The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08

one account or another, had always FOUND
reason for delay. Perhaps the arrival of
Philip. the lawyers cousin. some six weeks
after the engagement, was in some degree
responsible; perhaps more intimate rela-
tions had altered her opinion Of Andrew
MacLaren; but it is certain that Clarissa's
| views had changed. Only a few hours ago
she had fully made up her mind to de-
mand her freedom, and to return the evil
| dences of her lovers almost princely gen.
| crosby. But now these were no longer in
her possession, and 1T was to be feared
that complications might ensue.
She rose early, thinking that her best
course under the circumstances would be
to send a note to Andrew MacLaren, mere
ly asking him to call to see her without de-
lay. He had been absent on business in
Province Wellesley the previous day, but
had expected to return about midnight.
Soon after half-past six, however, her in
tention was forestalled by the sight of his
tall figure marching into the compound.
He had come, as he not infrequently did.
for chotohazri, and in some trepidation she
hurriedly finished dressing and went to join
him in the veranda of the drawing room,
where the morning tea was served.
She entered upon a vision of the sea,
sparkling in the early sunshine through
feathery boughs of the catriciona, in the
foreground the little table, gay with white
napery. fruit and CLEAN of silver, an. the
crude color of a great bowl filled with scar
let famboyant.
Clarissa, in her white gown and ribbons,
shot like a dragon-fy's wings. harmonized
xxftH tra fofr.ra her tfraI oNroc farrnbod
the note of subtle WEAKNESS that is never
absent from the briIliancy of the East,
where there is no freshness of renewal or
clear incoming of spring, but light droops
into darkness or steals upon it suddenly,
with warm breath and gorgeous heralding
of color.
There was no such appropriateness about
the Honorable Andrew MacLaren; a
Scotchman, and keen man of business at
the first glance. His wiry frame carried
well his five and thirty years, his hair grew
a little thinly upon his forehead and
showed grey in the light-colored side
whiskers with which he chose to adorn
his face, but his skin was clear and
healthy, his features regular, the eyes
were blue, clear and convincing, they de-
fed you to doubt his ability or their own
foresight.
Clarissa's task proved easier. and yet
more difficult than she had imagined. Her
lover declined to take her efforts at dis
missal seriously, and listened with sur
prising equanimity to the story of the loss
of the jewels. Not even her delay in Civ
ing the alarm could rouse him to annoy
ance. He avowed himself perfectly capa-
hla IF making oy01So and accr1rod har q G
to the speedy recovery of the stolen treas
ure, and when at the end Of half an hour
he hurried away to set on foot the neces-
sary inquiries, she did not feel that she
had materially improved her position. She
had told her story faithfully, making but
one reservation; she had not mentioned
the glimpse she had caught in the glass
of the face of the thief; and later, when
repeating the facts for the benefit of Mrs.
Carr and Of the police, she observed a like
reticence.
So soon as she could ensure an hours
quiet she despatched a note to Philip at
his office, begging him to spare her a few
moments without delay. The answer
brought back a verbal one. Mr.. Philip
MacLaren was absent; he was not ex-
pected at the office that day."
During the afternoon a few lines reached
her from Andrew:
Dearest Clarissa-No news so far of the
jewels or the thief. 1 am sorry to say that
my business has been so much interrupted
by setting on foot the necessary inquiries
that I shall be forced to devote this even
ing to work. instead of being with you as
I had hoped. Yours devotedly.
ANDREW MacLaren."
Here. at any rate, was a respite from the
evils most Immediately to be dreaded.
That evening the festival of the entities
closed with a blaze of fireworks, let off
from the plain. or cricket ground, In the |
of the golden god during his
journey from his country resi- |
dence; and Mrs. Carr and Clarissa had ac-
cepted an invitation to witness the pro-
ceedings from an adjacent ~verandah. The |
plain was skirted by a carriage road,
which to the northeast was bordered by
an asphalt walk running along the sea
wall. AS the rocky shore lay some twelve
or thirteen feet below, an iron railing had \
placed along the outer edge of the
walk for the safety of passengers, and at
one point the narrow coping on the further
side of this railing sloped ~downwards, Of !
fering footway for a single person at a
to a landing place beneath. To the
south the carriage road became a main
and was overlooked by the
.verandah, to be occupied that evening by
Mrs. Carr and her daughter.
The entertainment had commenced. The
great silver car, bearing the golden image
and drawn by white oxen with scarlet
was stationed in the main road.
beat and cymbals changed; the
plain was a seething mass Of figures.
strange, picturesque. grotesque-Indian.
Chinese, Cinghalese. Along the bor-
iers, beneath the great SIENNA trees, stalls.
erected by thrifty Cinnamon for the sale
Of drinks and s~weetmeats, fared with
torches. wicks of cocoanut fibre dipped in
oil, which illuminated faces various and
weird. and caught the brilliant colors of
turbans and Jackets, flashing green
Ind scarlet and crimson and yellow and
brightest pink. out from black shadow,
with Rembrandt-like effects. varied by the
more complete and sudden Examinations of
GATHERINGS wheels or bursting rockets.
To Clarissa, seated in a dark corner of
he yeranda filled with CHESTS. the scene