The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10

situation.
Hes horribly cross tonight" said Amy.
and II serves him right"
Tell me-" SAID | suddenly, looking full
at my little neIghbor, does 1t give you
pleasure 10 make him unhappy,
Poor little Amys lip quivered, but she
replied: He shouldn't have been so hor-
rid about Captain Lachmere.
4 have 10 doubt Captain Lachmere is
a very charming man. said 1; but
Il hate him." said Amy, pouting, ANA
If your nephew had any sense he would
Know that.
"Of course. he ought to, especially as
you said that the gentleman was one OF
your particular friends and that you liked
You mustn't take everything which
woman says. about one man 10 another
too literally"
1T is perhaps wise to allow "a liberal dis
count" l agreed.
AT this moment Mrs. willard gave the
signal for the ladies TO retire, and our con-
versation was brought TO an untimeiy end.
We men We're left 20 enjoy our wine ana
cigars and as l pulled meditativeiy at an
excellent Havana and slipped Wizards un-
exceptlonable port / really felt at peace
with all the world
Poor Gerald drank his wine in moody
silence and when we joined the LADIES ne
declined to notice the vacant seat next to
Amy and went over TO where that wicked
little n1rt, May Walshe, was sitting ana
commenced quite voluble conversation
FANCY that the young lady In question
ratner enjoyed her triumph over Amy, for
Gerald was an eminently Presentaple
youth. and before Miss Cresweil had APP
peared upon the scene he had iirted good
deal with this Miss Walshe. And we all
know that, however aIniable a girl may
be. she does not, as a rule, regard with
sincere cordially the rival who has sup
planted her in the heart of a man. AND
SO the situation stood when it was time
Tor Us to depart.
What delightful girl that little Miss
Creswell isl" said / to my nephew as we
were driving home.
$50 you appeared to think" said Gerald
dryly. For my part, l hate all women"
A
mentS are really incomprehensibe.
wait until you have been treated by
woman as / have" said Gerald, glooniiy
| maintained what | still contend was a
most exemplary expression OF gravity. ana
asked my nephew what had occurred to
cause him to take such an unfavora5le
view of the sex.
shes a heartless little f1irt," replied
Gerald. fercely, and I've done with her.
1t struck me that you We're making the
running fairly freely with Miss Walshe,"
! observed. casually.
,".Oh. that's quite a different thing" re-
piled my nephew, quite una dashed May
Walshe knows that am not in, earnest,
but Amy must know that / love her.
You. You have told her so, / suppose
well as though l had done so"
oh, just So" said |; still. perhaps If
I've finished with the girl" said Gerald.
gloomly. land I'm not going to see her
again if | can help it."
For the next few days Gerald acted upon
this resolve. and certainly during that time
he was not altogether a desirable COM
panon.
1t really was too absurd.
Here were two foolish young people gen.
timely fond of one another and yet deter
mined 10 quarrel about perfectly trivial
matter. simply because both We're too
proud to make the first overtures to bring
about reconciliation.
Amy was moping because Gerald made
no attempt to see her and my nephews
manner was daily becom az more and more
morose. If Gerald's maDlna had been in
town. or if the girl had had mother to
whom she could have confided her trouble,
the whole thing might have been put to
there was every chance of these two mis-
guided young people ending their days in
single blessedness.
After four or five days of this kind of
thing l came to the conclusion that it was
desirable for me to do something to help
matters along a little. as anything would
be better than the continuation OF the ex-
listing state of affairs.
1 thought the matter over carefully one
night, as smoked my usual after-dinner
cigar, and by the time / had finished my
weed / had decided upon my plan of cam
paign
What are your plans for tomorrow,
Il haven't any" replied my nephew.
modify.
and leave a card at the Willards; we
haven't been near the house since we dined
there last Wednesday,"
I'm sick of the whole farce of social
intercourse: but I'm ready to do anything
YOU like, Uncle Jack, said Gerald. indif-
ferently.
rose from my comfortable chair, put
on my hat and overcoat, and strolled down
to the club.
1t really was striking instance of self
sacrifice on the part of an old fogy; for
hadn't the slightest personal desire to go
When 1 arrived at the club went
straight to the telephone cupboard and
rang up the Hotel ;Albemarle Miss Ores
"Comid she speak to Mr.. steevens?'
awaited the reply to this question with
considerable anxiety. Presently the little
Miss Creswell will be at the telephone
in a minute"
I had made UP my mind to attempt a
maneuver which required some little finesse
for the securing of its success.
Presently Miss Amy's voice came family
rs that you, Amy?'' I replied, boldly.
YES; who are your"
Gerald Stevens" said I, with mental
I fancied that I heard little exclama-
ton of pleased surprise. but whether this
was so or not I could not be positively
certain: however, the next sentence which
reached my ear through the instrument
was spoken in tones of perfect unconcern.
Mr.. Steevens?"
"oh. Amy!'' replied in the most be-
peak to me like that; I've been so miser-
lble ever since we quarreled the other
night"
ly through the ear trumpet; but l fancied
that / caught two little words in much
lower tone that sounded like Poor boy!"
But. Amy / continued, don't be so
cruel as to say that you won't forgive me,
for it was only because | am so fond of
YOU that ! was so rude the other evening"
well. Gerald, you were rather horrid.
think but If you will promise never to be
unl1ind to me again l will forgive you for
this once"
THAT would hardly be proper. I'm
afraid: besides, you see, you could only
kiss my car, which would not be very sat
isfactory would it? And how do / know
that you are the only person at your end
Il swear there's nobody except myself"
said l. equivocally: besides. you might
put the trumpet to your lips
II shall ring off if you say another
sDon't do that" entreated; the OPP
orator might intercept my message"
''Well. then you must not talk nom
sense"
Gus situation for an old bachelor getting on
for fifty to be talking nonsense at one end
of a wire with a charming girl of eighteen
at the other.
II shall be calling on the Willards to-
morrow afternoon, said /.
II hope you will find your visit amusing"
II shall If somebody else happens to be
there"
haps. though it would serve another some
body else right if she didn't
But we are friends again now, Amy
said ! tenderly.
1T would serve you right if I said NO.
Gerald. after the way you flirted with May
Walcba the other night -