The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-16

VI -
with you. Mrs. B~alfray." said Frank
Lowell. cheerfully. He was quite a young
man-not more than ffve-and-twenty at
u~ost-pale, spare and scarcely robust
looking, but remarkable for the agility and
a~lertness Of his every movement. and for
a certain charming vivacity Of expression
which redeemed his features from the
charge OF ugliness. His eyes were blue
and very kindly: and his smile was so
bright and pleasant that it won favor for
him wherever he went. Especially was
he popular at the White Hart Inn, OF which
Mrs. Bslfray was the proprietress. He
was fond, he averred. Of running down
for the fishing" which was abundant and
excellent: and he was even fonder, al
though he did not avow the fact, of re-
visiting the old haunts of his boyhood,
which were in the immediate vicinity of
Mrs. BaIfray's modest hosiery.
For Frank Lovell's father had once been
master OF the great gray mansion which
dominated the village Of Selsby-a majes-
tic looking house. with a pillared front,
and a terrace spreading out the length
OF the two wings. with flights of steps
leading from it to the goodly stretch Of
lawn. p%leasance and covert, with which
the house was surrounded. Franks father
maintained his possession Of Selsby Hall
with great difficulty. for his predecessor
had gambled away most of the property;
but when he died the place had to be sold
I'm order TO pay off long accumulated debts,
and Frank. who won COLDER opinions from
the world because of his readiness to strip
himself OF every penny rather than not
pay his fathers creditors, began life over
again with a post in a London bank.
The pay was small, the work tedious. and
the friends who had begun by commencing
him for his honesty dropped him one after
the other with few exceptions) when he
had to drudge for his daily bread. VERY
lucky for him to get into Cr~osslands," they
said now and then. ''Of course. 1t is a pro-
vision for life, and he is sure TO rise" With
which remark they usually dismissed the
subject from their minds.
Franks truest recreation. therefore. was
found in the hours which he spent in the
country from Saturday to Monday; not al
ways at SeIsby, hut at some pleasantly
wooded ard watered spot. where he could
obtain real rest and refreshment after the
tolls OF the week. He did not allow himself
always TO visit Selsby, for he had an idea
that il was unwhoIesome to dwell too much
upon the scenes of the past; but he thought
that once or twice a month was not too
much for his own peace of mind. Mrs. Bal
fray gave him her best room, her best
meals and her honest affection, and she
made her charges as low as he would allow
her 20 do. So that the White Hart saw a
good deal, comparatively speaking. Of Mr.
Frank Lowell.
Mrs. Balfray-a comedy woman Of middle
age, In a handsome silk dress half-covered
by a broad white apron-beamed all over
her face at her guests remark.
You may well say so, sir. Why, the girls
a perfect sunbeam in a house! And she dc
love to make herself useful"
Yes. she always seems busy. But where
have you hidden her all these years? I've
never seen her at the White Hart before"
Because she wasn't in England, Mr.
Frank. that's why. My poor sister married
and went out to Australia before you were
born; and there she died, and this is hel
daughter, come back to the old country anc
spending a little time with me-"
'fGoing TO live with you always, Mrs
Balfray?"
Mrs. Balfray shook her head mo, sir
more's the pity. Her father wants her-anC
1 don't blame him. Naturally he wants hi
W daughter, and I'm glad enough that h
let's her come to me for few days. seeing
that things are as they are"
THAT'S MYSTERIOUS" laughed Frank
"As they are. Mrs. Balfray? And how ar,
they?"
Mrs. Balfray took up a corner Of he
apron, and rubbed the shining mahogan.
of the parIor table with quite unnecessar!
energy.
st don't mean anything in particular, MI
Frank. OF course, Mathew has a right to d.
what he likes, and pleased 1 am to see he
hack In England, dear lamb. But it's al
anxious matter TO have a pretty girl Of
your hands,"
Frank burst out laughing. at shoul
think it was a very pleasant matter, Mrs
Balfray," he said. And he resolved to lool
at the niece more particularly than he ha,
hitherto done. for he had only, so far
caught a glimpse Of a pair Of dark eye
and the hint OF a delicate profile half hid
den by a white cotton sunbonnet title
over the forehead and tied beneath tn
chin. He had also noticed the pretty fee
and ankles beneath her short cotton Skin
and thought that a white bib and apro
was rather becoming to a slight figure. bu
he was not very susceptible to women
charms. and usually avoided their com
pany. IL did not fail in with his plans 70
the future TO think OF love and marriage.
But Mrs. Balfray's ~niece-that was an
other matter. There was no reason why h
should not look at her. why he should no
admire her. The next time he met her h
raised his hat, and. as she made him a littl
curtsey, he glanced at her with careles
curiosity.
What was there IN those dark. smilin
eyes of hers that sent a thrill through hir
"a thrill such as ne had never experience
before? Thinking over it afterwards, h
came to the conclusion that 1t was mol
like an electric shock than anything else
and he was filed with a perplexed amaz
as to the cause OF 1T. Had May Balfray-
her name was not May Balfray, by IN
way, but as she was Mrs. Baifray's niece
1t was easier to call her so-had May Bal
fray some uncanQy power, some persons