The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09

like ripe apricots newly gathered. She
had arranged as a row OF footlights be-
meath her many fiower-pots holding
calceolarias and turfs OF the little creep
ing plant Familiarity known as creeping
Jenny" Above Kitty's fair head gil
gantic bunch of sunflowers stood on a
shelf. with attendant satellites in the
shape Of golden and bronze dahlias and
orange lilies. Miss Malone shook some
OF the pollen that had fallen from the
last-named plants of the creamy lace
at her wrists; and then, after pinning
one small nosegay Of forget-me-nots
among the pale-blue folds Of her dress,
she sat down. like a queen Of the May
among her garlands. and waited for Gus
Nomers.
The large hall was very empty, al
though the church clock had rung out
four half an hour ago. A sense OF dis
appointment weighed down the spirits
of some two dozen ladies, who with bus
aness-like muslin aprons and scissors
fastened at their waists. cast impatient
eyes at the great doorway. and over
. few aimless strollers who had passed
through IL.
ITS ten thousand pities." said Miss
O'Shaughnessy. who presided over pin
cushions and photograph frames under
a canopy next to Miss Malone. that the
lord lieutenant found at the last mo-
ment he couldn't open the sale. She
spoke with a suspicion Of a brogue and
pronounced her ems like uns. Then she
looked sideways and not altogether
agreeably at Kitty
Miss O'Shaughnessy had been reign
ing beauty in her beloved native city IN
til the last season. when Miss Malone
had come over 10 stay with barrister
uncle in Merrion square. and had calmly
taken away most Of Miss OShaughnes-
sy's favorite partners. and also her repu-
tation as the prettiest girl at the balls
and race-meetingS. It could not be said
that Kitty seemed elated overmuch after
her triumphs: on the contrary. she re-
ceived all admiration with a placid sense
Of it's being no more than her due. and
never exerted herself 10 win either atten-
ton or praise. Mss O'Shaughnessy'
bitterness had reached its hight a month
or two ago at a small dance when she
had seen her rival led through quad
rifle by the lord lieutenant. and taken
in 20 supper by the commander-in-chief.
And just toward the close Of that same
memorable evening. slangy Col. Haldane.
who had formerly been Miss Onslaught
nessy's most devoted admirer had
lounged across the room. and merely
said. Heard the news?"
mo. what is it?'
''weT. the lovely Miss Malone has set
tied to make some fellow happy at last.
She's accepted Vincent Pelham. Thun-
dering good marriage. amt it? Capital
soldier. old Vincent, though bit dull.
But his father amt likely TO hang on
long. and then he'll come into no end
of 'oof.' Are you surprised
Miss O'Shaughnessy was dressed in
seagreen. and her draperies just then
were too much like the color of her skin
TO be becoming. She spoke after a sec
ond, In very hOaTse voice
II wonder how Lord Ryde will like
his sons marriage. As he's so i'll, 1 am
afraid il may upset him a good deal.
Because, though dear Kitty is, of course.
charming, some Of her relations are not
quite-quite. don't you know? And Of
course there was that rumOr about her
and army doctor. you remember"
Miss Malone passed the pair just then
on her fance's arm. He was a tall man,
undeniably handsome. in spite of a too
long neck and head Of a sugarlOaf
shape. He wore a heavy mOustache,
closely cropped. his eyes were gray and
little unsympathetic. His smile, al
though at first pleasant. clearly ex-
pressed a consciousness of his own per-
sonal uprightness, and of his perfectly
un'blemished and prosperous career in
the past, together with the least shade
or contempt for other people who might
happen TO have stumbled or fallen on
less easy roads. Miss Malone looked as
usual perfectly calm and unelated. Her
soft cheeks were hardly flushed. her dark
1ashes did not rest upon them with a
newly acquired sense Of shyness; on the
contrary, her blue eyes gazed frankly
ard uncOncernedly at her many friends
and acquaintance. Her full red under
lip did not CULVER with emotion. but was
merely parted from the curling upper
one in a quiet smile. Kitty Malone was
clever enough TO ignore the enviOus or
admiring glances that ran like lightnings
over her slight figure, and. apparently
all untouched by them. she walked up
the whole length of the ballroom. with
the confident and erect Capt. Pelham at
her side.
Now. sitting behind her barrier of pin
cushions and pen-wipers, Miss O'Shaugh-
messy thought bitterly over this past
scene. And the unconscious object Of
her gloomy meditation was smiling
among a mass of ferns and blossoms
and giving a little girl directions about
how she was TO take buttOnhOles round
the room and try to sell them to any
gentleman she might see. Mrs. Dowse
who presided over the tea and buns, and
the weak claret and champagne-cups
crossed over TO the flower stand for
minute. And are We eXpectun Capt
Pelham here today. my dear?" "Np.
Mrs DOwse. he has had TO go over TO
England 20 see his father, who is i'll
See. there is some one looking at your
stall, They viii pass on If you don't go
back
Mrs DOwse, fat and smiling. was be-
hind her jugs and glasses in an instant.
How | wish" said Miss Kitty 10 one
Of her helpers, that some one of some
slight interest would come. We are SELL
ing for such a good object. Think of the
poor soldiers having To leave their wives
In few days, and probably nearly all
20 be killed. or 10 die Of fever in the hor-
rible desertsi You see those married
without leave will be-. Oh. Jenny, there
are some soldiers coming in now. They
are stopping at Nora O'Shaughnessy's
stall What use can an antimacassar or
an Illuminated text be to a sOldier?"
We'll. they are not allowed TO wear
button-holes. and as they sail I'm four or
five days plants I'm pots won't be much
use 10 them either"
Perhaps not What a good-IooISine
man that tail one is with the three gold
stripes on his sleeve. and the crimson
SASH
Yes. a sergeant And the fair man is
corporal. OH Kitty, how sad to think |
they'll probably be shot. How dreadful |
for you. dear. that Capt. Pelham has got |
that staff appointment
"Ahl we'll 1 wish him TO get on. am |