The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-09
CHAPTER TX.
A PAIR OF SHOULDERS.

August and September had slipped away,
and Grovedale was all a-crimson and a-gold
with October glory. From sky to earth
the marvelously clothed trees and shrubs
draped the prosaic little village as with
curtains let down between it and the out
side world. Constance felt shut in with
her trouble which seemed to be cast in
upon her as if she need seek for no help
in bearing her burden.
Lately she had come to feel that as no
clew could be found of her husband, they
might lie buried in the cemetery with the
remains brought to light by the searching
party. Surely, she reasoned, if he had
been i'll and recovered, he would have re-
turned: if dead. something would have
reached her. This. If he was innocent To
be impartial she looked at the other side,
and reasoned that if guilty some trace
would have been found of him. With
woman's inconsistency she would not admit
his identity as Ashley for. if so. there was
the beautiful green-haired woman to be
considered. And yet, though exercised from
her waking thoughts, this same woman
played always an important part in her
dreams
Ii cannot be denied that Constance pre-
ferred to think of her husband as dead
rather than untrue to her; and, as wishes
tint ones thoughts daily, till the color
becomes strong and enduring after a time
so Constance chose to think of herself
as a widow-a widow bereft of her hus-
band, who had died in the discharge of
his duty, and doubly a martyr, since his
townsmen denied him his dues of honor
but instead covered his remains with OBJ
loquy. She did not wear the widows GRAPE
though she considered we'll before eschew-
ing it, but the deepest, most sombre black;
and her children she dressed in black and
white. No one was hard-hearted enough
to question her course. though her uncle
privately considered it a foolish one
Dead to her, no doubt of that" he NUT
tered. but let her dress in black if she
wants to. She never looked half so hand
some in anything else" and he laughed to
himself. ''She may marry again some time
l would hold UP both hands for it."
Constance would have been deeply Of
Tended if she had mstrusted his thoughts.
Her heart was with Vane in all her mus
ings. 1t was as if she had put on widow
hood and carefully buried all memory of
anything unpleasant which may have arisen
between them in the long past. Always
good, always thoughtful. Vane was the one
perfect man she had known. Now he was
| dead. she would fulfill every wish he had
! ever expressed. and would endeavor to do
/ in other things as he would have done had
he lived.
| branch of a famous marble business
had recently been opened in Grovedale
and though Mr.. Allen, the manager, had
| been but few weeks in town, the time
was quite long enough for him TO become
| conversant with the history of the savings
| bank cashier, and TO know Mrs. Hamilton
we'll by sight. He was somewhat mystifed
/ therefore. by her coming to him to consult
| about procuring a monument to place over
| the remains of her husband.
Mr.. Allen had two pet phrases of his own
| which he usually met his customers with
| He would look mournful as his jolly face
would let him, and ask either, "Ah, when
did Mr.. or Mrs.-as the case might be-
monument up now that you wish to ex-
change toward the new?' and in this case
as the first did not seem to be exactly
appropriate. he chose the last phrase
| No said Constance, in her sweet low
treble; but i wish something to be set as
soon as the spring opens; something plain
yet rich and elegant"
| "A monument or tablet, madam
| "A monument.
lamented husband is dead Mrs. Hamil
! toni"
There is no doubt of il. sir; none what
| ever
Mr.. Allen without word placed befor,
her some cuts representing the different
| STYLES in Scotch granite and Italian
| marble, and she finally chose one of tn,
finest marble with granite base.
| Have you chosen the inscription" h,
! asked, hoping that she would not have i
! commemorate his virtues as faithful
cashier. She was quite likely 10. though
/ he and if so. DETACHMENT was possible by
| the more ignorant class of people who be
/ Iieved in the guilt of Hamilton, he hal
| been told. But her good taste saved he
this.