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


as little delay as possible"
He hugs her to him for just a moment.
and then when she finds herself released
she trips off and is seen no more until she
comes back again "a quarter of an hour
later. carry a small handbag and a modest
tin travelling box that contains the SMALL,
neat wardrobe Muriel had purchased on
becoming Mrs. Falconer's parlormaid.
Il hope you haven't forgotten that
precious little document you received in ex-
change for your Amati from that obliging
gentleman at the corner of - street,"
he asks, with a merry twinkle in his bright,
honest eyes.
Muriel starts and bushes guilty.
"How-how did you know about that,
Wilfred?" she stammers.
The detective / was telling you about a
little while ago managed to find 1T out
somehow. I think that was the clew he
worked upon But. there. I'll tell you about
that little bit Of business som other time,
my dearest Just give me that duplicate to
take care of and then We'll be OFF,"
He holds out his hand as he speaks, and
when 1t is once in his possession he puts it
in his breast pocket, takes up her bag and
trunk. and leads her down the stairs and
out to the hanson that is awaiting them at
the door.
When the girl is comfortably installed In
side. and the box is rep0sing on the roof
of the vehicle. Sir Wilfred gives the driver
some whispered instructions, in which the
words drive for your life. or we shall be
too Later occur, and then slips into his
seat beside his long-lost and new-found
darling. and the two are driven away.
On. on they go, but certainly not in the
direction of Belgravia. Muriel is too happy
to note this, however, and hardly realizes
when the cab stops and her lover alights,
telling her he will be back in a few min
utes. The sweet spell is still upon her. and
she closes her eyes r~estfully and thinks
only of him, and the JOY of having her
faithful. steadfast lover for her own once
more. Were she less carried away by the
full sense of the great and wonderful thing
that has happened, she might, perhaps,
wonder why Clarendon could leave her
even for a moment, and would gaze around
as IL to discover where he has gone and
what could have called him from her side
when he seemed so childishly eager and
anxious to reach their destination. Were
she to look about her just a little, she
would be strangely struck by the famili-
arity of the surroundings. But what cares
Muriel where she is so long as her life's
darling is near her? In the heart of a
throbbing city, or out upon a silent prairie,
her only world is in his arms.
She is still dreaming when Sir Wilfred re-
turns. He is seated by her side, and the We
hicle is speeding on its way before she is
fully aware that he is really back again.
There you are, my sweetest little wife
that Is to be, and heaven bless you with
It," he says, putting a long leather case
upon her lap.
Muriel starts from her pleasant reverie.
!, why. Wilfred, what is this?" she asks.
in rapturous astonishment, looking up low
ingly at him and then down as tenderly at
the silent, lifeless thing which she hugs
and kisses as a young mother might en-
! brace and caress her frst-born whom she
E has mourned as lost and found again.
E What is It? Why, just as if you didn't
know. you sly puss!'' he laughingly replies.
, trying to hide the emotion her great glad
ness causes him. "It's your beloved Amati.
of course, my pet. That from which you
9 parted In tears and bitter sorrow is now re-
v deemed in JOY and bliss unutterable." And
like the great. manly. generous-hearted
I fellow he is, two big tears OF ineffable
thankfulness drop from his eyes and fall
4 aPOh Tic AANNAO ~ AaA tho( mas
his own broad muscular one.
e "Oh. Wilfred, Wilfred! If I had never
h loved you before I should love you for this
s one action" she murmurs, impulsively
throwing her arm around his neck and
r touching his cheek with her trembling lips.
b II can never. never tell you how keenly
d feel and appreciate the unexpected ~restora-
n ton of the gift which 1 shall henceforth
value and cherish as much for your sake
as for that Of the dear dead mother who
first placed it in my hands and told me 1t
was mine. Oh, Wilfred, my love! my love!
d / thank you from the bottom Of my heart
e for all your goodness. How sweet, how
S thoughtful Of you to prepare this delightful
+ surprise for mel"
"I knew you would not be entirely happy
G unless this little instrument were again in
q your possession, Muriel, and it occurred tC
q me whilst l was waiting for you in Mrs
Falconer's drawing room that the hes,
thing I could do was to restore 1t to you
Il with my best love. and the earnest prayer
,e that heavens blessing might make it un.
necessary for you ever to part from II
again."
v How she admires and adores him for thai
T. modest, pretty speech.
" IT can only say again, how kind. how
good, how thoughtful you are, Wilfred."
n "What thought should my brain have bu
,e for my darling's happiness, what hope m,
70 breast cherish but to achieve 1t to the ut
most of my power and ability? If my pet II
n satisfied l am truly, lavishly rewarded
:, The cab rattles noisily over the lamp-lit
" busy London streets, and in it the girl sit
Il silently by her devoted lovers side, on,
~ arm clasped fondly round his neck, tn
70 other jealousy hugging her dead mother
n parting gift-the one being and the on
/ thing that are dearest to her in all tn
wide, wide world.
;. And so We leave them in the hour whel
= their happiness is quite complete, and wit
- no threatening storm cloud to darken tn
~ bright sky looming above the sunny hori
:, zon of that new, strange life which they ar
henceforth to share together.
When Day Ia Done.