The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08

i
very small allowance. and she has no idea
that she is an heiress. / have always put
IL clearly before her that 1 shall select
suitable husband for her myself. and
think she will be quite ready to obey in
the matter"
''Hum-yes-perhaps. All the same, we
will not tell her that we want her TO marry
| Alan" observed Mrs. Henson. thoughtsully.
My opinion is that young people are exact
ly like Irish pigs. If you want them TO go
in one direction you must drive them forci-
bly, in another"
AHA. that's very true. Well. but sup
pose they take a fancy to each other to-
| day?"
Then we must oppose them tooth and
nail"
You always were a clever girl. Ellen"
said the old man admiringly.
And you always were a foolish boy,
john" replied the old woman playfully.
Meanwhile the two young people were
looking at the sea. or ostensibly doing so.
whilst all the time they were stealing side
/ glances at each other.
How big and strong and handsome he
is" thought the girl
How sweet and dainty and charming
she is" thought the boy.
They were both rather shy; but though
he was twenty-five and she only nineteen
| it was Muriel who found courage to start
the conversation.
| How funny. They were so taken up
with each other they never introduced US"
she said, laughlngly. Here we are left
to talk to each other and we don't even
know one another's names or who we are"
4 w hot rfu o.
replied Alan. Il am Alan Henson, and
am Mrs. Henson's grandson-and your"
| My name is Muriel Gray, and Lord
Learman is my grandfather"
And they proceeded to make other in
teresting discoveries and condolences to
to each other Their fathers we're both
dead-~They had no brothers and sisters
They had neither OF they ever had much
| fun or pleasure in their lives. Alan lived
with his grandmother in the little Dover
| House by the side of the big park in the
north of England That was his own, but
| 1t was let to strangers because he would
never be rich enough to live in it himself
unless-but never mind that. Where did
| Miss Gray live? Did she ever have good
times, and go TO dances and picnics? But
Muriel shook her head sadly Her life was
4
who had spine complaint and lay on the
| sofa all day. and her grandfather, who was
a cripple with rheumatism. She had never
been to dance or a party in her life.
"Ah, WELL" said Alan, I'VE are both
rather unfortunate, think but am worse
off than you are" And then he told her
the story of his impoverished acres. 1t had
been decided that when the present ten
1 H.
as they were going to do in years time
the place would have to be sold.
And it's such a lovely old place." he
went on. 'It has been for more than two
| hundred years in my family-a great grey
stone house, surrounded by a moat, with
| ivy growing half over it. and beautiful
| carved chimneys, and a big gateway like
a cathedral porch; and, oh, Miss Gray,
such gardens! Long green walks and ter
races, and old yews and mulberry trees,
| with borders always gay with dear old
| fashioned flowers. And there is ruined
/ chapel at one side, and great still lake
covered with water-lilies at the other: and
beyond there is the park, and an avenue
| Of lime trees half a mile long. And such
glades and woods! Such glorious oaks and
chestnuts, and a hawthorn dell that is
1
bells in the early summer. You never saw
such a beautiful park as Henson is! -
II never saw such a park in my life," re-
| piled Muriel, earnestly. My mother lives in
London. My grandfather lives here at
Brighton. never seem to have seen any
thing else. Don't you love Henson Park
very much?"
Love it, 1 should think dol love every
/ cbrt1f
in it all my life. for though it has been let
since my father died, yet I have always
been able to ramble over the place as l
| liked and the Dover House, where granny
lives, is inside the park. Just think what it
would be to see il sold and cut up into
building lots!' and Alan's eyes filled with
tears as he spoke.
Muriers eyes filled too out of sympathy.
"Oh. but that would be dreadful she
cried. Can nothing be done? Can't you
| work and make some money!"
The boy shook his head. mot enough,
/ am afraid. Besides, it would take years and
years-till was quite old-however hard 1
/ worked; and next year there are some
mortgages to be paid off, All. you don't
understand about that. But, anyhow. the
lawyers say it must be sold 10 pay off these
debts.''
And you can do-nothing? Nothing?"
The girls eyes were full Of a sweet COM
| passion. Alan thought he had never re-
| ceived such a measure of divine pity in his
life before. His brow grew dark with misery
"a misery which he had often dimly fore
seen but had never really understood be-
fore. The brooding shadow of his life took
shape and substance now.
Yes" he answered. in a stifed voice,
there is one thing that can do-that am
told I must do"
And that one thing?"
us to marry a rich woman don't love.
so that 1 may save the home of my
| fathers"
| There was a silence.
| Muriel looked away across the sea.
And" she said in a queer little hard
voice. ''you have made up your mind to do
this one thing then--to-to sell yourself for
money!"
What am 1 to do?" he cried. vehement