The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-15

as close as they can we'll stand. By con-
certed arrangement among themselves
those on one side viii SWAY their bodies
as lar back as they can, aud those on the
opposite Will sway forward. Then they
viii reverse the motion and so they'll 20
MISUNDERSTANDING with their sweet
voices while they are at it-backward and
forward, giving their motion to the vessel,
and rolling her more and more every
moment; and they would very soon have
her on her beam ends if we didn't wade
in among them with hoop-poles to divert
them from their fun. And they are liable
to play that game any minute. day or
night. Oh. I've taken out one load of
mules and know what to expect OF them"
dorm, "a man should ALWAYS be able to
make up his mind to bear phiiosophically
what he knows is inevitable"
Come, ! give up. Let's don't talk
about mules any more little Mollie. get
mad when / think about them-even if
they do pay we'll But have pleasanter
topic. Something to tel you"
And that is?
That Immediately upon my return
home. which will be in about six weeks,
or seven, at the farthest, we will be mar
ried."
When at length Mary's lover left her
was surprised to find Aunt Thatcher slit
ing on the front door step.
Mary Wallace, l want to know where
you've been al this night?" demanded
the shrewlsh old woman in a shrill key
'I-met Ruth Lenox-and-we talked
and walked" answered Mary hesitatingly
and with very natural evasion of the
searching question.
And you've got the face to stand there
and tell me that? Well. ] expected it of
you. and made an GRAND over to Mrs.
Lenoxs myself, and Ruth was at home,
where decent young girl should be at
night. with Lem Pawlett sitting beside
her on the porch. % I've caught YOU in
a story. have L? Now l ask you again
where you've been, anu want to hear
what you've got TO say for yourself. Not
that | expect to believe q word you say,
but l want to hear what kind of story a
Young woman can make up for herself
after being out all night, nobody knows
where, or who with"
oh, aunt. l have not been out ali
night 1t is only 8 O'Clock"
It's ten minutes past nine, retOrted
the shrew, Gran ng her long neck around
over her shoulder to see the face Of the
tai clock that stood against the wall near
the bureau. mon which a solitary tallow
candle gave a smoky yellow light.
Where have YOU been2 l want to
know" she demanded again. "Gallivant-
ing around with some Young man, | sup
pose / shouldn't wonder if that Dorm
Hackett that you were so much took up
with three years ago had come shopping
around again. Has be? Eli! Why don't
you answer me2"
"I-I-have nothing to say, aunt"
Ohio you've nothing 10 say, ." sneersd
Aunt Thatcher" mimicking the girl
We'll, | shouldn't think you would have
after such goings on. ! believe IN my
soul you've been with that fellow tonight.
Can YOU look me IN the face and tell me
you haven't"
No. Mary could not look her in the face,
or anywhere else, and lie about it. for she
was not accustomed to faisehoOd, so she
held her peace.
YES. / thought So" continued the ter
magant, with a snsrl of malicious triumph.
Il thought so. And | know what VIII
come OF It. Oh. Yes. But you needn't
think 70 stay in NV house when every
body comes 10 know OF your disgrAce.
You can trapse alter your lover. who'll be
gone lar enough by that time, no doubt.
And what would Sias think of You if he
knew of your conduct? DO you supposs
my boy would ever look at a girl hat gets
herself talked about as you will? You
shame iess-"
.Shut up! There's been enough of this
iGw ana too much suddenly interrupted
Uncle Thatcher'S rough voice. as be him
self appeared in the door, looking in his
nlghtdress OF close-rtting shirt and draw
ers even bonner, longer, and more angular
than ordinarily: like the si.houtte of a
skeleton almost.
81 don't care! I will speak" snapped
his xixenish wife turning to face him.
And ef you DO I'll choke you"
"You would You'd raise your hand to
the mother OF Silss?"
Yes. and wnng your blasted neck II
YOU don't mind me when l tell you to
shut up.
Whether Uncle Thatcher had ever
found force necessary to maintain his au-
thoritv in the household or not, was best
known to him and his wife; but at ali
events she did not seem to regard his
threat as an idle one, for with a snort of
bafiled rage she prang mp and rushed
into the house without uttering another
word.
Mary was standing with her back toward
the door, with her hands covering her
face. and crying. Uncle Thatcher aid one
OF his pig hands on her shoulder and
patting il gently. as he would have soothed
a horse, said TO her:
Come, little girl. Don't cry any more.
l aiu't going TO have you plagued ou; of
vour life by that cuss 90 to bed now.
And just tell me If she tries to WORRY you
anv more.
He disappeared inside the door, and
Mary. wiping her eyes, followed him. pass
ing TO her title room, but sleep was slow
in coming TO her hot eyes and her last
waking thought was:
WHO did uncle mean by that euss?'
Was IL Dorm or Silss?'
But at length the weary lids closed and
in happy dresmland, far away from care
and fear and strife, she wandered with
her lover.
The night wore slowly on. Incoming
bill ows oil the rising tide moaned sullenV
upon the sandy beach and sent rustling
hiss through the shivering reeds and
rushss in marshy inlets; whippoOrWills
and drowsv cocks. awakening at tine
midnight hour, called to each other from
their barn ward rOosts. All other sounds
of motion and of life were hushed, save
that an owl dsrted in sudden fright from
one Of The Van Deust ems at the sight of
a pale-faced man who sprang out of a back
window OF the old homestead and ran
down the lane, looking back over his
shoulder and wiping blood from his hands
a. be ran.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.