The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-22


looking. liz 1t trick of the dim light. or
WHAT He looks almost young. But why
should he not look young. seeing he Is only
tblrty-six. and at thirty-s man ls in his
primer Anne wonders why she has always
thought of him as an elderly person,
A portrait of one of Johns ancestors
han gs ever the great maDtelpiece-of that
sturdy Captain lngerheld. who fought the
Kings frigste rather than give up one of
his people. Anne chances from the dead
face to the living and notes the strong like
ness between them. Through her half
closed eyes she sees the grim old captain
hurting back his message of defiance. and
his face IS the face che saw q few hours
ago. saying, II mean 10 stop hero with You
and do what / can for you. None of my
peopls shall want"
John is placing chair for her at the
table, and the light from tho candles falls
upon him. She steals another glance at mis-
face-a strong. stern. handsome face.
capable of becoming noble face. Anne
wonders il he has ever looked down tender
ly at any one; feels a sudden. fierce pain. nj
the thought; disDisses the thought as i'm
possi bic; wonders nevertheless. how tender
ness would suit it; thinks she would like
to see a look of tenderness upon IL. simply
out of curiosity; wonders If she ever will.
She rouses herself from her reverie as
John, with smile, tells her supper is
ready, and they seat themselves opposite
each other, an odd air OF embarrassment
pervadinR.
Day by day their work grows harder.
Day by day the foe grows stronger. fiercer,
more all-conquering. and day by day, tight
ing side by side against it, John lDgerfeld,
and Anne his wife, draw closer to each
other. On the battlefield of life we learn
the worth of strength. Anne feels it good,
when growing weary. to glance up and lind
him near her; feels IT good, amid the trou-
bled babel round her. to hear the deep.
strong music of his voice.
And John. watching Anne's fair figure
moving TO and fro among the stricken and
the mourning; watching her fair, hutter-
ing hands busy with their holy work; her
deep soul-hauntlng eyes, schanReful with
the light and change of tenderness; listen
ing to her sweet. clear voice. laughing with
the Joyous. comforting with the comfort
less. gently commanding, softly pleading,
finds. creeping into his brain stranG new
thoughts concerning mountaineering
this one woman in particular.
One day, rummagiDg over an old chest, he
comes across u colOred picture book OF
Bible stories. He turns the torn pages
fondly, remembering the Sunday after
moons of long ago. AT one picture, wherein
are represented many angels he pauses. for
In one OF the younger angels OF the group
one not quite SO severe OF feature as her
sisters-he fancies he can trace resem blance
to Anne. lie fingers long over 1t. Suddenly
there rushes through his brain the thought:
How good to stOop and kiss the sweet
feet of such woman, and, thinking it, he
blusheS.
So from tho soil of human suffering spring
the flowers of human love and JOY. and
from the flowers there fall tho seeds of in
finite pity for human pain; God shaping all
things TO his ends.
Thinking of Anne, Johns face grows
gentler, his hand kinder; dreaming OF him
her heart grows stronger. deeper, fuller.
Every available room in the warehouse has
been turned into a ward. and the little hos
pitai is open free TO all, tor John and Anne
feel that the whole world are
are gone = shipped to Woolwich and
Gravesend. bundled any where out of the
way; as though oil and tallow and the
gold they can be stirred into were matters
of small moment in this world, not to be
thought of beside such q thing as the help
ing or human brother in sore straight.
All the labor of tho day seems light to
them, looking forward to the hour when
they sit together IN Johns old shabby din
locker on might imagine such times dull TO
them: for they are strangely shy OF one
another. strangely sparIna of words-fear-
full of opening the tiood-gates of speech,
feeling the pressure of the pent-up thought.
One evening John, throwing out words.
not as q SOD to the necessity for talk. but
as bait to catch Anne's voice. men ions
gridle-cakes. remem bers that his old house,
keeper used TO be famous for the maxim q
of them, and wonders If she has forgotten
the art.
Anne. answering tremulously, as though
grlGle-cakes were somewhat delicate
topic, claims to be q successful amateur of
them herself. John. having been given
always to understand that the talent for
them was exceedingly rare and one usu-
capabilities. deferentIally suggests that she
Is thinking of scenes. Anne Indignantly
repudiateS the insinuation. knows quite
we'll the difference between gridle-cakes
Have 70 har fAr
descending into the kitchen and making
some then and there, If John will accom-
pany her and find the things for her.
John acce pts tho challenge. and guiding
Anne with one shy, awk ward hand. while
holding aloft candle III the other leads
the way. 1t is past 10 o'clock, and the old
housekeeper is In bed At each creaking
stair they pause to listen if the noise has
awoke her; then. finding all silent. creep
forward again. with suppressed laughter.
wondering with alarm, half feigned. half
real. what the prim, methodical dame
would say were she to come down and
catch them.
They reach the Kitchen thanks more to
the suggestions OF O friendly cat than to
Johns acquaintance with the geography of
his own house, and Anne rakes together
the fire, and clears the table for her work.
What possible use John Is to her-what
need there was for her stipulation that he
should accompany her, Anne might lind 1t
difficult il examined to satisfactorily ex-
plain. As for his finding the things" for
her. he has not the faintest notion where
they are, aud possesses no natural aptitude
for discovery. Told to find -four. he IN
dustriously searches for it in the dresser
drawer; sent for the rolling pin-the nature
and characteristics OF rollIng-pins being
described TO him for his guidance-he re-
turns, after a prolonged absence, with the
copper stick. Anne laughs at him, but
really il would seem though che bersel (
were almost as stupid, for not until her
hands are covered with flour does 1t Oc-
cur TO her that she has not take that pre-.
liminary step in all cooking operation of
rolling up her sleeves
She holds ont her arms to John, first one
and then the other. asking him sweetly if
he minds doing it for her. John Is very
slow and clumsy, but Anne stands very pa
tient. Inch by inch he peels the black
sleeve from the white. round arm. Hun
dreds of times must he have seen those fair
arms. bare 10 the shoulder. sparkling with
Jewels but never before has he seen their
wondrons beauty. He longs to clasp them
round his neck, yet ie fearful lest his
trembling fingers touching them as he per-
forms his tantaliziDg task may offend her.
Anne thanks him. and apologies for hav-
ing gwen him 60 much trou bic. and he mur-
murs some meaningless reply, and stands
fO0lishly silent watching her. Anne seems
to find one hand sufficient for her cake
tnble-very near to one of Johns. as she
her work.
How the impulse came to him. where he
grave, sober, business man John-learnt
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