The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-27

iillle ROflie. ~AtS
slie an yes, Polite" I interjected, with a
,,++Ii tell you she is the most extraordinary
IA prick you ever knew She's lust gplen
q perfect providence; slaves for them hand
anu 1901; teaches 'em, dresses EN- ay and
pays Tor em-she's half an angel herself
Is mat brave-hearted. unselfish little moth,
er OF barely fourteen my "a
80 % young Seymour exchanged to India.
eve,.y We e,, save MIN ~send-off' that made
n.y. MI eGho or the old Citadel barracks ring,
III he colonel was present and spoke such
DfedVe, kindly words of farewell that most
ran u ?, i r1l Jumps in our throats and Softly
az III lalFly olubbering out offthe room
dhen we escorted him down to the mail
steamer, whole mob of US, but he escaped
al the wharf. He had other good-bves tn
say, and we saw him the center of = Ii+tle
group; the whole of the little Tmdovicie
f Mete clustered round his legs. while the
mics, with a dash of Micawber. raised HE
I'm friad implor1ng Gods blessing on his young
Where was Polite?
only at the last 8 little figure flew after
sorry, caught at his hands and kissed them
again and again. -
IL
A dozen years and more rolled by. was
IN London on leave, and the first man I ran
up against in the club was Softly He had
only landed that morning. Bronzed and
bearded, he was otherwise unchanged. 1t
was still Softly, with his bright, kindly face
| and wide-open eyes
They had been busy, eventful years for
him, bringing him opportunity the opening
FOR distinction, the rewards and reputation
he had so richly earned. He had won the
Cross in Afghanistan for the rescue of a
wounded comrade under hot fire an act of
unquestioning, self-sacrificing gallantry: he
had got two brevets in South Africa, and
mace his name famous by his tenacious de-
Tense Of an outpost with handful of men
against whole impi of Zulus.
Here he was, still youthful in appearance
sun boy at heart, but V. c., a c. B. and
an A. D. c. to the Queen. Greater honors
the highest preferments, were quite within
his grasp. He might live to be a field mar
shall and a military peer
Softly and I plunged at once into pleasant
"reminiscences, talked necessarily of old
days and only when all was exhausted
touched upon the future.
We spent the day together, lunched to-
gether, did the park, were to dine together
and see play. Like himself, / had but
Just returned from abroad, and was ready
to take my fill of the delights of the town
walking down Regent street in the evening
| just before dressing for dinner Softly sud
denly cried, "Hulloa," and left me at a run.
A glimpse of a swaying skirt in front of
| me and a pair of glancing feet told me it
was the old, old story, and 1 laughed to
myself at Softy's detection, clearly preceiv-
| ing the cause, as 1 believed
He quickly caught up the flying figure in
| front
Polite" he said. Miss Ludovici! Surely
| I'm not wrong? But, oh, how you've
| changed"
For the better, I hope, Mr.. SEYMOUR
| said his old friend archly as she paused and
made him coquettish little bob there and
then upon the pavement of the crowded
street. Her cheek glowed with rising color
as she met the undisguised approval of
his admiring eyes.
The lanky child had grown into the per-
| feet woman, with a face to dream Of,
lighted as of old with those magnificent
| eyes.
They melted into bewitching softness and
| filled with sudden emotion when he said
joyffully:
Was it likely, Mr.. - | beg your pardon
IS that right? You are soldier now 1 am
not clever at titles but 1 have not forgot
ten you But let US walk on
strangely as Seymour thought, although
Polite understood. And there was a MUIR
Reard Of Eo2es ad qdf Mm
| dith,'' tossed about from lip to lip, in hom-
| age that was too genuine to be rude.
in outward appearance. She had blossomed
and ripened into the most popular actress
Of the day sS with full measure of the
feelings, to draw all hearts, to charm away
melancholy and provoke unbounded mirth.
And what are you doing, Miss -?'
he began, as they walked down the street
SPoIlie, please" corrected his companion,
I1Trr
Had he come from the back of God speed?
..Polle; yes, Polite as of old. You are
still the same, / can swear to that. The
same brave, little Polite, stanch, self-sac-
| rificing, accomplishing.
Times have rather changed with us,
colonel"
Since Halifax" she went on, smiling,
but declining the suggestion, for the bet
ter, thank God!'
Your father succeeded"
"Oh, yes, he did well, thanks everlasting
M softg to She d not n Want to e
him yet that she herself was a breadwin-
ner now, drawing a princely salary, indeed
making her ewn terms
Il may come and see your!
"Why, of course.
when may / come? Where do you lve?"
Come next Sunday. Hanover terrace, Re-
gents Park. Come at lunch time; we are
all at home then-father and all. Ethel,
she's next to me, you know, keeps house.
Arches at a crammer's at ,Woolrich; he
wants to be a soldier like-like-you. The
youngest are all at school, Iney are dear,
good children, and do me credit.
Polite, dear Polite! How good you We're
And now. Colonel-Softy? Yes, it shall
be Colonel Softly. l have an engage-an APP
pointment; will you forgive me? L must
take a cab"
For a man who has only just arrived
from the shiny you've not been long in
making some nice friends.
He corrected me rather stiff1y.
THAT was a very old friend-Miss Ludo-
yici You remember, of the Halifax days?'
Gracious, heavens! Seymour as II L
should forget them. But do trust you are
not going to take up with that lot again.
| foresaw knowing nothing of the facts,
all sorts of complications, the injury, per-
haps and check to his career.
did the old villain ever repay you that
9200?'' / asked
Most certainly; the very next year. But
enough of that, if you please. | think |
know my own business, he said briefly,
and. to put an end to the subject, asked:
.sWhat have you ordered? Ones first din
ner at the club is rather an event.
Two days after Seymour presented MIN
self in Hanover terrace and was received
like a long-iost son and brother.
With soldier-like promptitude Softly de-
clared himself directly he and Polite were
alone together.
Il loved you, Polite, / believe, when you
were a chi1d'' he said simply.
WHO could help it. seeing you as you
nd 1xrba you did all