The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-02
CHAPTER 1.

- be had. and wouldn't be safe If they
we're"
eoh. don't mind weather! I told my
Gather I shouldn't be late. Now that he's
cot me back he's as nervous over me as
eat with her kittens"
1T isn't a fit night to turn a dog into
However. II you must-How is Major Gen.
eraI Sinclair. by the way?"
Down with a twinge Of govt, I'm sorry
20 say: the result. l fancy. OF too much
fatted calf on my return. Give me a light
before 1 60"
II suppose we shan't have many more
bachelor evenings now" SInclair's host and
former college chum observed. as he offered
match. Your father will be marrying
YOU off as soon as possible to some nice
looking heiress. to keep the property in
your branch Of the family
Sinclair lit his cigar, and paused a mo-
rnent before answering. Then he said,
gravely:
You may take ii from me, Trayers that
shall never marry
Nonsense, my boyi In case of entailed
property it's duty"
''The property must go. My father knows
my decision"
WHATS come over your protested MS
friend II shall begin to think you've left
wife and black family somewhere in CEN
trail Africa.
Think what you like Sinclair retorted.
wincing a little, however, at the sugges-
ton. But you won't move me from my
decision"
''Bet you a flyer you'll be engaged to be
married before the end of the year,
Done! But you'll lose. Good night. old
chap
Good night. If you're going to walk
take care of the crossings. There'll be
any amount of accidents on a night like
this. and you must have forgotten your
London by this time. Try to get fellow
with torch or lantern TO guide YOU"
'Oh, I'm all right" laughed Sinclair, as
ne turned his coat collar up and plunged
into the thick yellow obscurity; Shut
your door or you'll have your place full Of
fog"
wonder what reason he has for that de-
termination not TO marry?" Travers re-
aected as he chained and bolted the front
door after the last of his guests. II seem
10 remember some old story years ago
about Sinclair and a girl clipping from a
country house somewhere; but the details
escaped me, and he's not fellow you can
pump. Ten TO one, by the tone he uses,
he's been hard hit at some time. It's a
pity for he's a real good Sort
Meantime. Everard Sinclair, as he made
his way slowly, through shifting walls OF
yellow fog, let his thoughts drift back into
bygone days. He had come back from five
years of exploration and travel, 10 find
himself something of hero and a celebrity.
He was in his thirty-second year. and in
the pink of physical condition, handsome
enough. with his fine figure. soldierly bear
ing fair moustache, blue eyes, and bronzed
face, 10 find favor in any womaa's eyes,
and sufficiently well of, as heir to fine
estate and considerable income, TO be some
thing of ''parti'' in the marriage market
Yet he blundered on. wrapped in a veil
OF darkness which seemed 10 isolate him
with his thoughts from the outer world,
he found himself recalling with regret
those days ten years ago when. fresh from
college, with neither money nor position.
he had fallen madIy in love with a girl
whose equal he had never yet found.
Through his head the old Cavalier song
was ringing:
'I loved girl. loved her
Without reason why,
For she was gay young giglot,
And a careless boy was l.
/ lost that girl, L lost her,
And L haven't a notion how;
But OH l would give my right hand
For a glance of her gay eyes now!'
Those gay eyes haunted him tonight.
He seemed to see Leonies face before
him, to watch the love-light in those brill
liant brown eyes of hers under their long.
black fringes, to note the dimples appear
ing and disappearing round her soft, red
mouth and TO kiss into confusion the silky
dark curIs which clustered round her
smooth. white brow.
Great heavens! What fool 1 was to
let her gor' he muttered half aloud. ITO
think that she was mine. and that she may
be dead now and shall never know"
The fog grew thicker as he made his way
along upper oxford street. and struck of
as he imagined in the direction of his ia
Tiers house in Burton Square. 1t was
close on midnight of Guy Fawkes day,
and as he drew near the doors Of one of
the great London hospitals he came upon
a group of men and lads celebrating the
day with fireworks and horse-play. So
absorbed had he been in his medita-
tions that he had hardly noticed the rever-
berations. dulled by the fog, OF squibs and
rockets which some scattered adventurous
souls We're letting off In the darkness.
But suddenly a group OF shouting and
haif-upsy jewellers started into weird dis
thickness before his smarting eyes. by rea-
son OF the magnesium lights they carried;
Ike dancing. shouting demons, their fig
TRES showed black against the glow of red
IRE which flashed and fiickered upon the
hdeous masks and paper head-dresses in
which they were disguised. The effect was
srotesque and uncanny in the extreme,
and brought Sinclair with start on. OF
his reverie. banishing for the moment the
bitter-sweet memories which haunted him.
But a moment later, as he was feeling
his way with his walking stick across the
road, the past was brought back 10 him
with startling suddenness and reality.
For in = circle OF blue fire which sprans
up from the ground at his feet he beheld
TIE face OF woman, pale and sad in its
beauty, the laughter gone from the dark
eyes. the dimples from the sweet. round
mouth, but Enthusiastically the face OF the
woman he had so fondly loved, his wife
who yet was not his wife. Leonie.