The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-21
HE AND SHE.


then fate. fortune. or whatever name we
! give to the good providence who disposes
| those trivial circumstances that lead 10
great events in our lives. arranged that
on certain afternoon in May there We're
so few letters TO write that the typst
clerk could leave her Bedford-st. office at
( a much earlier hour. and. full of anticipa-
ton that she would be able to put the fin
ishing touches to gown she was renovat-
ing she tripped into the Strand, hailed the
first omnibus she saw, clambered to the
top, and took the only vacant seat IN
her anxiety TO secure this. she did not no
tice more than that II was man next to
her; but that man being He, and he, hav-
ing watched her from the time she hailed
the bus. was now quite in fiutter, for
! she was only just settled when they We're
| ut Charing Cross, where he always got
4 down, which he could hardly do now, as,
| without explanation, which he could
| not give, 1t would seem so very peculiar
, somewhat offensive, indeed. BY the time
his hesitation was over they were on their
\ way again, and the conductor was collect
/ ing the money. She paid her fare. He
/ silently held out the extra twopence which
| the man taking with nod of surprise, she
/ turned her head, and instantly there
/ mounted to her cheeks a rosy color. He,
being of the old school, looked on
! blush one Of the most becoming feat
| ures of a woman 1t was the signal Of
the weakness Of her sex, to be answered
! on the part of the man by a desire to pro-
tect, and without hesitation he said. Il
think you and are going the same way?'
Yes" and her color deepened, I'VE live
| opposite each other in the same street.
"Qulte two Of the oldest inhabitants, I
| should say"
Il, is ten years since ] came" and she
! gave a sgh.
! Yes, but / was there before you. re-
| member your coming.
| do you? Oh. [ am accustomed TO II
now, but, at first, TO have nothing but
| houses before me seemed dreadful. L used
to stand at the window and--well, 1 won't
say what only that l did not see the op-
pJsite houses very clearly"
| Perhaps ! can enter into your feelings
! better than you think" he said kindly
| 'for To me- them my surroundings were
hateful"
'I had always lived in the country. and
| 1 suppose l though things would go on
| the same forever. but in four years l lost
every one belonging to me; home and
! means were swept away. and had to
| begin life alone"
Terrible hard on a woman" he said
| symp3thetically.
wei. and yet I think sometimes it is
/ harder on a man. OF course, / don't mean
one who finds pleasure In clubs and COM
J play. 1 know you are a stay-at-hOme,
| because every evening l see your lamp
| alight."
And your lamp keeps mine company"
! Yes, I've never been away but once
|
| who has since gone u India. That was an
! excitement for me! l boxed up and saw
! You and very nearly nodded. and then
/ was so frightened that / jumped into the
4 cab and told the man to drive as fast
! as NJ could"
And 1 thought you were late, and it
/ quite ndgeted me. and / gave you a
| mental scOlding, just Ike l often do on
! Sundays when you will go out without an
] umbrella"
| ssyVeI hut tas4 sunday ,,o,, went ont
! without yours, and more than that, you
! left the window open on your bird. and
! / said 10 TOtty-my cat-'NOW that is
very thoughtless, for if the sun goes in
| Dicky viii catch cod. "
I And l fear he did catch cod. for he
/ has sat with all his feathers roughed up,
! ,ooHinS very reproachfully at me. You
] know. he is six years cd"
'fAIy cat is ten; 1 can never bear to
| think Of her age. for when she dies. we'll
| people vii. think her mistress very
| foolish woman"
! 'Not those who live alone won't"
! HIS tone Of sympathy brought a peas
! ant expression into her eyes. You find
| your bird company, don't you?" ne said.
| boxing al him. That summer when YOU
| went away l was quite anxious, fearing
! the .and,ady might not look after him
properly. You know we missed YOU
| dreadfully, Tottie ard l."
Il can quite believe it; fe.t very dull
| when YOU were absent"
| They both laughed heartily.
you gone" she said, and l had moth
! ing 10 go by, because you are my time
| piece in the morning Mr.. Punctual l
] call You to TOttie; we established that
| name almost directly after we settled
! there"
And he had called her Miss Pry! All
| well. he would give her that name no
! longer. Should he ask what was her real
! name? He thought he Suddenly the
| horses stopped.
why, here we are?'' he said, looking
| at her amazed.
J 1t was the corner Ieading to the street
/ in which they lived
| The way has seemed very short" she
! said, preparing 10 get down. Usually 1
| think our Omnibuses go SO slowly"
DO they? l always walk from Char
| ing Cross. was just going to get down
today when you got up and sat down next
! me-"
yes. felt my face get quite red when
l saw 1t was you. 1 wondered would you
| speak, and i was 50 glad when you did"
i hope, now, whenever We meet you
| Will a;.ow me % speak to you"
Il shall be very glad she said cordial
| ly; lit seems so much nicer TO have eX-
| changed a few words with one another"
We'll. we were not like strangers to
each other were we?"
Certainly not; l have fe.t as if you
were almost a friend for nearly ten
And they shook hands, and both a lit
| tie agitated at this unlooked-for adven-
| ture, turned toward their respective dwell
| ings.
1t has been said that every rose has a
| thorn, and the thorn that. was fe.t by the
| occupants Of u and 13 Woodman-st
| showed itself in the sudden shyness each
| felt in appearing their windows. He
said: II don't wish her to think that |
am presuming in any way"
She said: II must be careful now, and
not LEI him fancy I want 10 court notice"
without either getting a legitimate glimpse
of the other. They both began to grow
quite mOped, and a little disposed to
feel the least bit disappointed in each
other. She need not suppose l have the
smallest intention of taking advantage Of
a little exchange Of conversation to-
gether." he said hufiily. while she re-
called every word she had spoken TO him.
to make sure that she had not allowed
her tongue 20 run away with her.
on the very evening of the day week on
which they had met, drawing aside his
blind TO look at the opposite window
why, there was no light there. How very
odd! She must be out and out she seemed
10 remain all the evening. A very I'M
usual thing for her. But still more I'M
usual was, that the next morning her
! blind was not drawn up. She must be
away! He really felt injured His feel
ings We're as ruffled as the feathers Of his
bird. Not that IL mattprpd TO him in any