The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-21
The Gentleman From Indiana
BY BOOTH 74RKIJvGT0N
Copyright by Doubleday & Mcclure Co., 1899.

deed he law among the cushions seemingly no
more than a gaunt shadow of the late after
noon, looking old and gray and weary. They
rolled along abusing each other, John some
times gratefully threatening his friend with
violence. ..+E .asa.E
The victoria passed a stone house with wide
lawns and an inhospitable air OF wealth and
importunate rank; over the sward two pea
cocks swung, ambulating like caravals in a
green sea ; and one expected fine lady to
come smiling and glttering from the door.
Oddly enough, though he had never seen the
place before, it struck Harkless with a sense
of familiarity ''Who lives there?' he asked
abruptly. 'a ~ ..t.-..,2
Who lives there? On the left? Why that
that Is the Sherwood place." Meredith an
swered, in a tone which sounded as II he
were not quite sure Of it.. but inclined to
think his information correct. Harkless re-
lapsed into silence. ~ ~. sf -
Meredith's home was a few blocks further
up the same street; capacious house in the
western fashion of the seventies. In front,
on the lawn, there was fountain with a
leaping play of water; naples and shrubbery
were everywhere: and here and there stood
a stiff sentinel of Lombardy poplar. 1t was
all cool and incongruous and comfortable;
and, on the porch, sheltered from publicity
| by a multitude of palms and Towering
plants, a white-jacketed negro appeared with
q noble smile and a more i'm
portant tray, whereon- tinkled ,hedewed
glasses and crystal pitcher, against whose
sides the ice clinked sweetly. There was q
complement Of straws.
When they had helped him to an easy chair
on the porch Harkless whistled luxuriously.
"Ah, my bachelor!' he exclaimed, as he Sc:
| lected q straw.
".Who would fardels bear?'" " rejoined Mr.
Meredith Then came to the other recol-
lection of an auburn-haired ball player on
whom the third strike had once been called
while his eyes wandered tenderly to the
grand stand, where the prettiest girl OF thai
| commencement week was sitting.
| ,"Have you forgot the Indian Princess 2
he asked.
YOU'RE a dull old person. Tom laughed
Haven't you discovered that tits they who
forget us? And why shouldn't they? DE-
we remember well?-anybody except Just VI
two, I mean, of course
1--WE notion we do, sometimes"
The other set his glass on the tray, and Ii
his cigarette. "Yes; when we're unsuccess
full. Then 1 think we DO"
THAT may be true"
"Of course it is. If a lady wishes to maxi
an impression on me that is worth making
let her let me make none on her."
'You think it is always vanity?"
"Analyze it as your reverend Thomas doe
and you shall reach the same conclusion
Let a girl reject you and Meredith brok
off, cursing himself inwardly, and, rising
cried gaily: what .profiteth it man
he gain the whole wisdom in regard to wo
mon and loseth not his own heart? An
neither of US is lacking a heart-though
may be; one can't tell, ones self; one has t
find out about that from some girl. At least
I'm rather sure of mine; It's difficult to Civ
a tobacco-heart away; it's drugged on th
market. I'm going to bring out the dogs; II
spending the summer at home just to Civ
them daily exercise. .
This explanation of his continued presenc
in Rouen struck John as quite as. plausible a
Merediths more seriously alleged reasons fo
not joining his mother and sister, at Kinte
Harbor (IIe possessed a mother, and, as b
explained, he had also sisters to safety,
, point Of numbers.) HAIRLESS knew that To1
had stayed to- look after him; and he though
l there never was So poor;2a peg as himsel
whereon to hang the warm mantle of such
friendship. He knew that, other mantles
affection and kindliness hung on that sell
same peg for he had been moved by the lei
l ters and visits from Carlow people, and
l had heard the story of their descent upon tt
g hospital, and of the march on the Cross
/ Roads. Many good fellow, too, had CON
l to see him during his better days,-fro
3 Judge .Briscoe, openly. tender and solicitor
to the embarrassed William Todd, who fiddle
, at his hat and explained that being as I
1
he thought he'd look in to see If ''they WI
l any word would wish to- be SCI
down to our city, The good wi
/ the sick man had from every OF
b touched him, and made him feel VI
!, worthy, and he could see nothing he hs
b done to deserve it. Mr.. Meredith cou
= (and would not-openly, at leas
g have explained to- him that it made not
e great deal of difference what he did; 1t WI
9 what people thought he was.
: His host helped him upstairs after Dime
+ and showed him the room prepared for b
d occupancy. Harkless sank, signing wi
!. weakness, into a deep chair, and Meredi
s went to window-seat and stretched himse
@ out for smoke and chat.
y doesn't it beat your time," he sal
g cheerily, "to think Of what's become Of {
n the old boys? They turn up so different
It from what we expected. when they turn up
+ all. We sized them up all right SO far
: character goes, I fancy, but we couldn't 81
Il up the chances of life. Take poor old Pick
o Haines: who'd have dreamed Pickle wou
shoot himself over bankruptcy? I da
= say that wasn't all Of it-might have be-
Il cherchez la femme, don't you think? VIII
n do you make of Pickles case, John?",
g There was no answer. Harkless' chair W
# directly in front of the mantel-piece, al
h upon the carved wooden shelf, amongst
S bacco-jars and little curios, cotillion favo
e and the like, there were scattered a numb
r Of photographs One Of these was that of
: girl who looked straight out at you frc
: a flligree frame; there was hardly corn