The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-21

Il intense OcuSnt Oh nearing ner eNer-NaryinS
mood voice itself in the rapturous swell of
melody she forgets herself. and. without
knowing it. all unconsciously allows her
low reverie OF sad harmonies to grow
louder and louder as her excited inspiration
increases and so completely carries her
away by the wild grand passion of ecstacy
that she actually laughs aloud when inter-
preting joy or gladness, and weeps genuine
tears when expressing sadness and despair.
Never before has she played with such
feverish spirit, such melting human pathos.
or thrown such intense personality into
her music. Her every thought is almost
painfully concentrated in the rupturous
food of exquisite sounds that fill the cham
Der; and as she sits at the sweet-toned
instrument, over whose notes her slender
white fingers have a perfect command. her
whole soul seems to break forth in the
grand burst of melody that thrills through
the silent room and floats out of the open
easement and Is borne away upon the
breath of the warm western zephyrs that
watt abroad the scent of the trailing roses,
clambering over the balustrade, and gently
stir the branches of the great old trees
in the center of the square.
Whilst this young musical genius is for
getting herself and all her troubles in re-
yelling in the vast breadth and grandeur
of her own fountain of delightful fancies.
the door is pushed softly open and some
one of whose presence the player is totally
unaware, steals noiselessly across the room
and pauses beside her.
The next moment the little hands that
have been chasing each other up and
down the keyboard in a light and airy
passage, changeful and capricious as the
skylark's song. are suddenly taken pris-
oners; and before she can realize what is
happening she feels herself clasped in two
strong, powerful arms and being literally
smothered with kisses.
Although she cannot see his face in the
darkness, she knows well enough who is
the beloved and adoring intruder who thus
masterfully strains her to him in one long,
restraining, impassionated hold. crying
huskily:
"Muriel! Muriel! What a cruel little
girl you have been to leave me in suspense
all this endless, anxious time!"
"Oh, Wilfred! Wilfred! I'm so glad to
see you, so glad!' is all she can gasp in
self-defense at his gentle reproval. and
bursting suddenly into tears with very
gratitude and delight at the unexpected
but frequently prayed-for appearance OF
the faithful lover whom she had feared
never more to behold.
my darling! My darling! Thank heaven
I have found you at last, at last!" he cries
with deep and tender feeling. re%verently
kissing away the mute trembling of her
ruby. lips, and calling her by every af-
fe~ctionate and endearing name he can
think of.
; After that first brief attempt to calm
and compose his new-found treasure the
handsome young baronet gently releases
1 her and steals softly away to allow heI
to weep unchecked for yet a few moments
4 more.
= He comes back from the window after q
while, draws a wax vesta from the golG
= and monogrammed matchbox hanging
from his watch-chain, strikes q light, anG
applies 1t to one of the burners Of the
crystal chandelier. When he has lit the
gas he takes the girl in his arms again
!, leads her to a seat, and filings himself int
the vacant place beside. her, saying:
:. "Oh, Muriel, my dearest and best! VIII!
did you not trust me and come to my hom
when you fed from your wn? You know
how gladly, how rapturously I would hav'
received you, how proud and happy
should have been to make you mistress o
Clarendon Hall? Why didn't you do this
:. little one, and thereby have spared me tn
: terrible and heart-rending anxiety I hav
. endured all these long, long weeks in which
1 have been trying so hard, and at time
= SO hopelessly, to find your"
= "I could hardly do that, Wilfred, afte
$ the cold and ungracious manner in which
I had previously received and respondes
to your repeated declarations Of affection
and offers OF marriage"
q SILLY little woman!'' he exclaims, wit
d tender Gliding. 'Why, it was your yer
coldness and ungraciousness, as you ca
Is it, that first attracted me toward you an
v stole my heart long before was awar
it had gone out into your keeping. 1t
only such distance and reserve as tina
Ie which makes men love women as I Low
II my own darling girl. What fellow care
g for a sweetheart who is easily won-for
e woman who is ready to fling herself int
h the arms of the first conner? 1t is thes
If funny little stand-offish ways and cru,
n pretty t~rifhlngs that work their potter
70 spell and leave their indelible mark in tn
,e heart Of the man on whom they are ex
id ercised."
III " aa0 tOA AtAAAC6 ~ lCCONCI III
[. whereabouts, dear?" she asks, softly, mes,
ling her head shyly against his mani
sr shoulder.
Is First by following up one clue and the
lg another myself. and, lastly, by putting tn
work Of tracing you In the hands of on
n of London's cleverist detectives. Only tn
lg very evening did / receive the reward fC
m my patience and long waiting. Not unit
ell he was sure of his quarry did the inquir
IS agent let me know there was the smalle:
o. chance of finding you. But only an hot
IT or so ago he came to my chambers at I'll
er Carlton and told me success had smile
es upon us at last. He gave me Mrs. Fa
&c coner's address, and here / at once has
n ened to humbly. earnestly plead my eau.
r again and to repeat the offer I am trus
t. ing you will not this time Jelly refuse. FL
a you do love me a little, don't you, Muriel:
a Softly. sweetly comes the shy, trustf
er responses:
IN II do love you very much. Wilfred.
he have loved you always, but I never kne
to how greatly anG how passionately until
m seemed 1 had lost you. When was alo,
r. as IL were in the world / knew how nece
&c sary you were to my happiness and man
t. many times / have longed to write and [,
1t you how sorely 1 have missed you. how ell
d. 1 should have been to feel your strong arr