The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-14

Yes, sir
Miss Milbrey wishes you to say to Mr..
Shepler that she is engaged
THAT I'm ILL.," she interrupted, still max
ing little struggles to twist from his grasp.
her head still bent down.
THAT she is engaged with Mr.. Bines,
Jarvis, and can't see him. Say IL that way
Miss Milbrey is engaged with Mr.. Bines,
and can't see you. "
He remained standing motionless, as he
had been, his eyes still fixed above them
But the eyes of Jarvis. from long training,
did not require to be bent upon those things
they needed 10 observe. They saw something
now that was at least two feet below their
range.
The girl made a little move with her right
arm, which was imprisoned fast between
them, and which some intuition led her
captor not to restrain. The firm little hand
worked its way slowly up, went creeping
over his shoulder and bent tightly about MS
neck.
Eyes, SIR" repeated Jarvis, without the
culver of an eyelid, and went.
He closed the door with his free hand,
and they stood as they were until they
heard the noise Of the front door closing and
the soft retreating footsteps of the butler.
"Oh, you were mean-mean-to shame me
So" and floods of tears came again.
II hated to, but had to; 1t was critical
moment. And you couldn't have made up
your mind without it..
She sobbed weakly in his arms, but her
own arm was still tight about his neck. He
felt it for the first time.
But | had made up my mind-I did make
close and she 10 longer resisted, but nestled
in his arms with quick little signs. as If re-
lleyed from great strain. be Kissed ner
forehead and hair as she dried her eyes.
Now rest little Then we shall CO."
I've so much to tell YOU That day at the
jeweler's-well, what could do but take one
poor last look of you-to keep"
Tell me II you care for me-.
''Oh, do, do, do care for you. have
ever since that day we walked in the woods
She threw her head back and gave him
her lips.
She was crying again and trying to talk:
Il did care for you, and that day thought
you were going to say something, but you
didnt-you were distant and troubled,
and seemed not even to like me-though
felt sure you loved me. l had thought you
were going to tell me. and I'd have accepted
yes, for the money-though liked you so
much. Why, when L first met you in that
mine and thought you were workman, I'm
not sure / wouldn't have married you IL you
had asked me. But it was different again
when 1 found out about you. And that day
in the woods thought something had come
between us. Only after dinner you seemed
kinder, and knew at once you thought bet
ter of me, and might even seek mel knew
it in the way a woman knows things she
doesn't know at all. went into the library
with a candle to look into the mirror, al
most sure you were going to come. Then
wasn't you'd been mistaken again-you
still disliked me. was disappointed and
hurt and heart-sick, and he kissed me and
soothed me. And after that directly 1 saw
through him, and L knew l truly did love
you just as I'd wanted to love the man who
would be my husband-only all that nom
into long kept me from seeing it at
first. But / was sure you didn't care for me
when they talked SO about you, and that
you never did care for her, did you-you
couldn't have cared for her. could you?-
and yet, after that night, I'd such queer
little feeling as If you had come for me, and
Surely a gentleman never sees anything
he wasn't meant to see."
I'm SO glad-I should have been so
ashamed"
They were still a moment, while he
stroked her hair.
They'll be turning in early tonight. hav-
ing to get up tomorrow and preach ser
mons-what a dreary place heaven must be
compared with this'
She sat up quickly.
"Oh, I'd forgotten. How awful 1t is. Isn't
1t awful?'
'It will soon be over"
But think of my people. and what's ex-
pected of me-think of Mr.. Shepler."
"Shepler's doing some hard thinking for
himself by this time
Really you're dreadful person"
There was knock.
THE cabman outside sir. says how long
is he to wait, sir?"
Tell him to wait all night IL / don't
come; tell him if he moves off that spot I'll
have his license taken away. Tell him I'm
the mayors brother
"And. Jarvis. who's in the house besides
Miss Briggs. the maid. sir-but she's just
ready to go out, sir.
stop her-say Miss Milbrey wishes to ask
favor of her; and Jarvis"
Yes, sir!''
Go put on that neat black street coat of
yours that fits you so beautifully in the
back. and purple cravat, and your shiny
hat, and wait for us with Briggs. We shall
want you I'm a moment"
Yes, Mr.. Bines."
She looked at him wonderingly.
I'VE need two witnesses, you know. /
learned that from Oldaker just now"
But do give me a moment, everything is
all SO whirling and hazy."
Eyes. / know-like the solar system i'm its
nebulous state. Well, hurry and make those
worlds take shape. i can give you sixty sec
onds to find that I'm the North Star. Ach!
/ have the DIR. Won Herzlich been ge-speak-
ing with-come, come. What's the use of
hours here now, dilly-dallying along But
then, woman never does know her own
mind Put a thing before her-all as plain
as the multiplication table-and she must
use up Just so much good time telling a man
that he's crazy-and shedding tears because
he won't admit that two times two are thir-
for another five minutes. thinking intently
Come, times up.
She arose.
I'm ready I shall marry you. IL you
think + m the woman To help you in that big
new life of yours. They meant me not to
know about Fred's marriage until after
ward
He kissed her.
II feel so rested and quiet now as IL I'd
taken down a big old gate and let the place
rush in me. m sure it's right. I'm sure
can help you.
She picked up her hat and gloves
Il haf he nv Ax
hair
II can't let you out of my sight. yet. I'm
incredulous. Perhaps in seventy-five or
eighty years
Il thought you were so sure
while / can reach. yes"
She gave low. delicious little laugh She
reached both arms up around him, pulled
down his head and kissed him
.'There-boy,"
She took up the hat again.
'I'll be down In a moment"
'I'I be up in three. if you're not"
When she had gone he picked up an enve-
lope and put bill inside.
Jarvis he called.
The butler came up from below, dressed
for the street.
Jarvis. put this envelope in the inside Of
that excellent black coat of yours and <ha nd
it-afterward-to the gentleman we're going
to do business with.
Yes. Mr.. Bines-'
"And put your cravat down in the back.
Jarvis-it makes you look excited the way
it is now
Yes. sir: thank you. sir.''
lis Briggs ready?
she's waiting. sir
Go out and get In the carriage. both CT
you"
Yes. .sirr'
He stood in the hallway waiting for her.