The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-09

cut clothes. and hard felt hats. Inc thlrd
was an ugly. red-neaded. hatchet-faced
little man. whom nature had clearly
marked out as a low comedian; and the
fourth member of the party was a palid
youth with straw-colored hair. who. for
the momeu- when his weak light eyes first
rested on Mary's face. seemed incapable OF
directing their gaze TO any other object
A rapid glance satisfied Mary on one
point: not one of these men was what in
her class is styled a gentleman" Mary
was rather disappointed. Owing to her pow
erty. none Of the ordinary amusements of
young girls were within her reach; dances.
dinners, tennis or boating parties. were
| joys she might not know; and although she
was not at all a nirt. in the bad sense of
the term. Mary could not help wishing at
times for a little Of the attention beauty
such as hers usually receives from the
| sterner sex.
I'm your 'usband. you know in the first
piece" the better-ooking and darker of the
big young men observed to Mary, he
and his companions accompanied the Ia
! dies down the High street of OldfOrd, and
| carried their bags as far as the lodgings.
! He spoke with a certain shy pride i'm the
fact. and was so like a nice, though I'M
educated boy in manner, that Mary smiled
upon him quite kindly.
II hope l shall know my words" she
said. when do we rehearse?'
LAS soon as you've 'ad your tea and got
| straight" the young man said. MY
| trother-him that's the same size as me,
| mean-and i. and one or two of the other
chaps will come and take you ladies round
| TO the all. We ave been re'earsing there
| for nearly three weeks already"
| Looking up at him, Mary regretted his
| his and his hat They were passing a
flower shop at that moment, and with
| nasty. Excuse me. miss" the young man
| darted into the shop, TO emerge in. a few
moments with elaborate spray" of lily
of the valley and maidenhair fern.
/ Twill you do me the favor to accept and
wear it? he asked shyly. blushing very
much.
| They were some way ahead of the others.
| as Miss Heather was too stout TO walk
fast, and Mary suddenly became aware that
in the quiet old-fashioned market town
someone was standing at every shop door.
| steadfastly regarding her and that the
| few people in the one wide street were all
| gazing their fill at her and her companion
| Il think it will look rather conspicuous
to wear it now she protested gently.
May 1 not keep it until this evening-or
| Tomorrow
| Tomorrow you shall ave a lot more
| and when you go 'ome basketful o fresh
cut flowers from my place. Do put it on,
| Miss Monk, just to honor mel"
She could hardly doubt that he was
| prodigioUsly proud of being seen squirting
the beautiful young London actress
down the high street of Oldford. under the
eyes OF all his acquaintance and friends.
| But he was so simple, awkward. and shy,
and looked with such reverential homage
from his blue eyes. that. with little
| laugh. Mary consented to fasten the lilies
near the collar of her tweed gown.
AS she paused to do SO. blushing little
at the conspicuous nature or her COM
| panion's admiration, a slightlybuilt, fair
man. exceedinly well-turned out in riding
dress and mounted on a splendid bay. drew
rein suddenly as he was riding down the
street, and after a slight stare of surprise
at Mary and her companion. raised his hat.
Miss Monk. surely!' he said in pleasant,
well-bred tones. II couldn't let you go
past. l had no idea you were in Oldford.
My mother will be so pleased to know.
| Are you here for long?'
Mary knew him in a moment, and her
|
was Jack Seaton, whose mother had. in the
J old Harley street days, been one of her IA
Tiers most paying patients. Lady Seaton
had indeed been that godsend to improvident
doctors, a wealthy "malade imaginaire' !;
but she was also an amiable and hospitable
woman, and the Doctors youthful daugh-
tiers had always been made welcome at her
house in Cumberland Square.
That Jack Seaton, who was not only the
| smartest of the smart, but had claimed to
| be Mary's sweetheart when she was six
| teen and he one and twenty, should see her
| accepting flowers and interchanging friend
ly badinage in Oldford High street with a
man whom she rightly guessed to be one
of the tradesmen of the town, was an UNI
expected vexation for the young girl.
Probably the Seatons were as ignorant of
her change of fortune as of her adoption of
the stage as a profession. But on neither
| subject did she intend to enlighten them,
| though she grew hotter and hotter as she
| noted the respectful way in which her
| friend the amateur greeted Jack Seaton,
and the little condescending nod the latter
gave in return.
Il am only here for day two" she
said stiffly, staying with an old lady
here she glanced back, and saw Miss Rosie
Heather Fastening up, looking red and an
gry-'if you will excuse me, l am rather in
| a hurry she added quickly. anxious to pre-
| vent an encounter between her ''chaperone"
and her former friend. II hope your father
and mother are WE'LL she added, as she
noted Jack Seaton's blank look at her curt
| treatment.
My father is dead; died two years ago.
But of course you'll come and my
mother? Seaton Place is just outside Old
ford. But give me your address, and my
mother will drive over and bring you back
10 lunch.
quite impossible, 1 am sorry to say.
shan't have moment to spare while 1 am
here. But l will write TO Lady Seaton.
Good-byeI'
And TO Sir Johns great surprise Mary
dashed on until she reached the chemist 5
shop over which, as Miss Heather had in
formed her. their lodgings were situated
Here. having hastily dismissed her attend
ant swain, she mounted TO the small sitting
room retained for her use and Miss Heath
| er's, and here in few minutes that lady
joined her, still putting and red after her
ascent of the steep and narrow stairs.
Il think you forget what is due TO a lady
in my position in the profession" she be-
gan, bouncing upstairs like that without
waiting for me! Why couldn't you wait