The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11


And then a little later: eff Alan had
married." said Paul in the midst Of some
discussion about the estate.
Whereupon the squire had replied sharp
ly-"Alan was married; If that is what
you wish to know but / don't see how II
affects the business" And then Paul Hey
wood had been silent. but he had an uneasy
look upon his face.
IL was observed next day by various
persons connected with the circus which
had been performing near Sedgington that
"a parson" with a nervous manner and
slightly hesitating voice, had been wan
dering about the grounds where the booths
were erected. asking questions in an aim
less kind OF way about different MEM
bers of the troupe. Having shrewd eye
to business. one of the principals held HIM
sell in readiness for conversation, and was
rewarded by at last coming across Mr..
Haywood, just as he was thinking Of taxi
ing his way homeward.
Wanting anybody" inquired the circus
proprietor.
'T-I-admired your chief lady rider very
much"
Most folks dces." responded Mr.. vasey.
laconically.
And I wondered where she came from
whether her parents were living, and so
on stammered Mr.. Haywood, who found
some difficulty in expressing himself under
the circumstances.
well, 1 don't want none of you about
my place." said Mr. Vasey. 1--WE seen
enough of parsons in my day to last me
my lifetime. There amt nothing wrong
about Miss Fitzalan. and L don't want no
interference. And she don't want people
coming asking questions about her, neither;
so you'd better clear out of here in double
quick time. or I'll know the reason why"
Mr.. Haywood retired discounted, and
thought to himself that he had done his
best. and could do no more. But he had
not got very far from the waste ground
on which the booths stood, when he heard
a patter of feet behind him, and on look
ing round. he beheld no less a person than
Miss Lauretta Fftzalan herself-not in her
riding costume. but in girls dress OF
faded scarlet, and with the well-known
scarlet cap still perched upon her curly
head She came up to him painting, her
eyes bright and her cheeks crimson, but
looking so much more essentially feminine
than Mr.. Haywood had pictured her to
himself that he almost lost the sense Of her
resemblance to his cousin.
you were talking about me- she ex-
claimed breathlessly. II heard you, and
heard old vasey send you away. What did
you want to know about me for?''
'I saw you ride the other day." said the
rector. looking at her kindly. land
thought you rode very WELL
She gave her head little toss.
us that all?" she said. 81 know that.
1t was my dad who taught me to ride. and
1 learned the tricks easy enough after
wards"
"Was your father a rider. too?" said Mr..
Haywood quickly.
"Oh, no." said the girl, dad was
gentleman. Only he had quarreled with
his father. and his family would have
nothing to do with him.
was his name Fitzalan?'
whats that to do with your said the
girl, with a sudden defiance in her tone.
Then, her face softening, II suppose you
mean kind. but don't like questions. He
is dead, and there's an end of it. My
names partly the same as his, if it's not
quite like 1t. Is there anything else you
want to know"
"You have not told me anything yet. have
your said the rector, with a smile.
mo, have not. Why should tell people
about myself"
'At any rate said Mr.. Haywood, IF
ever you want help, or should be ready to
tell me anything about yourself. will you
remember that live at Little Sedgington,
oil, ha Of
See-I will give you my card and then you
can come to me if you like"
She took the card from his hand. glanced
at it, and then flushed scarlet as If from
shame The blush was explained when she
said after a moments pause-"I can't
read"
That's very sad," said Mr.. Haywood in
some perplexity. why didn't your father
teach you-if, as you say, he was gentle
mann
1t was not a very well-considered ques-
ton. The girl threw the card down into
the road and looked furious.
You don't believe me-" she said. II am
not going to stop here talking to people
who won't take my word!'' And without
giving the clergyman time for reply,
she scurried back to the camp with the
speed of a lapwing.
Paul Haywood went back to his rectory,
and settled down to the rest of his days
work with a comfortable conviction that
he had done his duty. A rough, wild, I'M
cultivated girl of that kind could surely
not be Alan's daughter, although there
was the curious fact that she spoke of her
father as a gentleman who had quarreled
with his friends, and in a sense almost
claimed her fathers name. But it was alb
surd to suppose that Alan would have let
his child sink to that level. Haywood de-
termined to think no more OF the matter:
he had been misled by a chance resem-
blance, and there was no good in pursuing
the matter. He was told shortly afterward
that the circus people had left the neigh
borhood, and he received the information
with profound thankfulness. Their very
presence seemed somehow to constitute a
reproach.
But later on, when he had lost all trace
of them, and when he began to see in
the old squires manner sno appearance
some signs of feebleness anc dependency,
he caught himself wondering whether he
mao done right. and whether it would not
have been well to have at least assured