The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-23
The Gentleman From Indiana
BY BOOTH HARRINGTON
Copyright by Doubleday g. Mcclure Co., 1899.
BY BOOTH TRRKlNGTON
CHAPTER XVI.
Pretty MarQufse.

CHAPTER XVI.
Pretty MarQuise.
opera bouffs to find her: music playing
swaying crowd. bright lights, bright eyes,
pretty women, glimpse of dancers footing
1t over a polished floor in room beyond
q hundred colors flashing and changing, as
the groups shifted, before the eye could take
in the composition OF the picture A sudden
thrill Of exhilaration roted in Johns pulses
and he trembled like child before the gay
disclosure OF Christmas tree. Meredith
swore to himself that he would not have
known him for the man Of Ave minutes
agona Two small. bright red spots glowed
IN his checks; he held himself erect with head
thrown back and shoulders squared, and the
tdolzing Tom thought he looked as a king
ought to look at the acme of power and do
minton. Miss Hinsdale's word In the hallway
was the genius touch: bent, gray man OF
years. word-and behold the Great John
Harkless. the youth Of elder days ripened to
his prime Of wisdom and strength! People
made way for them and whispered as they
passed. It had been years since John Hark-
less had been in the midst Of crowd Of but
teray people; everything seemed unreal, or
hke ball in play; presently the
lights and laughter from his view, leaving
only the echo Of music. 1t was like kaleido-
scope for color; tho bouquets Of crimson or
white or pink or purple; the profusion Of
pretty dresses, the brilliant. tender fabrics.
and the handsome, foreshortened faces thrown
back over white shoulders in laughter; glossy
raven hair and fair tresses moving in quick
salutations; and the whole gay simmer OF
Sestal tints and rich artihcialities get OF
against the brave green of outdoors, for the
walls were solidly adorned with forest bran
ches, with. here and there amongst them,
blood-red droop Of beech leaves, stabbed in
autunn's first skirmish with summer. The
night was cool. and the air full Of flower
smells, while harp, violin and cello sent
waltz-throb through it all
They looked rapidly through several rooms
and failed to find her indoors, and they went
utside, not exchanging word, and though
Harkless was a little lame, Tom barely kept
up with his long stride. On the verandas
there were fairy lamps and ooored incan-
descents over little tables, where people sat
chatting. She was not there. Beyond, was
terrace. where a myriad OF oriental lanterns
outlined themselves clearly in Enthusiastically
shaped planes of scarlet and orange and green
against the blue darkness. Many couples and
groups were scattered over the terrace, and
The young men paused on the steps. looking
swiftly drom group to group. She was not
there
I'VE haven't looked in the dancing room, I"
said Tom. looking at his companion rather
s~>>s
re-sntered the house.
He had parted from her In the blackness of
storm with only the flicker OF lightning to
hhow her to him, but it was in blaze Of lights
that he saw here again. The dance was just
ended and she stood In wide doorway, half
surrounded by pretty girls and young men,
who were greeting her. He had one full look
at her. She was leaning to them all. her arms
full OF flowers, and she seemed the radiant
center Of all the light and sayety OF the
place. Even Meredith stopped short and ex-
claimed upon her; for one never got used to
her: and he remembered that whenever he
saw her after absence the sense OF her beauty
rushed over him anew. And he believed the
feeling on this occasion was keener than ever
before for she was prettier than he had ever
seen her.
u,t understand. AS they pressed forward,
Meredith perceived that they were only two
moro radii Of q circle Of youths, sprung from
every direction as the waltz ended, cearlng
down upon the common focus to secure tne
next dance. Harkless saw nothing but tha'
she stood there before him. He feared a ILL.,
tle that every one might notice how he was
trembling, and he was glad OF the many
voices that kept them from hearing his heart
,rnoox asainst his ribs. She saw him coming
toward her, and nodded to him pleasantly ir
1ust the fashion in which she was oo"ins. &c
half dozen others, and at that a pans ol
hot Dain went through AinS Ola 49,
arrow poisoned with cordial. casual IFaenoh'
ness. 49,
she extended her hand to him and gave hin
emil. that chilled hint was so conven
tionally courteous and poised so nicely
in the manner OF na soo.eeys ,,an <
Cor mot less pleasantly in that manner die
shs axclaiu: II am very glad to see you
Mr., Harkless so extremely glad! And 81
delighted to find you looking strong again
Do tell me about all our friends IN PlattVllie
I should like to have little cna1 win ~ yo'
some time. So good OF you 10 nhu ni' AZ 'A
melee" .,o ,oo
And with that she turned from the poo
seIlo,V to Meredith. "How do you do, Cousll
Ton7 I've saved the next dance 1or you
Then abe distributed words here and ther
and everywhere amongst the circle aoou
her-pretty Marquse with Vengeance! o No
Mr.. Swift, shall not make a card; you mus
come at the beginning Of a dance II you wan
one, I cannot promise the next; 1t Is quit
impossible. No. did not go as far north
Macltnac. How do you do, Mr.. Burlingame
Yes, quite an age;-no not the neSt, 1 al
afraid: nor the next;-I'm not keeping
card. Good evening. Mr.. Baird. No. not tn
next. Oh, thank you, Miss Hnsdale!-Nc
Mr. Swift. It Is quite impossible-l'm SO sorry
Cousin, the music Is commencing; this
purs."
bowers to q gentleman beside her with tn
slightest glance at the recipient; and the ges
ture and look made her partner heartsick fo
hts friend; It was so easy and natural an
with the air Of habit, and had so much OF tn
manner with which woman hands things
man who partakes Of her inner confdence
Tom knew that Harkless dlvned the gesturS
as we'll as the identity Of the gentleman. The
started away, but she paused, and turned
the latter. MIR. Macauley, you must met
Mr.. Harkess. We leave him In your car
and you must see that he meets all the prett
Kirls--you are used to being nice to d1sul
guished strangers, you know
Tom put his arm about her, and whirled he
away, and Ifarkless felt as II a soft hand ha
dealt him blow after blow in the face. W.
this lady Of little battling forms and srna
cold graces the girl who stood with him b
the blue tent-pole, she who had run to hi
to save his life, she who walked at his sic
alona the pike! The contrast Of these houne
scenes made him laugh grimly. Was this ST
who had wept before him--was 1t she who he
been redolent Of Kindness SO fragrantly ma
ural and true-was 1t she who said she 'lov'
ell these people very much, IN spite OF havir
known them only two days7"
He cried out upon himself for fot
What was he in her eyes but man who b;
needed to be told that she did not love hill
Had he not better-and ntors courteously
her--havs avoided the meeting which "
uecessarily an embarrassment to her? B
no; he 1nust rush like Mohawk till
found her and forced her to rebuf him,
A. x.s- Il. nS%,3, &,