The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25


my nieces from Baltimore. And then there's
Mrs Saltover and my sister to consult"
But here Spindler's simple face showed
such signs of distress that the widow de-
ciared she would think it over''-a- process
winch the sanguine Spindler seemed to con-
sioer so nearly akin to taking it over, that
Mrs. Price began to believe it herself. as he
hopefully departed.
She thought it over" sufficiently to go to
sacramento and excuse herself to her nieces.
But here she permitted herself to talk it
over TO the infinite delight of those BaIti-
more girls. who thought this extravaganza
of Spindlers so Californian and eccentric,''
So that it was not strange that presently the
news came back TO Rough and Ready, and
his old associates learned for the first time
that he had never seen his relatives and
that they would be doubly strangers. This
did not increase his popularity; neither,
grieve to say, did the intelligence that his
relatives were probably poor and that the
Reverned Mr.. Saltover had approved of his
course, and had likened it to the rich mans
feast to which the halt and blind were in
vlted. Indeed the allusion was supposed to
add hypocrisy and a bid for popularity to
Spindler's detection, for it was argued that
he might have Toasted "WalI-eyed Joe" or
''chawed" by bear while prospecting-if he
had been sincere. Howbeit Spindler's faith
was oblivious to these criticisms in his joy
at Mr.. Saltover's adhesion to his plans and
the loan of Mrs. Price as a hostess In fact
he proposed to her that the invitations
should also convey that information in the
expression, "by the kind permission of the
Rev. Mr.. Saltover,'' as a guarantee of good
faith-but the widow would have none of it,
The invitations were duly written and dis
patched.
Suppose" suggested Spindler, with a sud
den lugubrious apprehension, suppose they
shouldn't Gomez"
'Have no fear of that" said Mrs Price,
with frank laugh.
COR eff they was dead?" continued Spin
der
They couldn't all be dead" said the
widow, cheerfully.
1--WE written to another cousin by mar
riage," said Spindler obviously, Gin case of
accident-I didn't think of him before, be-
cause he was rich.
"And have you ever seen him, either, Mr..
Spindler?" asked the widow, with a slight
mischievousness.
'Lordy! No!' he responded, with unaf-
fected concern.
Only one mistake was made by Mrs. Price
in her arrangements for the parts. She had
noticed-what the supplemented Spindler
could never have conceived-the feeling to-
wards him held by his old associates, and
had tactfully suggested that a general in
vitation should be extended to them in the
evening.
You can have refreshments, you know,
too, after the dinner, and games and music"
21f oai6 ho tad
won't the boys think I'm playin' it rather
low down on them-so to speak-givin 'em
a kind o. second table, as eff it was the
tailings after striker
Nonsense said Mrs. Price with decision.
cts quite fashionable in San Francisco-and
just the thing to do
To this decision, Spindler, in his blind faith
. in the widows management weakly yielded.
An announcement in the Weekly Banner
| that ION Christmas evening Richard Spin
dler, esq, proposed to entertain his friends
| and fellow-citizens at an "At home in his
own residence" not only widened the breach
between him and the boys" but awakened
| an active resentment that only waited for an
outlet. 1t was understood that they were
all coming; but that they should have ''some
fun out of it, which might not coincide
with Spindler's nor his relatives sense of
humor, seemed a foregone conclusion.
Unfortunately too, subsequent events lent
themselves to this irony of the situation. A
few mornings after the invitations were
dispatched, Spindler, at one of his daily con-
ferences with Mrs. Price, took a newspaper
from his pocket. cit SEEMS he said look
ing at her with an embarrassed gravity,
that we will have to take one O. them
names off that list-the name O. Sam Spind-
la. nd Lo1l ilato CT o1ofiO
coming"
''Ah," said Mrs. Price interestedly, "then
you have had an answer and he has de-
clined?"
mot that, exactly" said Spindler slowly,
''but from remarks in this yer paper he was
hung last week by the vigilance committee
of Yolo."
Mrs. Price opened her eyes on Spindler' S
face, as she took the paper from his hand.
But" she said quickly, this may be all a
mistake-some other Spindler! You know,
you say you've never seen them'
Il reckon it's no mistake said Spindler,
with patient gravity, for the committee
sent me back my invitation with the kinder
6isparagin remark that they've sent him
where it amt bin the habit to keep Christ
mast"
Mrs. Price gasped. but a glance at Spind-
| Ter S patient WlStful, 1nquIrlng eyes brought
back her old courage. WELL" she said,
cheerfully, perhaps it's just as well he
didn't come"
''Are you sure O. that, Mrs. Price?" said
Spindler, with slightly troubled express
sion. Seems to me now that he was the
sort as might hev bin gathered in at the
feast-and kinder snatched like a brand
from the burnin', accordin' to Scripter But
We know best
Mr.. Spindler,'' said Mrs. Price, suddenly,
with slight snap in her black eyes, "are
your-are the others like this? Or"-here
her eyes softened again and her laugh re-
turned, albeit slightly hysterical-"is this
kind of thing likely to happen again.?
Il think were pretty sartin o. hevin' six
to dinner" returned Spindler simply. Then,
as if noticing some other significance in
her speech, he added wistfully, but you
won't go back on me- Mrs. Price, eff things
amt pannin' out exackly L reckoned.
You see never really knew these yer rela-
tions"
He was so obviously sincere in his intent,
and above allr seemed to place such a
pathetic reliance on her judgment that she
hesitated to let him know the shock his
revelation had given her. And what might
his other relations prove to be! Good Lord!