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

CNNAO
gret If he were; but this might be a mis-
taken idea
HE is not expecting you. them"
oh, no. He does not know / am here:
But Constance thought / ought to 80 and
see him 1t was she who told me he was
Constance is very fond of telling people
what they ought to do he laughed. Don't
let her order you about too much, or she'll
give you no peace"
she was quite right in this case. Col.
Leigh has always been very kind to me.
ton" she said. quietly but firmly; rather
too firmly y. he thought for Sg 1t the ne,v ci nGSer-
stood what those circumstances were.
III is your guardian. is he not?" he
asked as he paused to open the gate
Yes. What a pretty drive. / have never
been here before, but the views are lovely"
Apparently she did not wish to discuss
Colonel Leigh, and Jack felt a sudden
curiosity 10 see the man, which, however,
as he presently learned on inquiry at the
front door, was not to be gratihed for the
present.
The Coloners out. sir; went out directly
after luncheon with my mistress and the
and Mr.. Dick he's out, too. Won't you
come in and rest, sir, and won't the young
lady have some tea after her walk"
What do you say, Miss Brender; snail
"If the Colonel is likely to return" Min
"He may, miss: and then again he may
not. Let me bring the tea out in the
veranda. miss. and perhaps he'll be In while
81 really think we'd better say yes" Jack
said as she looked at him in Int, evident dent hest
when the girls went home WITHOUT letting
Jones give them tea; wasn't she. Jones?"
'She was, sir. She told me as 'ow l was
never to let Ii 'appen again"
co ,IThen E we will gIr lsys IT, h. P e6%es i and M lt fhe
said. with a sudden air of resolution.
He conducted them through a wide hall
TO the drawing-room, and thence to the
Vpran6a. where. under masses OF cluster
ing roses that filled the air with their de-
iicious perfume, the tea table stood ready.
back at once" said Jack, as they sat in
the pleasant shade and waited for the tea
yes. butt seems rather cool making
ourselves at home in this way. 1 suppose
you know Mrs. Venner very we'll"
Rather. assure you we are doing the
very thing Of all others she would approve
Of, so you may be quite easy on that
score" Jack said reassuringly, as he took
off his hat and hung it on the creepers
near. "Odd thing, your friend should be
here, and just now. too" he added thought
Not so very odd. for Colonel Leigh has
a great many friends. l should not have
known he was here If Constance had not
docs Constance know him, then? All,
like your guardian. she has a great many
she has met him. 1 believe; and they
have mutual acquaintances. l think 1t
friends; a few would be much nicer
"Oh, If you found you were getting mixed
among them you could easily drop a few
But l should not like that at all. 1t
would seem so heartless and unkind." she
That wouldn't trouble herr cynically.
mo, don't look so horrifed, Miss Brender;
planning to you how it is DONE"
But you don't approve of it?" the girl
asked. looking at him doubtfully.
Not in the least. 1t is contrary alike to
/ my Dr1nClDleS and nv practices. believe
in having few friends, and never changing
them. But in the sort of whirling society
my people go in for, it's next to impossible
even to make a friend, far less keep one
What a PITY" sympathetically. But
you have the Venners. and neighbors like
ooh. yes, we have lots of neighbors; any
number OF them. But then, one doesn't
haDpen to live next door"
That is true" thoughtfully.
be we ver rac much hack one sen friand h efhey d have to
get over their living next door at all"
Y would realize the truth of that very
lage." Minnie laughed. "Next-door neigh
bors are Miss Framley's pet grievance. and
they give US no peace. Miss Framley is my
g,overness, you know, and she is very par
ticular about the acquaintance we make"
she is quite right" Jack said emphat-
ieally; and somehow he felt glad to know
how carefully this pretty little girl was
guarded in her home life.
So they talked on idly enough, until the
some further occupation; and Minnie grew
quite bright and animated over the cake
and thin bread and butter. The novelty of
the position. as she thus did the honors I'm
somebody else'S house, appeared to afford
her a certain childlike satisfaction. and she
| laughed and chatted more gavIy than LACY
had ever heard before; so that altogether
1t was a very cheerful little party that sat
In Mrs. Venner's veranda that sunny after
noon.
So, at least, thought one unseen snecta-
tor, as he paused for a moment at the
drawing-room window and gazed at the
scene before hin with wondering eyes
Then he stepped out on to the veranda,
and Minnie turned with a little start and
Colonel she cried, and she sprang up
to meet him. "You have come back. them"
Yes. 1 have come back" he said quietly
as he shook hands with her. Were you
waiting for me?"
"of course; did not the man tell you? 1
came here to see YOU"
SIX" ~
With the Myersons. two miles off. Mr..
Myerson kindly walked over with me, as 1
ducing him rather nervously, Jack thought
Il am Obliged. to you, Mr.. Myerson." He
the fPek siie Tttn p eardiaIi f0ur!e f am put 96rT not With Witt
not In when you arrived. You should have
sent me word. Minnie"
But ] thought you were leaving to-mor-
row. Connie told me 1 had better come
at once"
do you mean Miss Myerson?" he asked.
DO / owe this visit to her?'
Somehow he looked as though the sug-
him.
Yes: at least. she suggested it."
She Is very good to interest herself in
my affairs"
He spoke in a perfectly c~olorless tone,
and yet Jack felt uneasy as he heard him.
He scarcely knew why. but he had an un-
comfortable conviction that Connie had bet
ter not have meddled in the matter.
Colonel Leigh. was a handsome. soldierly
looking man, whose appearance would have
4 commanded 61fpmf1On 0nVUhnrn. Ei= hofr
was slightly grizzled. but his age could not
have exceeded fifty, if. indeed. it were so
much, and his expression was singularly
cold and severe.
Minnie was very evidently afraid of him,
and his manner to her. though profoundly
courteous, was by no means reassuring.
She might owe him every respect and con-
| sideration; she said she did, and no doubt
she knew best, and the debt would be paid
to the uttermost farthing. of that Jack
felt sure; but she wasn't fond of him, and
the young man noticed. with a satisfaction
for which he did not attempt to account,
that she was not half so much at ease now
as she had been a quarter OF an hour ago.
Has Mrs. Venner come in YETI" he
asked presently, wondering a little at her
nonappearance.
NO." the Colonel replied. 'she has gone
on to see a friend with her daughters, and
will not be back for some time"
Jack began to feel uncomfortably in the
way. Conversation tagged terribly, so
presently he rose and strolled off down the