard her, Geer wondered IL he
Should soon acquire s.ich deep and appar-
which was named Mabel +.
He explained about the naphtna launch.
ed for Aunt Sally having thought that
morning that she had heard some kind of a
noise nos not made by birds The yellow woman 7,
but nobody had believed her; and it was
now almost certain that the Mabel Il.
would not come down any more. All the
Northern visitors had gone home long ago.
How do you expect TO get away from
here, Mr.. Geer?'
The gentleman explained that his friend
mad promised to come in two days and
take him off, dead or alive.
Wen, at the end of two days you will
PROBABLY be still alive" responded Mrs.
story. Its strange place here. If you
are III when you come, you will get well.
But If You are well when you come, you
VIII grow i'll. So 1 hope you are i'll, Mr..
Thank you; that's what 1 thought when
L left home" said Geer
Miss Story had Immediately sat down on
a long wooden bench. She was pulling out
the myers of her white leather gloves.
It's just like 'tobaccory hick,'" she now
remarked, without looking at any one,
"Mantanzas is:
When you're well make you sick
Mother has been sacrificing herself for me
now for a good while"
AS she finished speaking there passed a
very expressive glance between the two
women. 1t was glance so involuntary
and so full of affection and sympathy that
sne man who saw it felt sudden. keen
sense OF pain and almost of Indignation.
1t was feeling that a third person, who
is shut out, will understand.
Mrs. Briggs. small woman from Mann S
re for
ward from place where something seemed
to be frying. This odor of frying was SO
pearance of being waited in upon it. She
had broad linen sailor collar pinned at
the neck of her calico gown. She shook
duced, and Immediately remarked that she
didn't see how he could have come in the
Mabel +.
Then he told Mrs Briggs about the
launch.
She carefully explained to him that if he
stayed there he must put up with what he
could get, for sometimes they ran out of
that is everything but oysters, and some
times folks wanted something besides oys-
tiers, especially in the summer.
Mrs. Briggs also carefully explained that
she had come to Florida originally for her
health, but now shed got kind of wonted ;"
and did not wish to rejoin Mr.. Briggs at
Mann's Corners. 1t was just quiet enough
for her here.
1t seemed to be just quiet enough for
John Geer also. When his friend came for
him on the third day he went away alone.
All the Inhabitants of the place witnessed
from the veranda the arrival and departure
of the launch.
to rejoin these people Juliet Story said to
him that she hoped he knew what he had
done; that 1t was just like being ship
wrecked on desert island, and that Mrs
Judson Briggs had managed to bring off
few stores from the ship before 1t went
to pieces.
say that they had no mail; that an &C
quaintance in St. Augustine had instruc-
tons to receive any kilograms and to move
heaven and earth to get down with such
messages. Mere mail matter could wait.
The last had come in sailboat with some
flour. over six weeks ago.
Mr.. Geer, in that large privacy of his
vast room that night, could not conceal
from himself that he felt a wonderful ex-
hilaration quite out OF proportion to any
cause for such an emotion. And the ex-
hilaration continued to increase every day.
Perhaps the young man did not know that
at the end of a week his one absorbing oc-
cupation had come to be entirely connected
with Miss Juliet Story. He was watching
to see that little look come to her face. 1t
was an extremely singular fact that a
slight movement of the muscles of the
mouth should have such an effect on him,
when that movement occurred in a woman 8
face.
He was disappointed and angry If a
whole day passed and he had not seen this
movement of the facial muscles. He began
to experiment in different kinds of talk SO
that he might know what kind would be
most likely to call forth that expression.
But he was not very successful in these at
tempts. for what he hoped for came uneX-
pectedly and always caused an extravagant
and unreaSOning emotion AT first he made
some ridiculously unsuccessful efforts to an
alyze this emotion. He was sure that, in the
case of another man. he could have given
an accurate explanation, with recipes for
the entire extinction of the feeling.
1t was not until the third week that he be-
gan in his own mind. to call himself an un-
mtigated donkey for having fallen into
ut is only Just that cursed 'propinquity,'
he said, as he sat on the sand looking at
the Atlantic ocean. 1t seemed to him that
he had never looked at anything so much in
all his life as he had looked at that ocean
within the last few days.
On this particular day he was interrupted
by the appearance of Romeo, now grown
quite friendly. This individual came up and
offered to rub his nose on Geer's cheek.
the voice of Romeo's mistress, not far be-
hind him.
Geer rose to his feet. He glanced some
what scowlingly at the speaker
81 wish you wouldn't call that dog sweet
heart he said. viciOusly.
Miss Story looked at him with that little
look for which Geer was always longing.
He had not in the least expected that such
q remark would call 1t forth.
Then she glanced out at the Atlantic
ocean and said that she was afraid that
Mr.. Geor nervous eAuduSllOn hdS MOISc,
wasn't it?"
YES, it is" he answered.
AS each had an umbrella the effect was
something like guard about each.
Geer reached forth and took Miss Story s
umbrella, furled 1t and deposited it on the
sand He made step forward so that his
own umbrella should shade them both.
There was a significant decision In his
movements. They could hardly be dis
puted. He evidently did not intend that
they should be disputed.
az IN IN
slant But she Immediately resumed her
usual manner and informed her companion
that his friend had just stopped at the
wharf and had left letters and papers for
everybody.
at knew you would be sure to be out here
with the Atlantic ocean. so 1 came round
to tell you. Your friend would not stay
he has gone on to visit somebody further
down the coast.
st don't care for papers or letters" said
Mr.. Geer.
He had now recklessly fastened his eyes
on the girls face. A faint color deepened
slowly upward toward her forehead She
made another effort. She moved a step
but still remained in the shadow of the
umbrella Geer held.
Mother and / are not so Indifferent
am perfectly well. and that we will &C
home We asked your friend to send a
man down here with a boat this week.
Ibid your
Eyes. / wish you would let me have my
umbrella, Mr.. Geer. / will go back"
He did not move his eyes from their gaze
as he answered.
A silence. 1t was broken by the girls
saving Just above her breath:
do you think this is gentlemanly, Mr.
Geer?''
Miss Story you must know how I love