The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-24


the arm-hearted friend whom the fates
had sent him ALL and perhaps more
than all, he was accepting from him.
Not that it did not cost a struggle.
but In the end Mr.. Stanfield's determine
ton and Teddy's common sense con-
quered. and when the latter was once
more able to walk / am sure that there
was not a more contented pair In all
the sunny st. Augustine streets than
these two as they wandered together
from one end of the old town to the
other OF course. it was a good many
weeks before matters had settled them
selves on this comfortable basis. and in
the meantime, as / often asked myself.
Where was Amer"
Now, Anne Stanfield was by no means
the sort of young woman who was like
~ to obliterate herself or to submit to
any neglect on the part of those upon
whom she considered herself to have
lawful claims, and "papas last fad as
she called Teddy, had been, at the earli-
est possible moment. subjected to her
critical inspection.
"A very nice boy, papa" was her YER
dict. you can't do better than to
amuse yourself with him. So long as
you play fair and don't spend more
than half your time in his studio as he
pleases to call it, won't interfere. You
might be doing much worse, you know"
Anne had inherited all her fathers
business talent, and having, by reason
of her mothers early death, fallen en-
tirely into his hands. had received
training somewhat peculiar, perhaps.
but in it's results undeniably successful.
ALI that money could do in the way Of
governesses and tutors. society and
travel had been hers, but with it all she
was quite as much at home in her faith
er's office as in her own drawing-room.
and at twenty-five, with her quick wits
and cool head, had gained an experience
such as comes to most men after years
of alternating success and disaster. She
was her fathers closest companion, and
in most things his chief adviser, and as
he grew older had assumed a pretty air
of responsibility in regard to him that
gave to the somewhat abrupt candOr of
her character the softening touch that
it needed. SO when she had pronounced
favorably upon Teddy the last obstacle
was removed. and through many weeks
of soft, Southern days the four of us
found life very pleasant.
Our plans were made, at least so far
as Mr.. Stanfield and / were concerned,
with reference to what was best for
Teddy, and for some time Anne accepted
this order of things with a good grace,
spending the few idle hours which she
permitted herself in our society. We
had to suffer occasionally, we two older
ones. from her sarcasms on our devo-
ton. and when l spoke Of our "partie
carree" / made fragrant omission. for
1t was usually Tatters who was Anne's
companion, and their active feet carried
them, well satisfied apparently with
each other, for many a mile, while the
three Of us. of whom she spoke collec-
lively as ssthe remainder" took life more
easily. on the sands or in some quiet
rose garden.
But as spring drew near an indefina-
bic sense of change in our relations to
each other began to assert itself, and
could see. as looked back over the
two things had happened. First, Teddy
was getting well-he was no longer a
passive invalid on our hands. but a
young man with the fire of a new life
pouring into his veins-while, though
confess that for some time / stupidity
failed to connect the facts-Anne was
no longer one Of us. That is, for days
at a time we had no more~than glimpses
of her bright face, while, when she did
honor us with her presence, her tongue
was sharper than of old, and Teddy.
poor Teddy, was it's victim.
But even after my old brains had got
thus far on the track my chief anxiety
was still because she had somehow
lured Tatters, the loyal Tatters, from
his allegiance to Teddy, who evidently
felt the desertion as only frieudless men
can feel for such things. 1t was Anne
now whom Tatters obeyed. it was for
drawn upon; his pretty ways and his
devotion were all for Anne. Teddy,
once again poor Teddy" was neglect
ed and indeed quite forsaken, and all
the years through which he and Tatters
had been inseparable were, for that
wicked little dog. as though they had
not been. Like everybody else who has
had similar experiences. ! wonder now
at my own blindness, but then my only
feeling was Of pity for Teddy and an
noyance with Anne That the old Love
me, love my dog" theory had been put
in practice in this instance did not oc-
cur to me. because. in the eyes of all
who knew her, Anne Stanfield's fate
1~x, E,v- tod Cor
1t went without saying that love and
marriage had no allurements for her.
She was too sensible and well-balanced
for the first, and there was no room in
her life for the second.
BY nature strong and somewhat self
willed, all the circumstances of her
training had favored a positive develop
ment which removed her from the
sphere of ordinary young ladyhood.
while the possession of good many
thousands in her own right and the
prospect of a good many more from her
father made her position, to the aver
age lover. quite unassailable.
Why should she marry? we all asked.
Who short Of fairy prince, would dare
suggest it to her? So. as | have said.
Anne and Hymen were understood to
have nothing to say to each other, and
was perhaps not so stupid as seemed.
However that may be, the days went
steadily by, and the relations of our lit
tie party to each other became still more
complicated. Anne had dropped almost
away from us. while. without apparent
cause. Teddy was growing dull and
talked gloomily of the outlook, which
short time before had been in his eyes
so full of promise. At last, being
thoroughly disquieted and not a little
vexed, 1 confronted the boy myself with
my perplexity, and fatty asked him
what was wrong. But I have found,
from various painful experiences. that
people who indulge In the luxury of
plain speaking usually get their trouble
for their pains, and this occasion proved
to be no exception. Teddy, holding his
head very high. informed me that was
making mountains out Of molehilis, and.
in a general way, sent me to the right
about with no reserve to fall back on:
for knew that Mr.. Stanfield could not
be counted on in an emergency which l
believed to be entirely the result of
wounded feelings. / decided that Ted
dys pride had been hurt by Anne's de-
meanor. that his heart was sore from
Tatters's detection, and / was forced to
the belief that, on the whole. the ap-
preaching breakup of our little party
might be the best If not the only, So
luton of the difficulty.
But on the very day when / arrived
at this philosophic conclusion, vexation
got the better of me and I unwittingly
precipitated a most unforeseen climax.
ali -. l. t<~<r 7,