The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
to open her coupe door for her; didn't

We'll, naturally. since it is true
And that she is the only girl on earth
| you have ever looked at or ever will look
at, or that you can imagine any one else
| as wishing to look at. for all timer
| why shouldn't 1 have said so? She prob
/ ably knew il anyway"
And that the reason for this is self-evi-
/ dent because she is so superior. so thought
| full, so deep, so literary, so transcendently
different, in short, from all the rest of hui
mankind?'
she is all that and great deal more,
| and I'm glad l told her my opinion"
And doubtless you added that without
/ her your future would be empty and color
/ less. your life a complete wreck. eternity it,
/ self a matter of Indifference to your
Now look here" said young Kendall,
/ growing unpleasantly warm even in the
sharp air of midwinter; II don't know how
! you can guess all this unless you have had
: it tried on yourself, and I'm not saying it is
/ what happened at all. But whatever took
| place is over and past. and all there is now
/ for me is to brace up and get used to it.
! There is nothing to be gained by talking
/ about it any further. Shall we walk on?"
"Oh, yes, there is use" said his compan-
! ion sweetly. 1T isn't every man that is for
| tunate enough. when he has made a mis-
take TO have girl to help him out of it,
l mean to help you, Jack. 1 want you to
go around and do it again"
DO II again?" he gasped, feeling all his
powers or oratory reduced to weak repeti-
ton of her words. do ii again, Hopper"
Yes; in the right way. Now let me tell
| you your mistake. You were too subser-
Went; You made her everything and your
self nothing. You dei6ed her until she
couldn't help thinking there must be some
thing in it, and wondering if, perhaps, she
might not be this creature of fire and soul
you depicted. You made her lose her per-
spectlVe, and then, instead of erecting
your own image in corresponding stat
uesque proportions, you actually made light
or yourself You were not strong enough;
Tor, don't you see, a woman doesn't want
little or humble person to be the one to
whom she gives so much. She wants him
10 love and revere her, it is true but he
must be head and shoulders above her at
the same time Probably, also, you were
nervous and embarrassed and awkward.
You ought to have been calm and self-pOs-
sessed and dignified. Nothing conveys the
loea OF weakness so much as nervousness;
ana a woman will forgive anything sooner
tnan weakness. In a word you should have
3Hered TO take her. instead OF pleading to
pc taken by her. Do you see? You were
| IN the wrong part. You were not true to
yourself nor to real manhood, and she di-
vlned IT with that something in her wom-
an $ nature which will act as an attracting
or repelling force ali her life long"
Il believe you are right. Upon my word
90, said her listener rather heavily But
undo it,"
Nothing can undo your bad quarter of
an nour; but pluck and energy may give you
| a good one. What you must do is to go
straight back there and begin over again.
Yes, added Hope, hastily seeing the dis
sent In his face and attitude, that will in
/
originality that If she cares for you-mind
say If she cares-she will be taken off her
Ieet; and you will have it your own way.
If she really doesn't care for YOU. matters
you do it?'' "''i
Hope spoke eagerly. and the glow and
spending warmth in her companion. He
Ihought for a moment, then said in the
hrm, deliberate accents Columbus might
have used when he announced his Intention
| OF discovering America.
Yes, I'll do it,"
"Good!' exclaimed Hope. Now be sure
| you get into the right attitude of mind this
| Time rake 1t for granted that she cares for
| you; remember that you are worth a good
zeal yourself, and that great many people
| think there is no one like you. Finally if She
refuses you absolutely don't think she
! Will but you can never be utterly sure of
what woman will do-let her see that you
are strong, self-reliant man. who is, it is
true, deeply disappointed. but who will go
out from her presence and continue to build
MS lie: clean, and true, and upright, life
which is to be, quite independently of her,
| worth while. Do you feel this way, Jack?'
Wen, l guess / could act the part, any,
way nya Al An, by the way Miss Hope supposing
words
Yes; so you can see if I've the right idea
and could carry 1t out properly, you know.
You've got me into this thing, and you
might as well see if I'm in correct trim to
Well, said Hope, doubtfully "of course,
II 1t will help you any. Go ahead; I'll be
Madeline; What will you say. when she
comes into the reception rOom?"
Il shall say, Excuse me for coming
| again, Miss Arnold, but l found, on going
away, that l had forgotten something. "
asked Hopes Miss Arnold in chilling tones.
| They seemed to put the breath of life into
Kendalls courage. and his voice rang out
Yes, 1 left you here and the answer 1
want. think the first part of this after
noon was bad dream, and I've come back
to have you waken me and tell me so.
| There's no use, Madeline; 1 will not have
| no for an answer!'
Kendall had forgotten Hope and was gaz-
ing into space with fire and determination
| in his aspect.
Il think we finished all that a little while
else to say to me, perhaps 1 would better
| leave you GIVE got to be cold for her,
so you will be used to it," interpolated
Hope.)
You will not leave me until you have
! heard me tell you in full all the reasons
why you were. wrong. in giving me the an
I'm the first place, you are all the world
| to me. In the second place, known that
you-Oh, never mind any. more, Miss Hope;
/ can't do it to you, after all; but l see
exactly how 1T goes, and am just in the
mood for it. OF course that is the way to
meet heri l was a fool for acting so like
a cowardly cad before. Any woman would
| despise it. l guess I'll go right along. Miss
Hope. if you don't mind. Are you walk
No said Hope, rising with him and adj
justing herself to the sudden quickstep in
the march of events. I'm going up by the
| reservoir. Goodbye Jack, and good luck
| to your And she smiled and nodded en-
| ccuragingly at him as they shook hand in
| parting.
Kendall walked rapidly southwark his
| head up and his shoulders well back. He
| had not noticed before how perfect his sur
roundings were. The exquisite coloring of
| the wintry sunset sky brought out to full
advantage the grace of the tree forms sill
houetted against it: the stretches of dull,
green grass, the little sheets of ice-covered
water, the rustic bridges, the lichen-gray
rocks, all seemed to smile good cheer at
him; the tall apartment buildings below
wore face of kindness and substantial
comfort; the twin spires of the cathedral
further down seemed like encouraging
| friends, reckoning him on.
All through the park his feeling of hope
| and confidence amounted almost to convic-
| ton that he was walking straight upon sue
| cess. 1t was not until, after emerging upon
| the avenue, he was nearing the fateful cross
| street that the fever of his haste began
| slightly TO abate; and, as he rounded the
| corner. his footsteps followed each other in
F.! less rapid succession upon the broad flag
| stones which seemed in some subtle way to
! suggest the conventional elegance and i'm
| pressiveneSs of their surroundings. After
! wards he remembered that street piano
across the way had been playing a familiar
| Italian air; that lady had been engaged
| in an ignominious alteration with her rib
! bon-led pug dog regarding the direction of
| their promenade; that an awkward and I'M
| self-conscious occupants, had met and
| passed him; and that he had noticed and
! been diverted by all these things-such is
mans obligation TO perceive the least in the