The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-16
Mrs. BALFRAYS NIECE
BY
sERGEANr.

poehs are supposeu u 10
rather dificult."
Eyes. very"
ID you like them?'
Some OF Them" May answered, demure-
iy, with down-dropped lids.
Parcelsus' isn't the volume for a be-
ginner. you know. You should read the
lyrical poems first"
What are lyrical poems, please?" asked
May.
Come for a little turn with me in the
garden. and I'll try to explain said Frank,
eagerly.
And he explained for two hours.
About the end OF that time she observed,
rather unexpectedly: IT did not know that
you cared about book~s-especialIy poetry.
L thought you were fond OF fishing and
shooting-of killing things-and of nothing
else"
VINO gave you so low an idea of me?"
L suppose my aunt did. but she did not
mean 1t tc be a low idea, Mr.. Lowell. She
only spoke as If you and the fishing were
inevitably associated in her mind"
"Ah.' well. you must forgive her. She
only sees me when 1 come down with my
rod; but / assure you I don't do much
harm to the fish,"
What do you do, then? You go off for
hours at a time-you must forgive me for
noticing it,"
oh, L moon around" said Lowell, lightly
enough. II like to look at che old place now
ana then; L lived here once. you know,
when l was a little boy"
Then you like S~elsby?'
Don't your" said Frank, smiling.
Il think it perfectly lovely. =. But why
don't you live here If you like the place SO
much?'
Duty calls me elsewhere. To tell the
truth, I am poor, and I have TO earn my
living. / am a miserable bankers clerk
May looked at him m~editatively. 81 have
seen bankers clerks before now" she said,
land / always thought they were consid.
cred a very enviable class Of beings. TIC
get a post in a bank-I have heard 1t held
up as quite an honorable ambition"
Was there a touch of mockery in her
tone? Frank drew up his head and looked
her full i'm the face.
Excuse me, Miss Balfray," he said. "Dc
you think my life enviable? Then assure
you that you ere very much mistaken. The
only moments of my life when I consider
myself happy or enviable are those in which
l can get away from my vile drudgery anG
forget that London exists"
He parted from her with scant ceremon
after this speech, but the girl forsave him
She saw that she had ficked him on tht
raw. hat she had inflicted a wound where
she had meant only to touch with a finger
She was sorry. and she was ashamed, fol
she had misunderstood him from her aunt.
account.
Frank left the inn without an opportunit,
for any more conversation with her; blu
on the following Sunday, to Mrs. Balfray'i
great surprise, he returned.
well, 1 never!" she exclaimed to he
niece. IF here isn't Mr.. Frank againi
don't know what he will do, May, If 1 Civ,
up the inn as you want. He'd not nave
place that would be half such a home t,
him as this"
THE people who take the inn could b,
told to pay him every attention." said Ma,
in a low voice. Don't say anything t
him, auntie, about leaving
mot IL you don't wish 1t, my DEAR" sait
Mrs. Balfray, meekly. And If Frank ha,
heard her he might have wondered at tn,
submissiveness OF her tone.
Instead Of taking his usual tramp acros
the fields and through the woods, Franz
Howell lounged about the inn that after
noon and evening. avoiding the front door
with the bar n bar parlor, and chief,
frequenting the old-fashioned garden an,
the poultry yard at the back, where tn
long. low farm buildings and clubhouse
gave an air Of rural domesticity to the oil
village inn. Here at last he came upol
MAJ foa1i.- 81. Dl> 49, o--- 49,
her dress tucked UP, her sun bonnet title
as usual on the back of her rufied darl
head.
you here, again. Mr.. Lovell?'' she saic
Stimulating surprise.
eyes. Miss Balfray. Can I help you I
feed the chickens?"
I'm afraid not"
"Or give you another lesson in Brown
ing?"
May looked across the yard and hesitatet
but a smile lowered at the corner Of he
lips.
my father is coming the day after tc
morrow she said, with curious incense
quence.
Monday? Well, I should generally b
gone by tina time said Frank, but as
UdpDtnS VIZ u hOAhOoy Oh Oi0 =
1 can stay until the early train on Tues
day"
'"In that case" said May. with a bright
ening smile, there will be plenty OF tim
for Browning"
And for a good deal more than Brownin,
as Frank was soon to know.
They sat out in the orchard that nigh
and the light of the moon came to thel
through the Pickering leaves, and the night
ingale sang in the wood close by. Fran
could not see to read; but he had a goo
memory and a sweet voice, and he II
peated some of the easiest lyrics, sue
as even a village girl might understan'
with very great effect.
May said little, but her silence was fu
of comprehension. Frank felt that he Ia
never met with a nature as congenial I
his own as hers.
He fiung back his head and looked up 6