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


est pink flush overspread Miss Kitty's
neck and her soft cheeks.
I am afraid" said the sergeant, TAX
| ing up large bouquet of shaded carna-
lions, that you have fewer people at
your sale than you expected"
1t was a commonplace remark, but
Miss Malone started. The voice was Of
| gentleman, and equally so the easy
grace of his manner. Yes. indeed she
answered. It's most disappointing.
And one would have thought just now
that so much sympathy would have been
felt with the wives and children of our
| soldiers who are going to fight"
The sergeant was leaning forward on
the counter. his cane under one arm,
| his eyes fixed on the young girls fair
face She. for her part, noted how ex-
| actly his uniform fitted his square Shout
ders and thin waist. how we'll his cap
with its shining badge became him.
All! | am afraid the inhabitants OF
this town don't feel any sorrow at our
/ departure he said We are not very
much beloved here. For my part, re-
/ Joice to get away
/ Have you seen service before?"
! Oh, no. Now is my chance" She
| fancied he sighed little.
/ my lovely roses?' And the girl held
! up large bunch on which the dew
| seemed hardly dry. The sergeant took
them from her hand and smelt them
Alas! no. They are no good TO me.
l can't carry nOsegay about in the
| streets. All! there are some people COM
/ ing to buy flowers. 1 am taking up your
( time"
! Not in the least. I assure you" And
! Kitty Malone actually blushed as she
met once more the earnest gaze Of those
reckless dark eyes.
The sale viii go on this evening
won't it?''
"Oh. yes; IL will all look much prettier
lighted UP. And there will be colored
! lamps in the little garden at the back.
where the gypsy sits, telling fortunes"
"A fortune-teller? a genuine gypsy?"
Well no; I'm afraid only a friend of
mine dressed up. But she's very clever
all the same. Why don't you have your
! fortune in this war foretold?"
"Ah"'-and he certainly did sigh this
| time. there was no mistake about it
my fortune is told long ago"
But think OF what may happen to
you IN Egypt. Oh, / beg your pardon,
Lady Celbridge. Which would YOU like
OF these Hies-these orange ones or the
lovely variegated ones 2 bOve?''
Look at Kitty" murmured Miss Nora
O'Shaughnessy TO her sister What a
Z fiirt she is. She even allowed that ser
geant 10 stand and makes eyes at her."
But we agreed just now that ne was
certainly a gentleman"
Yes, but it is so often scamps who
Z
nothing more TO say TO them"
a band at the far end Of the room
began TO play. and more people 10 troop
in through the heavy doors Mrs. Dowse
was becoming crimson and hilarious
The sergeant stopped at her stall and
drank some champa gne-cup Then he
glanced over his shoulder at the flower
stall and the little blue figure among the
blossoms. and began to pace slowly
round the great hall. A counter with
some photographs attracted his atten-
ton. The owner, a lady who was a
great admirer of Miss Malone. had fast
ened one of this young lady's portraits
in plush frame. The sergeant
stopped.
lessly.
"Oh. the photo of the lovely Miss Ma
lone?"
Exactly"
We'll, We can have ut for foive-and-
The soldier paid the money. and the
stall-keeper tied UP the parcel.
Put into a rattle, please. sergeant
said a childish voice at his side.
He looked round and smiled pleasant
ly at little girl carrying a large cush-
ion representing in woodwork Joseph and
all his brethren
The sergeant laughed. 'Tn take two
tickets. if you like"
And where shall 1 send it if you
win? asked the child.
"COlor-Sergt. Rhodes, - barracks.
But no, stay-it's no use to me- keep it
for yourself if L win"
When he had arrived at the end of
the room the young soldier turned his
head once more. He fancied that those
large blue eyes behind the roses were
actually watching him, and his thin
brown cheeks grew a shade redder
Toward Z O'Clock the hall was lighted
up, and, 10 the delight Of the sellers.
was at last thrOnged with townspeople
Miss Kitty had changed her blue dress
Tor cooler one f white muslin. with
fresh bunch of forget-me-nots pinned
at her breast. BY 9 o'clock her stall
bore the appearance of a forsaken gar
den. Only a few struggling plants which
had been earlier in the day relegated TO
the back rows remained. Every bunch
or carnations and each neatly-made but
ton-hole was sold And Kitty thought
that. considering the assiduous wav in
which she had worked. and the now
suIllng atmosphere Of the room, she
would allow herself a breath of fresh air
in the garden. A few groups of dark
figures stood on the gravel-path among
the little tWinkling red and green lights
me air was soft and cool, the sky of a
dark VelVety blue, with pale stars COM
ing out. Round the little tent where the
supposed gypsy sat some dozen people
were standing. and among them Kitty
saw tall slight figure dressed i'm scar
let. one OF the fairy lights Illuminated
the three gold stripes on his arm AS
II owing TO some magnetic influence. the
soldier turned his head sharply round as
she advanced. and once more their eyes
met, this time in a longer glance The
SOFT langu0rOus air crept round Kitty
rustling her white skirts and lifting the
curls on her forehead. She trembled a
little. The sergeant came toward her
his scarlet figure standing out vividlv
against the dark background of wall
50 you've come backr' said Kitty
Malone.
so il seems. Years ago I should NOT
have thought that a sale and a sham
gypsy would amuse me: but as / am SO
soon leaving England-perhaps for al
ways-ope takes a different view of
things
He came and stood beside her i'm the
curious uncertain light The pale stars
were not bright enough to lift tbe
shadow off their faces; the fairy lights
threw odd little violet and green reflac-
tons upon her skirt and the red strines
on his trousers.
Have you had your fortune told2"
Not l. Nothing good is likely to han
pen to me ever again.
why not? You might get a commits
sion one of these days. and end as a
general" @
They moved a little further into the
shadow
'Only dreamsp' he said. But Ioatba
talking Of myself Are you Interested
In this Egyptian business or in any one
going out9''