The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11

been so kind to her, and whom it was her
duty to respect, and-by and by to love!
Had she not urged her to remember 1t al
most with her dying breath? 81 wronged
him." she had said; it is for you to make
wife. Minnie, and 1 wish you to marry him;
remember. / have no dearer wish in the
world than, this. You are too young yet,
but by and by he will ask you, and you
must say yes-for his sake and your own"
Two years had passed since then, and Min
ME was now eighteen; but Colonel Leigh
had not asked her yet, nor had he even
troubled himself to see very much of her of
late. She lived with an old governess, and
an extremely quiet, not to say dull, life it
lady did not approve of her visiting those
she had. Miss Framley had known some
thing OF the Myersons years ago. and had
therefore consented to make an exception
In their favor and allow her young charge
to accept the invitation Constance had
given her; though, had she known the kind
would assuredly have been the last friend
she would have chosen for Minnie. In point
would have been the poor old lady's
dismay could anybody have enlightened her
comfortable ignorance. Fortunately for her
peace of mind, there was no one to do this
Thus matters stood between Minnie and
her guardian on the e%ventful evening of the
Myersons' dance, and undoubtedly 1t could
scarcely be considered a satisfactory state
of affairs to either of them; but of ell this,
Jack, of course. knew nothing. How should
he?
1t was 10 o'clock, and the dancing was
going on merrily-too merrily, perhaps, for
Colonel Leigh's taste, as he stood in the
doorway contemplating the gay scene with
a somewhat bored expression. He had given
up dancing years ago, and was not one of
those men who take a lively interest in
watching other peoples amusementS. H
watched intently, 1t is true; but he seemed
to take no pleasure in ii, and Constance
thought she had never seen him look so
stern.
Minnie had never looked prettier than she
did that night, and excitement had lent a
color to her cheeks and a light to her eyes
that intensified her girlish beauty into posi-
tive loneliness. Even Jacks stately sisters
were not so much admired as she; and Susie
made up her mind that, despite any plans
Constance might have TO the contrary. Min
MES visit should not be prolonged beyond
the date now fixed for it's termination. For
she felt that, under favorable conditions, the
girl might become too dangerous a rival.
OF course Minnie had been dancing a good
deal, but she was not dancing just now; she
was not In the room at all. neither was
Jack. Perhaps. after all, they had gone to
see the moon rise.
Constance crossed to the Colonel, q mis-
chievouS smile on her lips.
You must be frightfuiiy bored by all of us
Wont you come into the library and see
Jacks e~ngravings? He has some very valu-
able ones. and 1 know you are a Judge of
She spoke very courteously, but without
any of the coquetry that had formerly an
noyed him so much. Yet he dlStruSted her.
Thank Won: but / don't like to trouble
you SO far"
"It is no trouble, Colonel. Come this way
She led the way across the hall to the IL
brary, a large room with French windows
opening. on to the terrace.
1t was very dimly lighted. and through the
opened windows a flood of moonlight
streamed into the room,
"Oh, | wonder where Jack has put them?
They are not in their usual place" Con-
stance exclaimed. glancing around the room.
Wait one moment while l go and make in
quirleS; and before he could raise any OBJ
J~ectionS she was gone.
Colonel Leigh walked u to the open win
dow. and stood there looking out.
He was perpleXed and troubled Past
scenes rose before his minds eye, throwing
a bewildering shadow across the present; a
voice from the dead seemed to ring in his
ears, crying ever with a passionate insist
ence: Save her, save her from my fate.
She Will be rich; save her from such fort
u~ne-hunterS as have ruined my lifei Guard
her, and make her your wife!' AND he had
m TO do so; at least he had promised
to obey her last wishes in the spirit, If not
to the letter; for he remembered always
what the woman who had Tilted him., and
spoiled his life years ego, seemed always TO
forget-that he was himself a poor man,
ana that he knew that Minnie was an heir
ess-a fact that had been carefully guarded
from her own knowledge and the prying
curiosity of the world at large. He would
take no advantage OF his position, therefore.
his own wishes in the matter had nothing
TO do with Ii. He strove always to per-
suade himself that he had no wishes in the
matter-that he was merely a machine. and
incapable OF taking any sort of human in
tereSt In his gentle young ward. He had
almost succeeded, or so he fattered himself,
tnl-WaS II only tonight or was IL not
rather that afternoon two days ago. when
he stepped out on the veranda, and saw
Minnie-his little Minnie-with that new