The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
UNDER A SPELL
By
HILDA RHOD T. :

well. my child" he said TO Violet, have
you had happy timer"
The girl slipped her arm lovingly through
his Il am glad it's over" she said. ''for
am always happiest alone with you, Uncle
Sidney.
The words gave a little stab of pain to
Steer. as he marked the blue eyes grow
dark and intense and noted the tone of
affection in the girls voice.
Tut. TUT said her uncle. laughing lit
tie. Foolish child. 1 am too old and too
much of bookworm for you: you should
like young society. Mr. Steer, there, is
filter companion for you than an old re-
cluse such as l."
Il want no one but you" said the girl.
land / grudge every moment passed away
from you"
Good evening. Miss Carruthers." said
Steer who felt chilled and disappointed by
this speech.
Good evening. Mr. Steer replied Miss
Carruthers, giving him limp. cold hand
and speaking so indifferently as TO make
her manner almost discourteous.
Laurence Steer walked home perplexed.
His perplexity increased rather than di-
minshed his knowledge of Miss Car
ruthers deepened. She did not go into
society much. but they met occasionally at
social functions. He also discovered that
she liked to go and read in a certain field,
at the bottom of which flowed the river.
and where the trees made shady retreat
from the heat of the sun He ventured.
whenever he dared, to intrude, by accident
as it were. upon her solitude. and some
times she would receive him very sweetly,
would talk graciously TO him. and it would
almost seem TO him that she had OWNED
his love for her and was not wholly indif-
ferent to his influence; then the next time
they met she would be frigid and indiffer
ent, apparently absorbed in thoughts in
which he had no place, and he would cud-
gel his brains unavailingly to discover what
could be the of this change in her.
He tried, in order to make an ally of Mr..
Carruthers. to get upon friendly. if not
intimate, terms with him. But this was
difficult, for Mr.. Carruthers refused TO be
on friendly terms with anyone. He led the
! life of student. shut up for days in his
| laboratory and emerging at last wan and
| haggard, his eyes shining with the bril-
| lance of fever and consuming unrest II
was also noted that Miss Carruthers shared
in her uncle's scientific pursuits, for some
| times she would not be seen for weeks out
| side the hall, and visitors became fewer
| and fewer when they were constantly be-
| ing informed Mr.. Carruthers and his niece
were engaged on important business, and
| therefore could not receive them
| On one occasion when Miss Carruthers
had been invisible for a week or two,
Laurence Steer began almost to fear he
should never behold his love again, when,
| upon strolling almost hopelessly through
| the meadow she frequented, he her.
| TO his great joy. book in hand walking
slowly towards him. She looked TO his
anxious eyes even more fragile than her
| won't. Her face was pale, even the deli
cate pink under the transparent skin was
gone. and her eyes had violet shadows I'M
| der them. and had a weary look which
| alarmed him.
| Surely, Miss Carruthers." he said. after
they had exchanged greetings. you are not
looking well. Have you been ill?'
''oh, no." said the girl. ST have not been
| i'll. But 1 think it must be the hot weather
which tries me, feel so tired"
| 81 have not seen you for ages" said
Steer. reproachfully. Where have you
been hidden away all this long timer"
| Il have been very busy" she answered.
| Uncle Sidney has been engaged in some
| very interesting scientific experiments. and
he likes me to be with him when he is
/ working
| Its abominably selfish of him." thought
| Steer, not daring 10 utter the thought aloud,
! keeping the poor child shut up when she
| ought to be out of doors i'm the sunshine"
| That afternoon Violet was in one of her
| very sweetest moods. She allowed herself
| TO be persuaded to turn back and sit on
the river bank with Steer at her side She
blushed shyly when he begged her to give
him the little bunch of forget-me-nots she
| wore at her throat But she did not with
hold it, and her compliance with his re-
quest filled him with hope. He ventured
then to show her more plainly than he
had dared to do before how much she was
to him, and she received his advances shy
ly but apparently with no dispeasure, and
he felt he had fair ground for hope
He determined that the wisest course to
pursue would be to approach Mr. Carruth-
ers on the subject and see If he had any
| reasonable objections TO make to his win
ming, II he could. his niece's affection. She
was such child in years he dare not ask
| her definitely to be his wife without the
| approval Of her guardian. He felt how
| ever, strange reluctance TO taking Mr..
Carruthers into his confidence. He had
| tried hard for Violet's sake to overcome his
| instructive aversion and mistrust of the
man, out so far in vain He determined
| however, 10 take what was obviously the
most straightforward course end called ar
the hall and asked TO see Mr.. Carruthers
|