The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10

or missed familiar faces in the crowd be-
fore her, faces that tc her meant souls in
the keeping of the army in which she was
leader and a captain.
/ am very fond of analysing faces and of
giving off-hand opinions as to their mean
iLg and probable history. So / very soon
became interested in this Madonna-faced
captain standing there on the platform with
hymn book in her hand, the very image
Of graceful yet unconscious dignity.
OF course i had heard of and seen Ma
donna faces before but that style of beauty
had never appealed to me very much. Now,
however, / recognized in the countenance
before me the Madonna lines and the Ma
donna ideas. but they were clothed in flesh
and blood ard it seemed to me that 1 must
reconsider my decision and that perhaps
there might be something in that kind of
a face after all
In fact, dead Madonna in gray, in black
and white, in picture was all very well
in its way, but this living Madonna in blue
was simply a revelation to my critical and
cynical mind. And then when 1 listened to
her voice 1 was bound to confess that the
charm remained She announced a hymn,
read a verse and the tone was clear,
musical and very sympathetic. After a while
she commenced to talk in quiet, cheerful
way about the army. its needs, it's work and
its hopes.
Her story in its simplicity and charm went
| straight TO the hearts of the audience. The
beginning and the end of it was love and
| sacrifice.
Just think of it," / almost said aloud.
| there is d symphony, a mingled harmony
of sweet faces and kind deeds born of the
slums and the cutters"
l tell you the whole scene went to my
heart, and suddenly the thought arose:
II wonder what Jack thinks about it all?"
In the earnestness of my study and re-
Elections 1 had forgotten Jacks presence al
| together, and my amazement can be imag-
| ined when upon turning to speak TO him
perceived that he was pale as death and
! evidently suffering from a slight shock of
| some kind.
| Securing assistance 1 was conducting
| him quietly out of the hall and had al
most reached the door when CHANGED to
look back towards the platform. There
seemed TO be quite commotion among the
army people. and no wonder, for the Ma
| donna in blue was turning round and round
on the platform with her arms extended in
bewildered, appealing kind of a way as
though she were trying to get somewhere
1
just as person might behave while CROP
| ing in the dark.
She continued her strange behavior for a
| few seconds and then fell into the arms or
| her astonshed friends
AS 1 hurried Jack from the scene the
Interpretation of the whole affair dawned
upon me. Jack had surely met this fair
haired girl before and straightway 1
| thought of the old bag, the cave and the
Indian eye. Next morning my friend ap-
peared to have recovered from his queer in
disposition, but when spoke to him about
the incident of the night before he had for
gotten all about it, which, Of course, !
could not understand.
But / noticed toward the noon hour that
the irritation from the crimson magnet had
increased to such an extent that he nearly
lost control over himself.
A little later, with definite object in
view, we left our hotel and took a walk up
fremont street.
We were just about to turn down into
Boylston street, when Jack very suddenly
faced right about, exclaiming as he did so.
"Come, let us take the Subway
| Before / had time to collect myself, or
to catch up with him, he was hurrying
down the long flight of stone steps leading
to the turnstile at the Boylston-street en-
trance.
But somehow he ran up to the wrong
gateway and was trying to pass in, wher
lady placed her hand on the revolving
wheel Of shining metal in order to come out
There they stood for one second facing
each other with their hands on the wheel
the Madonna in Blue and Jack The effec
of the metallic connection and contac
between them was electrical and marvellous
Shall ever forget the expression Of sur
prised delight on the countenance Of thu
young girl?
But Jack had staggered back from tn,
turnstile and was drawing his hand across
his brow as If he were trying to remove thu
mists from his eyes and his brain, while thu
girl came forward and stood near him. look
ing passionately from side to side, as If ap
| pealing for a word or some kind of an ex
| PLANTATION from somebody.
Finally Jack came to himself, and, taking
| my hand. exclaimed in a half whisper:
"Oh, Hans! What does it all mean
Where have been? Where is Fingo an,
the store and the Dutchman? And" glanc
ing at his right hand, whatever has becom
of the Crimson Magnet? Oh, tell me, Hans
how long have been asleep"
Could II be possible! Had the man beel
in living trance from the day when h
! shook hands with that rascal of Boer an
then tainted away on Fngos neck?
Had he been all these years under som
! electrical spell like the subject of a mes
merist a hypnotist?
But 1t was no time to ask questions or L
express surprise, so 1 fastened to answe
him.
We'll. Jack I replied, thank God tn
= Crimson Magnet has disappeared. but un
less L am very much mistaken you hav
: found your affinity"
And so / think may leave them together
face to face.
Let them now compare notes, tell thei
5 secrets, make their plans.
t They have experienced as sensational an
y romantic an introduction as ever before fel
2 to the lot of mortal lovers.
5 AS for myself, it is very evident that m
services are no longer required So fame
4 | cannot conclude this little history in an
J better way than by quoting the words O
Y | that prophetic scene from the India
e | Eye" which gives US Jacks blissful futur
Y in a nutshell.
IAN indefinable sense Of peace and de