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

than 7 had ever seen it. and when we
met Anne at the gate of the hotel 1t
was something more than malice that
prompted me to say suddenly:
'Oh, Anne, what if it is all to be of no
good. and that boy isn't going to get
well after ALL
To nv amazement. and at the same
time to my enlightenment, Anne turned
as white as Teddy, and caught her faith
ers arm as he stood beside her.
Papa, is he worse? Why does Miss
Leigh say that he is not going to get
well?'
Nc. no. my child said Mr.. STAN
field; "Teddy's all right-sound as
brick The doctor says he can go North
in week or two. 1t is Miss Leigh who
Is used up. She must see the doctor
herself, for it isn't like her to be getting
nervous about nothing. Come. Anne.
you look as if bed would be the best
place for you, too. Good night, and
we separated, l to my own thoughts,
Mr.. Stanfield to the quiet night of an
unsuspicious man. and Anne-well. only
the next morning told how Anne'S night
had been spent.
Now if ever father had daughter
upon whose common sense he felt that
he could implicitly rely, that father was
Mr. Stanfield, and the shock which
awaited him at his next interview with
Anne has probably never been realized
in its full intensity by anybody but him
self. Naturally, / should never nave
known the details had he not later
wickedly divulged them. but as Anne
still stoutly maintains that never in
her life did she do anything that she
was less ashamed of, there is, suppose,
no reason why should keep the secret.
Just after breakfast on the morning
of this eventful day Anne sent for her
father to join her in the sitting room.
ION business the little note said, and
as there was nothing unusual in this,
Mr.. Stanfield was quite unprepared for
the very unusual agitation of his daugh-
ter'S manner.
''Sit down, papa, please: I want to
talk to you for a few minutes. In fact
papa. have very great favor to ask
Of YOU"
Papa's eyes opened, for, to tell the
truth. he was not often put in this po-
sition; but. being a man of few words.
he said nothing. and after a moment
Anne went on with an undeniable shake
in her voice.
Papa I want you to buy Tatters for
me-
Buy Tatters, Anne? What the deuce
have you got into your head, my girl?
Why, Teddy would not sell the little
brute for a thousand dollars.
"Offer him two thousand, then, papa.
said Anne, trying hard to speak as if 1t
were a matter of course. I have plen-
ty of money just now, you know, for
have hardly spent anything this winter.
You know too, that Mr.. Archibald is
poor and needs the money. If he will
sell Tatters to me he can be quite at
ease until he has time to recover and is
once more able to help himself. 1t
seems to me a very reasonable arrange
lnent, papa.
But papa" failed to see the reason
ableness Of it. and there was some inn
patience in the tone with which he
CALCULATED:
those two boys have been together, how
Teddy loves the dog-besides, the boys
not a beggar. Well, I can only say
that / don't understand you. Anne"
Never mind understanding me. dear,
only do what ask. Go and buy Tat
tiers for me. please; you know you can
do 1t If you try" But Anne's laugh was
too forced to give much encouragement
to her father, and his patience fairly
gave way.
1T is a ridiculous errand, Anne, and 1
will have nothing to do with It, Why,
you might as well try to buy Teddy
hims IT,
Aid then the girl gathered up all her
courage and walked straight to where
her father stood. She took his two
hands in hers. and there were big tears
in her eyes, though her voice was clear
enough, as she said:
Papa, dear, don't you see, that is
just it. want to buy Tatters and Ted
dy both. You must help me, papa, for
it is all right know he loves me truly.
just as you would like to have him love
me, but, you know. he will never tell
me SO. He is afraid of the money. and
-and-that he isn't going to get we'll"
The tears came in earnest now and
her astonished father could only smooth
the curly brown hair, and listen for the
whispered question:
Would you be satisfied. papa, with
Teddy? He almost belongs to you now,
you know.
And somehow. between them. it was
settled that papa would be satisfied.
and he undertook the somewhat start
ling commission which he had received
with mixture of amusement and trepi-
dalton which made him conscious that.
in the interests of all concerned. he
must get it over as soon as possible.
An hour later he walked into Teddy's
studio, great deal graver than was his
wont, and with a sort of reserve in his
manner which WAS quickly felt by the
young man. who was standing before
sketch, which at his guests entrance
he quickly turned to the wall.
Good morning, Archibald: how are
your" Packing up already? Why,
you're not going till next week, sureiy?"
Teddy's answer was buried in a big
packing box, into which he was attempt
ing to squeeze a last armful of traps,
and Mr.. Stanfield, whose courage was
rapidly making it's farewells, took the
bull by the horns by picking up Tatters,
who was soberly surveying the situa-
ton, and asking with as much nonchal.
ance as he could command:
by the way, Teddy, what are you
going to do with this little chap? You
can't have him knocking about with you
always. you know. Why not turn him
over to Anne and me? You know what
fancy the girl has taken to him. I
really think she would be glad to buy
him from youth fact-you know what
girls are-she said this morning she
would be glad to give you any price you
chose to ask for him. All nonsense.
told her, for / don't suppose you will
listen to it"-somewhat weakly con-
cluded Anne's emissary.
Teddy was white to the lips as he
echoed Mr.. Stanfield's words:
Sell Tatters! Doesn't she know me
better than that?"
Poor Mr. Stanfield. What morning
that was for him, between those two
young things, and what an effort 1t
cost for him to answer Teddy's pale
face.
"Come, now. don't be offended, my
boy; the girls heart is set on 1T. and
the money will help you. 1t would be a
fair bargain, you know
Teddy shook his head and walked to
the other end of the room, very rudely
turning his back on Mr.. Stanf1eld, who