The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-07

voice He stood by her side and gazed at
the well. as though half expecting TO see
the cause of her alarm emerge from 1T.
ooh, my bracelet" she cried in distress.
| "my poor mothers bracelet. I've dropped
| 1T down the WELL
"Your bracelet!' repeated Benson. DULY.
| "Your bracelet? The diamond one?'
"The one that was my mothers" said
Olive. "Oh. we can get it back surely. We
must have the water drained off,
"Your BRACELET repeated Benson. stu
pidly.
"Jem," said the girl In terrified tones.
| dear Jem, what is the natter"
| For the man she loved was standing re-
garding her with horror. The moon which
| touched it was not responsible for all the
whiteness of the distorted face, and she
shrank back in fear to the edge of the
well. He saw her fear. and by mighty
| effort regained his composure and took her
hand.
Poor little girl" he murmured, "you
| frightened me. L was not looking when
you cried, and 1 thought that you were
slipping from my arms, Downtown"
His voice broke, and the girl, throwing
herself into his arms. chung to him con-
vulsively.
.'There there" said Benson. fondly.
don't cry, don't cry
Tomorrow" said Olive. half-laughing,
half-crying. 1--WE will all come round the
well with hook and line and fish for it. 1t
will be quite new sport"
"No, we must try some other way" said
Benson. "You shall have it back"
| "How?" asked the girl
| you shall see,H said Benson. '"To-mor-
row morning. at latest, you shall have 1t
back Till then promise me that you will
not mention your loss to any one. Prom
ise"
| ''But why not?"
sIt is of great value. for one thing.
and. But there-there are many rea-
sons. For one thing 1t is my duty to get 1t
| for you
"Wouldn't you like to jump down for it,"
she asked, mischievously. Listen"
| She stopped for stone and dropped 1t
down.
Fancy being where that IS now" she
| said peering into the blackness; fancy go
| ing round and round like a mouse in pail.
clutching at the Shiny Sides with the water
| filling your mouth and looking UP to the
little patch of sky above"
You had better come in." said Benson.
very quietly. "You are developing taste
for the morbid and horrible"
| The girl turned, and, taking his arm,
walked slowly in the direction Of the house
Mrs. Benson, who was sitting in the porch,
rose to receive them.
"You shouldn't have kept her out SO
long" she said, chidingly. where have you
been?"
Sitting on the WELL" said Olive, smiling,
discussing our future"
'I don't believe that place is healthy"
said Mrs. Benson, emphatically. II really
think IT might be filled in. Jem."
"All right" said her son, slowly. PITY
1t wasn't filed in long ago.
| He took the chair vacated by his mother
as she entered the room with Olive. and
with his hands hanging Imply the
sides sat in deep thought. After time he
rose, and going upstairs to room which
was set apart for sporting requisites
lected a sea fishing line and some hooks
and stole softly down stairs again. He
walked swiftly across the park in the di-
rection of the WELL turning before he en-
/ lereu the SHALLOW Oh TIE trees 10 look DdCk
at the lighted windows of the house. Then,
having arranged his line. he sat on the
edge of the well and cautiously lowered it.
| He sat with his lips compressed. occa-
sionally looking about him in a startled
| fashion, as though he half expected to see
something peering at him from the belt Of
trees. Time after time he lowered his line
until, at length, in pulling it up, he heard
a little metallic tinkle against the side Of
| the well.
| He held his breath then, and forgetting
his fears drew the line in inch by inch, SO
as not to lose its precious burden. His pulse
beat rapidly, and his eyes were bright. As
| the line came slowly in he saw the catch
| hanging to the hook, and with a steady
hand he drew the last few feet In Then
| he saw that instead of the bracelet he had
hooked \ bunch Of keys.
| With faint cry he shook them from
the hook into the water below, and stood
breathing heavily. Not sound broke the
| stiffness of the night. He walked UP and
down a bit and stretched his great muscles
then he came back to the well and resumed
his task.
For an hour or more the line was low
| cred without result. In his eagerness he
| forgot his fears, and with eyes bent down
the well fished slowly and carefully. Twice
the hook became entangled in something
and was with difficulty released. 1t caught
a third time, and all his efforts failed to
free 1t. Then he dropped the line down
| the well, and with head bent walked to-
| wards the house.
He went first to the stables at the rear,
and then retiring to his room for some
time paced restlessly UP and down. Then
without removing his clothes he flung
| himself upon the bed and fell into a trou-
bled sleep.
| III