The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
No Robbery.


had been that the folks one would meet
in boarding house were of a doubtful
sort; at the best il seemed inevitable
that there would be social cats purring
inquisitively and treacherously all about.
So il was a welcome surprise to find the
house so different from my anticipa-
tons.
Mrs. Christie herself Axnew but slight
ly She was the widow OF a mining en-
gineer who had done good service to
our family in my fathers day. She had
set up a boarding house in Russell street,
and when il happened that 1 had to go
up to town to consult my old college
friend Marion, now a barrister, about
some busisess. instead of putting MP at
my usual quarters i went, at my
mothers request, to Mrs. Christie's, not
without some misgivings about the wis
dom of the step l was taking, but
thought that anyhow it would be a new
experience, and that was just what 1T
did prove to be eventually.
The company was made up of an In
dian army doctor and his daughter, she
being a damsel fair to look upon, two
spinsters from Shropshire, west coun-
try parson and his wife. Mrs Christies
nephew, a clerk in bank; myself and a
couple about whom no one knew any
thing-save Mrs. Christie, and she not
much-but whom every one allowed to
be the most charming and delightful
people they had met for many a day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walcot had travelled much
and were evidently well read, but they
neither wearied ones ears with the
glories of Capri or Granada nor pes
tered you with talk about books they
had read and you hadn't. They made
no display. and, though brilliant con-
versationalists. they were just the pleas
ant kind of people in whose company
you could sit without wanting to talk
ut ALL
He was a tall. sparsely built man, well
set up. with regular features, a man of
She was hardly so distinguished looking
as her husband. hardly SO Handsome;
her features just missed regularity, but
eyes and mouth had a fascinating
piquancy of expression which made her
the most attractive woman I had ever
met. / thought so then, and 1 think so
still, though 1 have considerably ex-
tended my experience since those days
when my mother guarded her fiedgling
from the attacks, rapacious or insidious,
Of every breed of harry. But the most
pleasing trait in this couple was that,
though SO plainly devoted to one an
other and satisfied with their own COM
pany, they were not wholly eaten up
with mutual admiration; their nature
seemed to have sympathetic feeling
that nodded itself to suit the DISPOSE
lions Of those around without sacrificing
Its own individuality. No wonder all
liked them. / was particularly grateful
for their courtesy. not being blessed in
either looks or style. L had unfortunate-
ly inherited my mothers manner and
my fathers face; had it been the other
way about L should doubtless have
proved the social success which l was
painfully conscious that 1 now was not
And IL must have been out of pure good
nature that they were so friendly, for 1
had made it a point with Mrs. Christie
whether she kept her promise / do not
know-that she should say nothing to
her guests about Earnshaw Hall, or the
mines, or the plate and pictures, or my
mothers famous diamonds, or the glories
of a country house that women love.
The only one who did not take kindly
to them was Marion. On the Thursday
after We had concluded our business L
prevailed on him to dine with me at Mrs
Christie's. and 1 remember noting how
every one seemed to be at his best. Even
Martens severe features relaxed and ne
showed himself almost more than
courteous TO the Indian girl, between
xrrtnn nK~I e
sterS he was sitting, evidently satisfied
with his environment, as he owned when
! was setting him back" as they say
In the north, to his chambers. but
but"
But me no buts what is wrong now?"
Why. those people to whom you have
taken so violently, the Walcots.''
What about them, Mr. Censor?"
"They give me an uncomfortable feel
Ing; not that they look uncanny, but l
am haunted by the ghost of some for
bidding "Reminiscences as If / had seen
that womans eyes beforehand / am sure
/ have-but when or where i cannot
recollect; and L am equally sure they
were connected with something shady
what that too was | cannot bethink me;
a hay indefinite recollection IL was, but
one that chung to me all the while"
May / suggest dyspepsia, too hard
work indoors, too little exercise?"
eS oe you are iisnt' Out 90 you TOO
use pinch of caution in cementing your
new friendship? Good night"
III.
A few evenings before I went home, as
Walcot and 1 were in the smoking room,
i asked him if he would not bring Mrs.
Walcot down to Earnshaw for a few
days. 1t was near the end of May; May
fly fishing would be on during the next
ten days, so there would be something TO