The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18

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The only comfort that she had was that
Miss Latimer appeared to calmly ignore
Dicks presence unless he addressed her.
and then she would answer him politely,
but without the smallest tinge of self-con-
seriousness.
OF course this was as II should be. and
yet she half resented Miss Latimer's in
difference secretly. Dick was the beauty
man" of the - Lancers and the women
had done their best to spoil him. That they
had not succeeded was due to the fact that
he did not like those who ran after him.
but those who ran away.
Therefore Miss Latimers dignifed uncon-
sciousness which was such a comfort 10
his mother. was an added charm in his
eyes. though in very truth Dick fell madly
In love as he stood watching the tennis
that first day, as he confessed later. and
whatever his mothers governess had done
or said afterwards would have seemed
right in his eyes.
Artfu1 Dick said no more about Miss
Latimer that evening but the next day
asked rather plaintively If he was not to
hear the girls play-they must be so much
improved he was sure. Mrs. Graham fell at
once into the trap set for her. and Miss
Latimer was invited into the drawing
room after dinner that night with her
pupils.
very. creditably, then Dick was pressed to
sing. Minna began to play his accompani-
ment, but broke down. when Dick threw
himself on Miss Latimer's mercy He had
good tenor voice, and he sang with feel
inc fna
have said If she had seen his eyes fixed
passionateH on his accompanies profile all
the while he sang. He thanked her ELUSIVE
ly when she had finished, and said he
should like to try over new song he had
brought with him tomorrow evening, If
she did not mind, and how could Mrs.
Graham object? She did not want to put
ideas into her sons head and it was, of
course. a very natural thing to ask, as
she was the only person who played we'll
enough in the house.
So Dick had his way as usual. and
laughed silly to himself as he sat smoking
pipe with his father before they turned
in for the night. He meant to try over a
good many new songs before he had DONE
Five days later when Ralph appeared on
the scene it was a matter of course for
the schooiroom to empty itself into the
drawing room after dinner, and they not
only had music for the elders but games
for the younger ones; and were all as
jolly as sand boys. Ralph declared when
he Joined the party.
Mrs Graham spent all her evenings
watching Dick. over her knitting, but the
young man was so well on his guard she
roade no discoveries in that quarter But
if she tho ught 1T worth while to bestcw the
1.-THE of this attention on Ralph. she would
soon have made discoveries there, for be-
fore week had passed he was wildly.
recklessly in love with Miss Latimer, and
did not care who knew It,
1t was impossible that the e overncss her
self could be ignorant of the fact, for poor
Ralph was continually peeping into the
schoolroom, and signing like a furnace
when he caught her eye, and probably she
thought it did not matter at his age, and
his passion would soon exhaust itself ty
rs very violence. for she did not snub linn,
and Dick would have given five years Of
his life for the smile he once saw her be-
stow on his younger brother.
So things went on for another week. and
then Norman came down upon them late
one night 'ike wolf on the fold Mrs.
Graham, kept his room aired, sc it did no.
MITCH n after, but she always scoided him
a little. Still she kissed him too. aud so
Norman did not mind. He hated writing,
and sending kilograms was nuisance. 1t
was easier to jump into the train and come
straight home.
Norman was one and twenty: like Dick
only not quite so tall or nandsome, full
of fun and mischief and desperate tease
Yet his sisters almost worshioed him, ard
eajcyed his sailors prarSs, even when
they were at their expense. But there
would have been neither study nor disci-
pline in the schoolroom IL Miss Latimer had
not put her foot down, which she did very
decidedly the second morning after his
arrival, when he persuaded his sisters to
hide up in the shrubbery instead of going
into their lessons usual But stifled
giggles, and the CLEAN of pink skirt be-
trayed their whereabouts, and Miss Lati-
mers magnificent eyes darkened danger
ously as she marched towards the shrub
berry.
.T see you quite WELL Minna," said the
governess i'm her coolest voice. BE good
enough to come out and explain"
M1nna appeared tnen, iOokinS very Shame
faced, and as she began to explain that
Norman had melted them to this deed of
daring, promising to get them a half-holi-
day, the young sailor himself came DASH
ing across the lawn, taking all the flower
beds in his way.
"Oh, Miss Latimer, I'm awfulIy sorry"
he said, breathlessy, ''but / told the girls
to. keep out of sight, and I would meet you
in the schooroom, and get you tc let them
off studies, and go for a walk with me this
morning. Only Moyser kept me in the ken
nels so long, and -"
THANK you for this explanation" re-
turned Miss Latimer. with quiet dignity,
'but cannot see that it exonerates your
sisters. 1t was for them to be I'm the school
room at half-past 9 o'clock. not you, and
you could not take their place."
Norman began pleading, but she did not
stay to argue, only made him a cold little
bow, and marshalled her pupils before her
into the house.
Norman stood and looked after her adj
miringly, and Eat her feet he bowed, he