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

Ralph followed him. with iachrymosc
cir, and Dick waited alone. The minutes
seemed like hours. and great drops Of sweat
stood on his forehead. as he watched the
clock and waited, with every nerve at a
tight tension. and ears strained to the Mt
most to catch the first sound of Norman's
But the minutes heightened into half an
hour, three quarters. one hour and then
Dick began to breathe more freely.
Sill he hardly dared TO hore. Normln's
manner had seemed assured AT last
he could stand the suspense no longer, and
dashed out on to the lawn The school
room window was dark now, but
Dick was striding towards it, new
theless. when he stumbled against
Norman lying face downwards on
rs that you. old fellow" he said very
gently. II am so sorry"
Norman lifted his head. and looked at
him with haggard, savage eyes.
mo you're not" he said. Whats the
use of telling a lie about it? My loss is
your GAIN
mot necessarily; she may refuse me too;
and then / shall be in worse strait than
you are; for / have staked my all on the
die. But whatever happens, | am sorry
for you, Norman. whether you believe me
or not he added, kindly, but"
.'You are going to throw Dorothy Drum
mond up in my teeth again." interrupted
Norman, fiercely.
Indeed 1 am not Come, Norman, don't
be unjust. 1 can't help anything. / stood
aside and gave you the first chance. 1t
she had taken you / should have made no
murmur. though, God knows. it would have
broken my heart"
Again there was that sound in his voice
which spoke of something in him too deep
for a shallow nature like his to more than
divine, and Norman got up on to his feet,
his querulous complainings suddenly ST.
fenced Dick put his arm through his.
Come and have whisky and soda with
me- he said; lit will quiet down.
mot in the smoking room. Father will
be there now
mo, In my den. I'll get the soda water
as pass the pantry. I've plenty of whisky
in my flask.
Once in his "den,'' Dick mixed his broth
er pretty stiff peg. then persuaded him to
go off to bed. Norman seldom touched
spirits, and therefore the dose sooner took
effect, deadening his senses, and though
he would have been 10th to confess it he
slept like top. In the morning he had
wretched headache, but was too absorbed
in his physical discomforts for anything
but an intermittent reference to other
troubles. Dick administered a milder dos,
of his medicine, and Norman, who had
distress, pecked delicately at some fricas-
seed chicken at luncheon, and owned after
wards that he felt really better.
No one can minister to mind diseased"
but wounded vanity is not such serious
complaint. Norman made parade Of his
sensations, which Dick thought a good
sign. Human creatures, like animals, try
to hide when they are dangerously hurt.
Dick left his brother to his own devices
after this. He judged rightly that the
wound would heal ere long and leave no
scar. He was more anxious about Ralph
because he kept out of sight, but when he
discovered that he writing sonnets he
thought he had sought consolation where
consolation was to be found, and left him
alone to his own devices
All that day Dick was on the lookout,
but he never got the chance of speaking to
Miss Latimer alone. But the next day
was Minnas birthday and Mrs. Graham
had arranged little picnic amongst them
selves in honor of the occasion.
The rectors two daughters were the only
outsiders, but the two blighted beings
stayed away, and Minna soon forgot her
regrets as Dick put himself into the breach,
and was simply indefatigabe. He made
the fire and boiled the kettle, whilst the
girls laid the cloth, and certainly earned
the cup of tea with which Flora Marrable,
the elder of the rector's daughters, in
stantly supplied him when he threw him
self down beside her. She giggled and
blushed at every word he said. and when
Dick made the joyful discovery that Miss
Latimer secretly disapproved of his atten-
lions to Flora and would not look at him
when he handed her anything the sudden
transition from despair to hope almost
turned his brain. and he hardly knew what
he was saying or doing.
But, though he talked wildly and played
tricks worthy of Norman in his happiest
days, he f1irted no more with Flora.
After tea Mr.. and Mrs. Graham went off
together, leaving the young people to their
games.
"Are you coming with us, Dick?' his
mother asked and Dick said he was not.
politely but firmly, and went on with his
occupation of tying the unconscious Mays
pigtail TO a bough.
Miss Latimer pleaded headache when
they asked her to play and went and sat
down quietly on the stump of tree at
little distance from the spot they had
chosen for home
She was stabbing the moss at her feet
with the point of her sunshade and her
long lashes were throwing penciled shadows
on her pale cheeks when she heard firm.
decided step crushing down the underwood
and Dick suddenly stood before her.
Tall and straight, with the strong beauty
that women like and handsome. passionate.
pleading eyes looking straight into hers
constrainingly. surely he was lover to be
proud of, and Miss Latimer's heart went
out to him in spite of herself. AS he knelt
down beside her and drew her lips close to
his she yielded to his embrace with wild
thrill of joy, then pushed him away with
all her strength and struggled to her feet.
Don't. don't! don't!' she almost
screamed. LET me go, beseech you. You
don't understand"