The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-22
Kraftmeier. unconscious Of her thoughts or
of her earnest gaze. continued to read:
..Oh, never was there queen
: So nightly betrayed, Yet, at the first,

start. Nelly rose 10 open IL. Ii was Jenny,
the maidservant, in breathless state, with
few flakes OF snow clingiag TO her rough
hair ard apron.
please, miss, there's two gentlemen
Awaiting at the door as wants to see Mr..
Craffmer. 1 can't make out all they say,
and they're gibbering away now to each
other as ard as they go in some furrin'
langwidge."
Nelly hurried to the door. There she saw
two men. both tall and bearded, wearing
heavy overcoats and felt hats Of an odd
shape. The snow came floating into the
passage and the wind blew icily.
You have come to see Mr.. Kraftmeier."
said the girl, advancing towards them, and
feeling a little frightened. Both men took
| off their hats and bowed courteously
I'VE not talk moch English" said the
older OF the men. But we would ave speak
with Monsieur Kraftmeier now at the in
| slant" The person alluded to, hearing
voices, came quickly out of the parlor. On
seeing the strangers q brilliant smile Of
pleasure TRANSPORTED his face. He did not
speak, but silently motioned to them to
| follow him into the room, and he closed
the door. For an hour or 50 the three re-
manned there, and when they at last
| emerged Mr.. Kraftmeier fetched his hat
I and his overcoat from the peg in the pas
| sage. They went out of the door, crossing
! the newly-falen snow towards the wood.
| And Nelly watched them with q beating
heart, wondering greatly.
| Later on, when Jenny came to lay the
| cloth for, tea, her young mistress observed
| that she was in a state of overpowering
excitement. She was not long in finding
| out the cause. as Jenny was by no means
self-contained young woman.
| WELL it's most extraordinary odd miss,
| 1T is indeed, must say, what Robin saw
Robin was the boy who looked after the
horse and garden. He could not have been
more delighted at his experiences than was
Jenny, who paused, with triumphant ex-
preston cleaning in her eyes. II never
heard tell of more sing'ler thing, Well,
when those two strange gentlemen came
into the parlor. Robin (he's very sharp in
| his way. Robin isl, and he never could
abear furriners. he says to himself, I'll
just climb up on the ledge of the next win
dow. and there 1 can see into the parlor
what sort Of people them there are %
How mean Of him to spy upon them like
that" cried Nelly. Her blood boiled up and
her cheeks were aflame.
| well. miss. j don't know about that
You never can, tell what them sort OF
strangers comes from no one knows
where may be up to- And Robin thinks
such a lot of you and the master, and
there's the best spoons in the cupboard
too. So there he watches. And, lor', what
do you think! Well. when the door was
shut there up stands Mr.. Craffmer in the
middle Of the room, and those two others
why. they fiops right down on their knees
/ kisses nf okS h1lf In
did,"
Nellys cheeks blanched. But Jenny
elated and crimson, continued her recital
| "And then Craffmer he seemed to say, 'Ge
up, get up and come and sit down. AND
they sat and sat, jabbering and waving Of
their 'ands. Then them two bowed anC
stood on each side of the door and Mr.
Craffmer he went out first. Then Robin
who can't make out what it's all about
he nips off and takes a short cut into thu
wood, keeping his eye on them all the time
and hiding behind the trees as he goes. Their
he sees them all stop of sudden, as IL they
was going to say goodbye. And though th'
| snow was a-coming down, them other tive
| they stands with their ats off in front o.
Mr.. Craffmer, getting their 'eads all soak
ing wet. And then they bowed down again
and kissed his and. And he seemed to say
You can go now and they went.
How very, very strange" said Nelly
And she felt as though some one had beer
telling her this odd story in dream.
That evening she did not see their CUES
again, but her father told her that he wa
| very busy writing in his room. She slep
but little. a feeling of inextinguishable sad
ness weighing upon her heart. On the NOR
row, when the sun sparkled on the whit
4
untrodden snow beneath them, Mr.. Kraft
meier came into the little kitchen. wearing
. his trimmed coat, and holding his ha
in his hand.
You must forgive me, Miss Nelly" sal,
he. IF, after all your great kindness to
poor warfarer, who now may-may he not
. call himself a friend, 1 leave your hous
very abruptly, for 1 am obliged to say good
bye to you to-day"
ITO say good-byey" Poor Nelly foun
, herself uttering merely stupid echo of hi
words.
"Ah! yes. and 1 regret it, assure you
, much / shall never forget all your good
ness, and that of your respected father
But duty compels me to leave this quie
place, which has received me in the tempes
and TO go out again, perhaps into anothe
and greater storm, 1 cannot say. But, Il
any case. under blue or black skies, shall
never forget YOU.
, He advanced towards her and held on
, his hand. The girl felt a painful choking
in her throat as she took it in hers. Their
by an uncomfortable impulse, she flung her
self on her knees before him and kissed II
, He started, and flushing very red, raise
her quickly.
! Miss Nelly" he said, you will believe m
Z that am not intentionally discourteous t
you. But / must, must CO."
] Her tears fell burning hot on his fingers
He looked at her sadly and kindly.
I mo, no, you must not shed tears for me-
he said, dear Miss Nelly" Then he drey
ring of his finger. 1t was of massiv
gold, with a large cut topaz-a curious jewe
! that she had often noticed before.
This stone symbolizes fidelity and friend
ship" he said, gently. You will believ
, me, will you not. that true friend give
1t to your"
i, Once again he took her little cold hand i
his and clasped it warmly. A moment aft
erward he was gone.
~.
0 Gone. He had left for Mr.. Whitehead
e check of so much greater value than tn