The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-29

Susanna"
Il never knew It," said Susanna simply.
He certainly didn't seem to be last sum-
ner He wore the simplest, not TO say I'M
slightest of garments and he seemed to be
chemically out OF funds"
Tn afraid you don't recognize the ami
MAJ when you see Ii, laughed Stephanie.
You're not connoisseur in swells. my
Lawrences dollars were usually consplcu-
Gus for their absence; but somehow, some
way, he wanted that little picture that was
Sion TO be an absolute necessity. Its price
was extremely modest, and the day after
the exhibition was ended Lawrence viewed
II with considerable satisfaction presiding
over miscellaneous collection of bachelor
inutiities on his chimney shelf. His only
stipulation had been that the purchasers
name should be unknown.
Susanna was matronizing a Studio tea"
by dozen demoiselles of the ''Cloister."
by coincidence il was her birthday.
ousanne was younger than number OF the
women, but her sedateness and the severe
seriousness of her department in moments
when steadying spirit was needed caused
her 10 be usually selected for the matron
sides, the small brotheI she was educating
made her seem motheriy.
~ was fantastic crowd OF girls-all
glriS-dressed in every possible attire ex-
| cept the usual, who crowded around the
samovar or discussed In groups and with
much vigor the relative merits Of recent
works of art All were talking paint
Paint was In the air: the walls; it was
| the breath OF the nostrils
Susanna was flying about tiny Japan
csc teacup In her hand and a classic XII
mono, much too long for her, trailing be-
| hind. In honor of her birthday two OF the
| girls had placed fllet of bay leaves on
her dark hair.
II am horror of different epochs." said
| Susanna. Ancient Greek to my shoulders,
modern Japanese the rest Of the way.
And early New York as TO feet" said
stephanie. inspecting susanne's small
| butchers.
Here's a French fan to complete the pic
| ture.' said another girl, miniature paint
| er, TRUSTING an ancient and fragile Wat
Take it away" said Susanna; Its too
delicate for q Studio tea "
One or two arguments that had started
with witty epigram and bon-mot, and part
| ly In jest, were getting to border perilOusly
| on the serious. and the orators were get
girl students. are apt to do-occurrences
| strictly against the rule of studio teas"
when Susanna called to order.
Come, my friends" she Said land drink
sympathetic cup to the health of VEN
cradle maid over whose head six and twenty
tiresome years have rolled On n, with the
same led the way.
rs Vandal from the outer world permit
| ted to enter"' came a voice-an unmlstaka-
| bly, masculine voice-from the portiere which
had been left apart.
This decidedly no habitue OF the
"Cloister."
1t was Lawrence who stood there. immac-
ulate In softest gray, with gloves OF the
shapely hands and gardenia. which had
as yet no intention OF dropping, adjoining
his lapel
He paused. but finched not.
Susanna advanced.
mo men are allowed here on Cloister
ing. unconscious that her hair Of painters
tam was ruffied under her fillet and that
her Japanese gown was singuiarly becom-
Ing. But" she smiled, Il VIII put II TO
There was a slight demur at first but no
vigorous protesting, and as this was spe-
cial day, and Lawrence special friend,
he found himself, after swearing solemnly
on the rules of the Art League never
the center of an animated group. whose
witticisms he couldn't parry at all, but 10
whose Formosa he did ample Justice
While Lawrence drank to the natal day
half a dozen others sketched the scene. and
after half hour awreLce was kindly but
firmly dismissed. bearing away with him
various thumb-nail sketches, clever car
toCns and fakes as souvenirs. and leav-
ing his stick behind the door with charac-
tcristic carelessness.
He again asked himself, as he descended
the somewhat tortuCus staircase from mo.
T." why he had gone there; but this time he
did not pretend to give himself an answer
Lawrence was dressed for the evening,
and was hanging about before his CRATE
going out to do battle in the great social
world which was his arena.
He had gazed at his destiny long enough
with averted eyes. Tonight he meant to
take action.
He had decided. after much inward de-
bate and some hesitation, to ask Miss
Fayreweather to marry him, and for that
reason had banished to a distant store
room, with its face TO the wall, his re-
cently-acquired art treasure, which always
seemed to have an unsettling effect upon
his resolution.
He had arranged his tactics. He should
| meet Miss Fayreweather at a certain house,
and after dance or two, already promised
| him, he should ask her to be his. She would
in spite of his modesty. he felt quite sure
she would not refuse to smile on his suit;
and he should finally go home the accepted
| lover of one of the great heiresses Of the
| town.
1t was a pleasing little programme
Lawrence looked at himself in the small
glass or the brass sconce which he had
substituted for Susanne's water color and
"Twentyseven, and distinct failure"
he said a little bitterly Then he tossed
his cigar In the fire and went forth to con-
quer.
II his waltzes with Miss Fayreweather
| that evening were not all his fancy painted
| them the fault was not that OF his fair
| partner There were was an alertness, an
| evidence of intention, in Lawrence's man
| ner, that TO young woman as much wooed
| as Miss Fayreweather, was by no means
| ambiguous. But the evening wore on
| and Lawrence's assiduousness waned, and
| his utterances degenerated into platitudes
| a certain dismal coldness crept over the
| fair autocrats manner. Lawrence was list
| 10 settle It," he had said to himself
| after the first waltz; then he decided that
| "st-out' in the conservatory would be
| better. Nothing came OF that, and after q
| time the conservatory filled, so he decided
TO try the supper room. The supper room
was worse than the conservatory, and now
after the second and last waltz Lawrence
was fighting the deadly inertia he felt
| creeping over him. while Miss Fayre-
| weather sat beside him palpably cool. and
one would say Of o less delicate subject
| preparing TO strike"
| Lawrence had started for the conserva-
| tory, but his nerves failed him, and they
| seated themselves near the door while he
set his soul to put his vague-alasi too
| vague-ideas into words.
| At this instant a. new arrival, a young
/ man, came in. the halo of the jeunesSe
| doree around his well-groomed head
| "Hullo, Charlie!" said Lawrence. clutch
| ing at a respite. You're late. Where'Ve
you been all night?"
| Charlie came toward them adjusting his
| binocle.
Awful crush outside" he said. "Big
/ fire a few blocks away. Couldn't get my
cab through at all. Had TO get out and
| walk"
"a fire. said Miss Fayreweather with
| a nervous animation born of a semi-scorn-
| full tension. How jolly! | love a fire.
wanted TO so TO a fire ever since l was in
| pinafores."
YES; fires are great fun" said Law
| renee. namely.
| but you couldn't get near this one IL
! you tried. Miss Fayreweather." continued
! Charlie although L believe no one got
| hurt the flames have made tremendous