The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-22
The Gentleman From Indiana
By BOOTH T.aRkyxGToN
Copyright by Doubleday & Mcclure CO., 1880.
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

Meredith decided that his guest needed en-
liventng-something to take him out Of him
self; he must be stirred up to rub against
people once more. And therefore, one night
he made little company for him: two or
three apparently betrothed very young
couples, for whom dt was rather dull, after
they had looked their fill Of Harkless tit
appeared that every one was curious to see
him); and three or four married young coup
Piles, for whom the entertainment seemed
rather diverttng in absent-minded way
(they had the air Of remembering that they
had forgotten the baby: and three four
bachelors, who seemed contented in any place
where they were allowed to smoke; and one
widower, whose manner indicated that any
occasion whatever was gay enough for him:
and four or five young women, who (Meredith
explained to John) were of their hosts age
and had been left over" out Of tho set he
grew up with: and for these the modest party
took on a hilarious and clipper character
1T is these girls that have let the men go
by because they didn't see any good enough;
they're the jolly sous" the one widower re-
marked, confdentially. They've been at 1t
long while, and they know how, and they're
Gght-hearted robins. They have more
fun than people who have responsibilities
All Of these lively demoiseles huttered
about Harkless with commiserative pleasant
ries, and, in spite Of his protestations, made
him reclne in the biggest and deepest chair
on the porch, where they surfeited him with
kindness and grouped about him with extra
cushions and tenderness for a man who had
been injured. No one mentioned the fact
that he had been hurt; it was not spoken Of,
though they wished nightly he would tell
them the story they had read luridy in the
public prints. They were very good to him.
One Of them, in particular, handsome, dark
kind-eyed girl, constituted herself at once
his cicerone in Rouen gossip and his waiting
maid. She sat by him. and saw that his needs
(and his not-needs, too) were supplied and
over-Suppled she could not let him move,
and anticipated his least wish, though he was
now amply able to help himself; and she
famed him If he were a dying consump-
tive.
They sat on Meredith's big porch In the
late twilight and ate substantial rejection,
and when this was finished, buzz Of non
sense rose from all quarters, except the
mote corners where the youthful af1anced
ones had defensively stationed themselves be-
hind rampant Of plants. They, having
eaten, had naught to do, and were
only waiting a decent hour for de-
parture. Laughing voices passed up
and down the street, and mingled with the
rhythmic FLASHING Of Meredith's fountain,
and, beyond the strawberries and fence one
caught glimpses of the light dresses Of women
moving to and fro, and of people sitting bare
headed on neighborng lawns to enjoy the
twilight. Now and then would pass, with
undergraduate, home for vacation, or a trio
of youths in knickerbockers, or a band Of
young girls, or both trio and hand together:
and from a cross street, near by, came the
calls and laughter of romping children and
the pulsating whirr of lawn mower. This
sound Harkless remarked as a ceaseless ac-
compartment to life in 'Rouen; even In the
middle OF the night there was always some
unfortunate, cutting grass.
When the daylight was all gone, aud the
stars had crept out, strolling negroes pa
trolled the sidewalks, drumming mandolins
and guitars, and others came and went. sing
ing, making the night Venetian. The un-
trained. joyous voices. chording eerily in
their sweet, racial minors, came on the air,
sometimes from far away But there swung
out a chorus from fresh,. Aryan throats, in
the house south OF Meredith's:
.lWhere. oh where are the grave old seniors?
! Safe, now, In the wide, wide world!'
doesn't that thrill you, boy?" said Mere
dith, joining the group about Harkless chair.
'"Those fellows arc sophomores, class OF
heaven knows what Aren't you feeling a
fossil, Father Abraham"
A banjo chattered on the lawn to the north
and soon a mixed chorus Of girls and boys
sang from there:
20, 'Arriet, I'm waiting, waiting alone out
ere"
Then a piano across the street sounded the
dearthful harmonies of Chopn's Funeral
March.
You may take your choice" remarked
Meredith, flckng a spark over the rail IN
the ash OF his cigar, "Chopping or Cheva-
lier.'
Chopin, my friend,'' said the lady who
had attached herself to Harkless She tapped
Toms shoulder with her fan and smiled, gra-
ciously corrective.
THANK you, Miss Hinsdale.'' he answered.
gratefully. And as u, perhaps, had better
saw since otherwise there might be pause
and am the host we have wide selection.
In addition to what is provided at present, ]
predict that within the next ten minutes
talented girl who lives two doors south Will
favor us with the Pilgrims Chorus, piano ar
rangement, break down in the middle, and
drift: into *Rastus on Parade while double
quartet of middle aged colored gentlemen un-
der our own Jim will make choral Offering IN
our own back yard
MY dear Tom exclaimed Miss Hinsdale,
.you forget Wetherford Swift!
II could stand 1t all" put forth the widow
ar, "lf it were not for Wetherford Swift.
when is Miss Sherwood coming home?
asked one of the ladies. why does she stay
away and leave him to his sufferings?'
.Us to his sufferings.'' substituted a bach
elor HE Is just beginning; listen
Through all the other sounds Of music
there penetrated from an unseen source
SaWiSh, Scraped VlDraLlOn OIL CalSut, PatueLlC
insistent, painstaking and painful beyon<
belief. f
HE is in terrible way a'sht'" said tn
widower.
Miss Hinsdale laughed. Worse ever,
night. The volnist is young Wetherfor'
Swift" she explained to Harkless. "He
very much in love, and it doesn't agree witt
him, He used to be such a pleasant boy, bu
last winter he went quite mad over Helel
Sherwood, Mr.. Merediths cousin, our beau
ty you know-I am SO sorry she isn't here
you'd be interested in meeting her, m sure
and he took up the VIOLIN
s'It is said that his family took up chloro
form at the same time said the widower
His music is barometer continued tn
lady land by it the neighborhood night
observes whether Miss Sherwood has bee
nice to him not"
''It is always exceedingly plaintive," ex
planned another.
Except once rejoined Miss Hinsdale. III
played jigs when she came home from some
where or other in June -.
t'It was Tostis Let Me DE- the very mex
evening"" remarked the widower. ~
'tAh," said one of the bachelors, but hi
Joy was sadder for us than his misery. Hea
him now" -. -. .-5.. L.
II think he means it for What's this du
town to me- observed another. with som
rancor. II would willingly make the tow
sufficiently exciting for him" .,
''If there were not an ordinance against th
hurting of missiles finished the widower.