The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20

pose become OF her?''
julia Went to the sink and turned the
faucet noisily. Her face was not visible 10
ner aunt The tinlkle of the running water
saVe ner voice a smothered sound. she
sot rlde, she answered presently. "Reu-
pen Garter came along and took her in
won she make out a pretty story?" She
ended with short harsh laugh Mrs
trayle's face contracted.
10 ruther gin anything than had that
happen, she said, anxious1y. There won't
De no end to what she'll say about you now
she mad l wish you'd been more care
ful. Whatll he think?7
Julia faced about superbly her head held
hlgh IN the air. I'm sure / don't care
what he thinks she said though her face
Bas white. I amt goin' to fret about
reuben carriers opinion, / know. Amt II
ABOUT time TO put that meat in the oven?
m going to make a burberry pudding,
TOO. | dunno's | ever want to see or eat
Miss Polly had welcomed Reuben Car
ter s proVldential invitation with eXultation.
1t enabled her not only TO avoid the long
walk over the dusty and shadeless road
but to find confidant for the wrath that
was consuming her while her recollection
OF its cause was still fresh. The sturdy
young farmer noticed the light in her worn
eyes and the unwonted color on the wrin-
kled cheeks, but attributed both to the
frail old creature whose life seemed to him
SO difficult
I'm glad happened along" he said,
kindly. IF handn't stopped to pick this
you. Pretty, amt it?'
bells as he spoke with boyish laugh, and
the quick-witted old woman OWNED the
thought that underlay the tenderness with
which he handled the gay bouquet She
laid withered hand on his sleeve.
Give that to Hitty Wells" she said,
The young man started, and the quick
color rushed over his tanned cheeks. He
stared at the upturned. face at his side
watching him intently.
che Itd be the best thing you ever did"
in serious of Julyie Frayle you're maxim
mistake. She's a sassy, sharp-spoken
gal, without one mite OF respect for old
| folks. She fairly driv me away jest now
| by her talk an actions. There amt a bet
| ter gal in the kintry than Hitty Wells.
| What if she amt a beauty. Looks amt ev-
| erything, an that's all there is to Julyie
| Fragile"
| Reuben sat stupeffed unable to say a word
! fellow and this unexpected intrusion into
| the sanctities of his affections completely
| Miss Polly to disclose her reasons for tax
| ing such an unfavorabie view of Julia
| Frayles character. She had natural APP
titude for description, and really remark
| able memory for Sights and innuendoes,
real and imagined. and as she talked this
| memory asserted itself giving a disastrous
| cooring to certain events that, viewed from
Miss Polly's prejudiced standpoint, fur
nished testimony of pitiless kind against
| the spirited but good-hearted girl Reuben
Carriers face grew serious as he listened,
for listen he did, though filled with resent
menL against his CauStlC little
and despising himself for so doing. Still
| he had no doubt that what she said was
| true, and when he put her down at her door
| he felt that 1t was as well that he had
| learned these facts in time to subdue the
strong affection that, all unsupported until
| recently, had been growing in his heart for
| mother, a fretful little woman whom he
| adored and it made his heart leap when
| he reflected how easily illusion might have
| led him into committing a mistake that
would have made her life of suffering
That evening Miss Polly, watching at her
| little front window that spied upon the vii
| lage street, saw Reuben Carter leave the
| bunch of columbne at Hetty Weiss door.
More than a week later protracted and
| unreasonable rain, that almost achieved the
| proportions of a deluge, swelled the river
| that flowed through the town to size that
| caused great anxiety to those VINO llVed
| near is banks 1t seemed as if their
| homes must become the prey of the advanc-
| ing waters in the countless little streams
| and brooks that found an outlet therein
| continued to contribute with such danger
| Gus unreserve. The big bridge that crossed
| the stream still stanch and unyleldlng,
but another, lower down, OF lar less soma
| and pretentiouS construction, was not 10 be
| depended upon should the river continue 10
| rise. -,
| endangered section, on the river side or
| pretty, elm-shaded street. But Few houses
lay in this yneinity hro ana fat expanse Of
| meadow land, but this meadow had been
| suddenly transformed into a turbld lake IN
|
| ly showed their remonstrant heads.
| 1t was not for lack of invitations that
| Polly Anderson had remained at nome our
| ing the rise of the waters, for there were
| none of her acquaintanceS VINO WOuio not
| willingly have received her at a period SO
| possessed among her engaging haplts lnat
| Of Dreferring to favor them with her COM
| pany at inconvenient seasons, anu Will Will
| holding her presence if by any complnaIli1I II
| of circumstances it would have been really
| desirable So, though by remaining IN ner
| threatened cottage she caused genuine
anxiety to her friends remain remain Fhere She
| Mrs, Frayle had been one of the earliest
and most urgent of those who had pressed e
PnIIv she had urged, with tears in her
| soft kind eyes, do come home with me-
1 shant get wink o sleep W JlliIetn are T
| gone bag an baggage, an l met Ola GIdei
| Penny lest now, an he said he was 69nln
| family home with him. l don't believe Ine
tAVres'll dream of sleepin' in. their house
OYER o n1Si' EN- interposed Miss Polly scorn-
| fully. They're alters glad enough 70 glt an
excuse for movin'. L never seeo SIGN al
oi Mrs: Frayie dropped her arms despairinge
" at her sides. You're flynn in the face OF
Providence, Polly Andersen" said aid nS she :
| more severely than she could usually Drlng
| harself to speak you know as Wei as
/ do that the bridges in danger. III II
| ehc,Itd give Wav there's nuthin TO prevent
s $40 nop33n, right down on you, an believe
your chance wouldn't be wuth recAohlh
1.-THE water amt riz an inch since din din
ner affirmed Miss Polly obstlnately ny
to-,norrow nornin it'll be sunk way PACK
| Of them trees I've seen freshets afofe'
| s.Nen I'm sure / hope you II Lve 10 SeS
| ,em agin." said Mrs Frayle hastly ana
| with a tartness for which she was IN, N
| stant1y penitent. DO come, MISS FollS'
| I'm real scarey about that brldge;
"Don't say another word, MIS- Frayle,
| advised Miss Polly, with warning ~
| decfion 1.-The wust of it's over Proitiilse
| YOU, an l never could abide 1olhs tha'
| scared at nothin. ,.,4 e,,r+bar
| Mrs Frayle went away without 1urtner
| axnoSt- ,iation But often through the even
| sn5 81 glanced down uneasily from her
/ window. toward the low-dlpplng VIldse
| street The moonlight struck upon me
| broadened river, upon the INFLOW over tIe
| low marsh lands, and the row OF niue
| houses so dangerously near at han9. i
| wish I'd dragged her away by mann FORCE;
| she said to Julia, who was mendlng stock-
| ings by the light of a kerosene lamp at tiie
| center ta>'e. - ,o,,,,,a worried
| enough over Polly Anderson, answered.
| the girl impatiently. IF a person won ii,t
! oft ont of danger l don't see whose Id 1o
| # is if they cit hurt except their own, -! ~
| eure I don't feel as if l had any cause 10
| moan over her. and L shouldnt thlhk you
| had either. .u.,oa NOV, II
| Mrs Frayle turned in started way; II
| was the first time Julia had aliudeu 10 MISS
PoIlv's interference in her love aHair s lnce
| tha dav of her memorable visit Inc TACT
nor Reuben Carter-WnO