The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26


another question If you should choose to
permit it,
And what may IL be?'
mo other than where are you going"
For a moment she looked at me with that
CLINT in her eye, and then burst into as
merry a fit of laughter as it has been my
lot to hear. 1 looked at her in Amusement.
not unmixed with irritation, and off she
went in another ripple, till I had nigh
broken forth into more remarks that would
doubtless have called down other sarcasms.
IT'S no doubt most ludcrous," said l
at length, somewhat bitterly, but 1 have
not yet discovered that side of it and cam
not join your humor"
"Oh, can you not, indeed?" she laughed.
Gould you but look on your face at this
moment you'd discover soon enough"
81 do not see what my face. ludicrous as
II may be, has in common with the end of
your Journey"
why, I am travelling with my"
turned quickly upon her and she
stopped and flushed as red as the morning
sun but couple of hours ago.
IL am going to a place just above
here she stammered with a sober face.
And I would tell you, sir. in order that
you may not misjudge me, that have run
away from home because"
Because" said l. in spite of myself.
for 1 should have asked hours ago had
dared
Because 1 chose to- she answered, and
then. turning two eyes on me that BODIED
no good in them to those who crossed her.
she went on, sitting straight up in the old
saddle; because they will learn some day
that / will do what see fit to do, and will
not do what neither God nor man should
expect of me-
Who is it, wonder, that says something
of the lucidity of a womans mind? 1
knew more why she had left her home,
if she had one, than 1 did before her re-
ply, but 1 would no more have asked al
that moment for definite information than
would have banged my head against yon-
der big maple by the roadside. So 1 held
my peace and she sat there astride her
horse with her head up and the glance of a
queen.
She was going to some place about here
Then l could get on my way and attend to
my mission. That was what 1 wanted. no
doubt. 1t would be lucky thing for me to
get my mind on my work and carry it
L
and a load was lifted from my shoulders.
why do you look so glum?' said she.
do you perhaps take their side?''
God forbid, MISTRESS said 1. They
might go to Limbo before L would stretch
out hand to help them II was thinking
of other matters"
"Oh. were you, indeed? I suppose that
you so accustomed to riding about the
earth with women that their conversation
wearies you
1 lifted my hand to interrupt her, but she
went rushing on:
And l would ask you a question, too
Mr.. Balfort. Will you give me that pa
peri"
THAT paper?" said I in amazement
Eyes, sir That paper which you have
in your pocket and which l signed last
night" and 1 saw a bit of color go slowly
over her face and into her hair as she
looked at me and then at Rogers nose
and then back to me.
why, 1 think-I fear it is lost" I NUT
tered.
do not lie to me, sir. It's in your
pocket. l saw you put it there when twas
signed"
And 1 drew the scrawled slip from
my pocket and handed it to her as she had
bid. She took it slowly and looked at it
for moment as the horses walked on
quietly, and then she put it between the
lacings of her bodice, and the color ran
over her face again like the little haze that
passes across the moon of a windy night
Look" said she suddenly. I'VE are COM
ing to village. See the houses 1 think
/ will walk a Bit
1 got down, and she, looking at me with
a little smile, placed her two hands on my
shoulders and let me lift her out of the
ungainly saddle and set her on the ground,
wondering the while how so much temper
and changeableness could possibly be con-
tanned in such a little body, for she could
not have weighed eight stone. AS l threw
the reins of the two horses over nv arm
and started along the only partly dried
ruts by her side she laughed that little
laugh again.
"Of what do you suppose 1 am thinking,
Mr.. Balfort?'
Heaven forbid that should pretend to
guess, madam"
Il am thinking" she answered. and
laughed again-"I am thinking that if I do
not have something to eat this minute
shall die"
THE devil take me for careless lout. ;,
1 cried, and forthwith drew out from nv
pocket dirty bit of paper-the only thing
l could find at the tavern-and opened ont
a moderately clean piece of bread and a
slice two Of ham She looked up at me
in surprise and impulsively held out her
hand.
you are good. thoughtful man after
ALL"
And I, I. this same Balfort-what the
fiend had got into my crop this day?-I
raised it and put my lips to the little
knuckles.
AHA, sir" she cried with a twinkle in
her eye. Boston is not so far from his
Majesty's court 1 have been led to in
fer!' / dropped the hand as if it had been
hot cake, and turned to the horses, ours
ing myself for an ass.
Then she sat down by the roadside on a
rock and proceeded TO eat the bread and
ham with as healthy an appetite as il she
had just come from a canter across the
meadows on her favorite mare After a
bit we searched about between the road
and the river, and at last came upon a
pretty spring glittering in the sunshine.
and 1 showed her to lie at full length and
drink from the pool itself.
So we walked on into the village through
II and on out into the country again. She
had refused TO rest. as l suggested. in one
of the houses. giving no reason except that