The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
By SARAH CATHERINE BUDD.
I.-FAN AT HOME.

-
.~ho.,lreorn with its battered furniture.
poor old roOmir she said TO herself.
a,ybat a bad girl l used to ber'
Then seeing "a gentleman through the
.,,doyr. she jumped lightly on a table,
end looked out "Oh. yes, that is Mr.. Her
bert lie is going into the turnip field.
No shooting party. only one keeper. 1
an glad I put on my clean dress. L shall
cay Mrs. Charles TO take me TO the
Grange" she swung herself lightly to
,be ground. just as her sister entered
ooh. Fan. here you are, you must take
charge Of the children in the shrubbery;
nurse has too much to do"
..oh we are dreadful family" groaned
ran such a lot OF US. Always some
thing to do" Then Frightening up-"But
7 can't 20 this morning. dear, because L
am going with Mrs. Charles Lancaster
70 the Grange. She viii drive by abou.
= o'clock with those dear ponies. put on
this gale blue on purpose. DO look nice.
Lottie?''
Charlotte Walters severely frowned. but
What was the good OF being cross with
Fan?
Il have 10 patience with you" she said,
and went away, distinctly shutting the
door behind her.
II am a bad, selfish girl" said Fan to
herself. 81 must turn over a new leaf.
But. Oh, if 1 am not quick / shall miss
Mrs. Charles" So she bounded down
stairs and was soon waiting at the shrub
berry gate.
Mrs. Charles Lancaster was a beautiful
young woman and had her ponies well in
hand.
why. Fam" she cried, refining them up.
"where on earth are you going?''
Fan FLUSHED a rosy red.
"Oh, dear Mrs. Lancaster, you are going
TO the Grange. DO take me with you; 1 am
always welcome there. 1 am. indeed
We'll, that is rather cool, Fan, but jump
UP. for the ponies are fresh
As Fan gleefully took her place the man
at the ponies heads merely grinned to
himself. for he knew quite well that Miss
Fan Walters got her own way with every
body.
Lancaster Grange was a rambling ole
mansion. ivy-colored and picturesque. with
charming grounds.
Mrs. Lancaster was a fne-looking old
lady. with calm, placid brow and sweet
smile 1t touching to see the love be-
tween mother and daughter, and they
seemed TO have as much to say to each
other as if they had not met for years
You did not mind my bringing Fan. did
you, mother dear?'' But on looking round
the room, there was no Fan to be seen
Where can the child be2 She certainly
entered the house with me-"
'Oh. Fan will be all right. depend upon
It. remarked the old lady 'She is s.
often here. and a perfect sunbeam wher-
ever she goes; we are both so fond of her
Herbert is 50 reserved. he takes to so few
people. but he likes Fan" wistfuI look
came into the old ladys face, and the slow
tears of age filled her eyes ''He is my
only care in thinking OF the future. You
have your. husband and children. but he
viii have no one always with him when
I am gone"
At that very moment Mr.. Herbert Ian.
caster himself came round bend of the
carriage drive surrounded by his dogs. and
Carrying little spaniel in his arms. The
little creature had look of pain about
her iustrous eyes. and was dropping as to
tail.
Mr.. Lancaster was fine handsome man
and looked his best in his beautiful Eng
hsh home, surrounded by the animals be
so dearly loved.
Al that instant down the carriage drive
came the flying figure of Fan. with her hat
tossed 70 the back of her head-aD life and
animation. Through the partly opened
French window they heard her fresh youna
voice
'Mr. Herbert. oh. what is the matter
with Snap?"
Fan. is that your" he replied in tone
OF relief. Just unclasp her collar; the
men are such fools If you ask them"
Fan obeyed with light. def fingers. and
then softly caressed the little animal. who
tried TO wag her tail and feebIy licked the
young girls hand.
Here. take her, Fan" said Mr.. Lancas-
ter. holding out the lite creature, ..she
has hurt her foot and is lame"
Lame, oh. poor little midget. and have
You carried her all the way from Ston,
Cross7'
How did you know I had been there?'
Il saw you''-nodding her head-'I saw
you out OF the schoolroOm window l very
often see you when you are out shooting
50 saying Fan calmly took the little
spaniel from NJ Lancaster, but glancine
Ms Aettt SAAc CtAt4 OUT Onf now liFeo
you look; let me battle her feet while you
60 into luncheon"
Mr.. Lancaster looked at the eager, ami
mated face. and smiled.
No. no. Fan we will attend TO Snap first
and then 80 into luncheon together"
You see how fond Herbert is OF her, -
said old Mrs. Lancaster complacentIy.
Yes: and I fancy see something else, y
said Mrs Charles Lancaster to herself"
CHAPTER II.-FAN'S ADVENTURE.
Ahcut a fortnight later Fan Walters
might have been seen wandering alone over
the dreary Mitcham Downs. towards the
edge Of the twilight. when the first faint
stars were trembling in the sky She had
slipped away unobserved from home. and
Vas now far from any human habitation.
ran was rather a coward. but she loved
MI Herbert Lancaster. and he. as a keer
ootanist, had described a plant he was
anxious 10 obtain. Fan in her secret heart
thought she had seen this plant or
Mltcham Down: hence her lonely walk
After a prolonged search. to the girls great
delight she found the plant. What mat.
tered now her timid fears and the growing