The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-09
lCopyright by Lee & shepard.l

write. the one following the day when she
had chosen her monument, she entered
she glanced that way as usual, and for
moment her heart stood still. Then 1t
gave tempestuous bound Constance
never paused, but with flushed cheeks and
startled eyes, walked up the aisle to her
own seat, and the minister laid open the
big Bible. adjusted the long velvet book
mark laden with Maltese and Roman
crosses (Mrs. Hamilton's gift to the
modulated voice the morning lesson. But
ne could not prevent his heart from recog-
nizlng the pink flush on one woman's face
beautiful
And what occasioned IL? Only pair of
shoulders in the mill peoples pew; a pair
OF shoulders of square cut, yet peculiar
mold, that reminded her instantly of her
husband. Nothing else, less than moth
ing else, for the head above them was
covered with dark, almost black hair, and
shade.
AS Constance settled herself in her seat
she felt angry with herself at her folly, and
put the matter from her thoughts as she
bowed her head in prayer moment later.
God was her only refuge now. Though He
had seen fit to try her in the fires of af-
fiction, she would have faith that all would
come right sometime, somewhere; not in
this world, but in the next.
And back of her though she did not
know it, two eager eyes were fixed on
self. Beautiful
Finally, emotion gaining the mastery, he
whispered to Dan Fry, who sat nearest,
Who is that?"
"Who?"
Yes. the one that just came in with the
children"
turning away as he thought. Like enough
never went TO meetin' afOre."
But the showed no disposition TO
offend further by whispering in church,
w q a6
Dan never left his pew until Mrs. Hamilton
passed down the aisle after service from
natural obeisance to her superior claims on
his family and personal admiration as we'll.
There he stood stock still, and any one who
happened 10 be behind him did likewise,
for to push by the burly Dan would be
where. But to-day only Dan and the
stranger sat together. The pew had no
other occupant and the stranger had evil
IDENTIFY no objection TO lingering for a sight
seemed to impress him so strongly. AS she
came gracefully down the aisle In her
lustreless black silk gown and black bonnet
he gaZed eagerly into her face with a pair
that she grew faint for a moment. But she
rallied instantly and nodded pleasantly to
Dan while she allowed her gaze to rest
moment on his companion.
Yes, he resembled her husband, no doubt,
but the resemblance was far less striking
than at first she ina gined. His hair was
shorter and less erect. His eyes were like
Vane's in color and shape, but the express
sion was totally at variance; and his hair
as L have previously stated, was dark
brown. while Nanes was quite light. Be-
sides all this, his clothes were those of a
worlkingman's, his hands. though well
shaped enough, toil-worn and darkened.
He was also, or looked TO be, five or ten
years older than her husband. Mrs. Ham
ilton passed on, and little Clare came close
behind her, while Perley chung TO his moth
ers hand.
AS Glare brushed by the stranger he put
out his hand and touched her curls liz
lingering, caressng fashion that amazed
and offended Dan, who, however, could say
nothing in church. But Clare resented il
in her own fashion by drawing herself up
haughtily and looking him full in the face,
at which he shrank back humbly.
Happening to glance back at Clare, Mrs.
Hamilton saw the look and pitied him, for
she was constituted that she could never
bear to see any one humbled or hurt. She
therefore took occasion TO reprove Clare
going home.
You should never be naughty, partcu-
lary 10 one not 50 we'll placed as your
self my dear. The man meant no harm,
j am quite sure. No doubt he loves chill
dren and your hair looked pretty TO him."
He may look at it then, but don't care
to have a common person like him touch
my hair" replied Clare. quite unmollified,
and drawing herself up in a dignihed fash
ion.
Glare" asked her mother, hesitatingly,
did he resemble your papa in any way,
do you Think
NO, indeed mamma. not in any way at
all" very decidedly. Papa S hair was
light and this mans was dark and horrid,
and his hands were horrid. too. Papa's
were nice like mine.
II thought his eyes were like papa's
said Perley who liked to agree with his
mother.
Il thought so too Perley. but, of course.
he does not look as well.
mo, | should say not" said Clare; my
father was a very handsome man."
Mrs Hamilton noticed that for several
weeks the children spoke of their father in
the past tense as II for them ne had no
more existence, and it made her heart sink
at this confirmation. slight though II might
be, of her own mind.
The strange man she saw in church lin
gered in her thoughts during the week.
and was doubt pinned there by a strange
circumstance that came to her notice on
Tuesday evening AS she drew the curtains
at nightfall before lighting the lamps she
saw a man standing directly under a tall
tree that stood in the yard, which was
fenceless, and about rod from the win
dow. He appeared TO be looking directly
in but as soon as the curtains We're drawn
he shrank back, slowly turned away, and
walked down the street. This Mrs. Ham
ilton saw by holding the drapery little one
side and peering out. She was convinced
that the man was other than the one
she remarked at church. slight qualm
of fear came ever her moment,
I
| TO be such humble and pathetic
! figure as he timidly touched little Clare S
| hair, that she could not fear him. And
! again dawned before her intelligence the
sure If slight resemblance he bore TO her
| husband This she felt would attract her
| regard anywhere, but how could be ex-
| planned his interest in herself and children
| She could think OF adequate reason,
! though a Vainer woman would have found
/ its reason in her own beauty. Mrs Ham
! ilton however, had long ceased to find her
| own looks of interest 10 herself, and Ia
| speculate upon their influence on others
! II is safe TO say she never dreamed of the
| homes beginning TO fiutter in the breast OF
her minister. Mr.. Hammerly. She only
| thought of him an eloquent earnest
| minded minister who led her soul into
! deeper communion with those hopes and
/ aspirations which il alone afforded her
/ pleasure TO contemplate. But this other
| mani She would about as easily have
! looked on Dan Fry an admirer. She
| thought she understood the matter better
when she learned toward the last of the
week that he was boarding at Mrs. Fry's
! for she reasoned, Mrs. Fry has beer
| lauding me in her usual partial manner
| and naturally he has imbibed somethine
| of her opinion. Being a stranger in towr
he naturally takes the Fry estimate as
| mis- own" On Saturday night. therefore
| when she saw the man standing under
| the tree as before, she did not draw tn.
curtain until the lamp was lighted.
no Be Continued Tomorrow