The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
That Manchester Heiress
MRS. VEIL CAMERON.
BY


head obediently and looked. But the long
espianadc by the sea was nearly empty.
1t was out of the season, and it was the
middle of a week. Brighton was compara-
lively a desert
The sun beat down scorchingIy overhead;
the dazzling white houses on the farther
side OF the road seemed to blink in the
heat. and TO the south lay the sea. smooth
and oily. and almost rnotionIess in its
breezeless silence.
Some nurses and citizens sat Imply on
the iron benches. few stroIers were
dotted about. a ragged woman was try
Ing to sell faded button-hole flowers from
basket on her arm to the infrequent pass
ers-by; there was no one else.
No. grandpapa. there is no bath chair in
sight" said AIuriel. YEARLY, in a voice that
Implied a total indifference as to whether
there was one or no. As matter OF fact
she had not even the curiosity TO INQUIRE
why her grandfather was anxious on the
subject, or why bath chair. other than
his own. interested him so much this after
noon
She was so tired and so hot! How she
hated Brighton. and her life at the house
OF her crippled grandfather.
Every day che had to tramp out after
that chair for hours-up and down, up anu
down the long asphalt walk, until sea and
sky and town became blurred and confused
before her eyes. and until her poor little
tired feet ached and burnt
Tell the fool 10 stop" cried out old
Lord Learman. peremptorily. Il want to
wait here. I expecting a friend. 1
shall wait till she comes. Make him stop.
MurieL What idiot the man is!''
Muriel had to catch hold of the chair
mans arm and TO below in his ear-he was
very deaf, and nearly as old as his en-
ployer.
The chair was drawn up facing the sea.
beside a bench. The man sauntered away
TO the iron ratings, over which he hung
Idly, and Muriel Gray sat down by her
grandfather on the bench.
Presently far away along the hot asphalt
walk, another bath chair doomed into the
prospect.
There is one coming now" said Muriel.
The old mans grim. yellow face relaxed
into lines of satisfaction.
"Oh-h"' he calculated, with a sigh of re-
lief. She is coming, then! Look, child.
who can you see in it?'
MureI screwed up her eyes in the glare
OF the afternoon sun. "It looks like a very
old woman. grandpapa."
Very old, indeed! Why, Ellen Henson
is younger than l am"
Muriel suppressed smile. Then she
can't be old. I suppose" she remarked,
drily. Perhaps it is not your friend at
all"
"Yes-yes. OF course. it must be she
Has she got white hair?''
Yes-very white"
by herself"
There is gentleman walking by the
eide of the chair.
Then he is with her." remarked Lord
Learman. half to himself; and the irritable
lines about his brow and mouth softened.
and the isagreeable old face grew almost
gentle and tender.
The advancing bath chair drew nearer
and nearer. and presently a shabby black
parasol was franticany waved at the sta
tionary chair.
Murie began 10 experience a growing
curiosity What she saw was the dearest
little old lady in the world, with wavy hair
as white snow. and with great melting
brown eyes. that even now were attrac-
tive as they were shrewd and keen.
ELLEN. Elem cried her grandfather.
TREMENDOUSLY. holding out two trembling
hands Il can't come forward TO greet you.
my dear
"Ah. my dear Learman." broke in the old
ladys fuller voice After all these years
we meet at last My dear. dear fellowF
Their hands reached out to one another,
and clasped each other over the edges of
their invalid chairs. After fifty years of
separation the old lovers had met again.
Meanwhile, the two who stood by looked
first at the old people and then at each
other. Muriel saw that the gentleman who
had walked by Mrs. Hensons bath chair
was tall and slight and young. He had
brown eyes like the old ladys and wavy
hair that was dark and crisp. and his face
was fresh and pleasant to look upon. No
one introduced her 10 him, or him to her.
The old people seemed to have only eyes
for each other; they began to talk rapidly
and excitedly to one another. and their
talk was the talk OF old people.
do you remember -?'
Have you forgotten --?
lis he still alive?'
What became Of herr"
These were the questions that preIuded
their eager conversation, and all the time
their hands remained firmly clasped to-
gether.
ing felt themselves 10 be left out OF all
this. There was no part nor place for them
here. The young mans brown eyes
twinkled: the girls blue ones shot back
swift and wOrdless reply. The lads lips
half formed question. The girls dimpling
cheek sent back silent answer. In an
other moment they had moved quietly
away together. y few PAGES took them safe
cut of earshOt. with only the great blue
vault of the sky above them, and the broad,
glittering immensely Of the sea before
them. And when they were gone-quite
gone-so that they could not possibly hear
any longer, Mrs. Henson left off chattering
TO her old lover and nodded her pretty old
head after them.
They have gone, you see. There was no
need for US 10 say a word
Have you said anything TO him?"
Not a word. All he has been told is that
he must marry a girl with a great deal of
money or else the old place will have TO go
to the jerrybuilder. He quite understands
the necessity"
You have not told him about Muriel.