The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27

] asked
| in the next morning.
Il simply cannot do without you" he
declared as he helped her to take off her
wrap. He often got to touch her hand or
well, then, I'll tell you" she resumed.
If II was only your body that was ailing.
and you went away almost cured. you could
come back here for daily treatment,
| couldn't you? Very well, then" she con-
tinued. adjusting her back hair TO keep him
from grasping her. hand in delight. you
! can get lodgings near by and make your
| $500 last long time-and you can come
| here every morning TO have me read TO
afternoons you must hunt around and find
out what your business used TO be. Maybe
If you see someone working at it you will
! know. And we must find your name
1T seems hopeless" he replied, unless
| | get married and take the name of my
wife That is legal. | have heard"
lie rather liked this plan, but Miss Ash
i've thought of that" she replied quick
| ly, but you couldn't do it. You have to
have name of your own TO take out a
| license
There it was again, He could not do
anything without a name. not even change
But I've got splendid plan,'' she went
| on. we must go through the city directory
and when we find name like yours it may
| bring your own TO mind. | have an idea
| that your name will turn out TO be some
| thing like Earlynne, don't your
He couldn't seem to feel that way about
|
They sat side by side over the
big volume and their hair touched to-
| gether once in while He felt then and
| there, that nothing like his name would be
| found short of the rs.
That very day he rented rooms close by
and spent his afternoons watching people
| work.
Miss Ashton he confessed after about
! a week OF this, Il am afraid that whatever
my business was i did not like it. More
over. l fear there rs no business L would
like
Nonsense she, retorted after mo-
| ment OF troubled thought. You Just keep
on hunting. You don't look like lazy
person, at ALL"
That morning their shoulders touched as
| they sat porting over the directory and as
Ruth did not seem to notice it, the con-
| valescent held very, very still. They only
| finished one page that day.
| DO you know of any business" he
asked the next morning. where the sort
OF skill one uses in playing croquet would
| be of any use?'
'Croquet.' she gasped.
| Yes, croquet. You see' he explained.
| yesterday afternoon l came upon three
young ladies, playing that game and it
| came TO me that L knew all about it, They
had heard of my case and kindly let me-
| play, hoping the associations thus aroused
| would help me remember things. l pro yed
| TO he an expert and my partner was so de-
| lighted that she asked me to come back if
L thought it would help me find any of my
past Now might l not have done some
Miss Ashton ignored this question.
Where is this lawn" she demanded.
He told her as nearly as he could.
| That's Colonel Taylors house, she said.
| with peculiar snap in her eyes. lone of
the girls was tall. rather fady blonde.
wasn't wasn't she? l thought So That was Nellie
| Taylor And there was probably another
girl with freckes and snub nose? That
| was Silvia Reynolds, and the lother must
| have been Maud Adams-little and quick.
| and laughs a great deal to show her teeth.
| L SuDDOSe hac
| NO, said he, thoughtfully, Il don't think
l shall"
| II should" she urged quickly lit may
do you good. And they are very nice girls
She was very businesslike the rest of that
morning. and when their hair or shoulders
| touched she knew it instantly and edged
| sharply away. When she left she was still
very distant, and the next morning she
| brought her cousin along The two quar-
relied on the way home, though, and the
| ccnvalescent was very glad of il, for Miss
| Ashton came back the next morning more
| than ever determined to find out his name
| for him. She had a new plan this time.
case and sent it. with his photograph TO the
| big Sunday papers. He was feverish him
self to solve his riddle now.
| For, you See" he complained II am
| old enough now to marry, and il is distress
ing to think that if / should find the right
| girl would not dare to propose to her"
| IF you only knew what your business
| was, she unused III perplexity, Il am sure
some one in view of your unusual situa-
| ton. would help you to get good start.
| Papa is very philanthropic that way, when
/ make him be. Then you could pick out
name that suited you and have it fixed by
act or Congress. / think Earlynne quite
| pretty name don't your
do you like that better than your OWN
he asked eagerly.
IF / were to have my name changed-by
act of Congress- think l should choose
that name" she admitted, automatically,
though there might be others | would
come To like as we'll"
That night his happiness over this remark
was jolted by an idea That raised him up
| right In bed.
Suppose ne was already married,
1t was terrible thought and he dressed
| himself at once. Ii was only 10 O'clock,
| and he might yet Ruth out on the porch.
| If not, he could look at the house, and that
had often done him good when he was feel
| people had just left the Ashton gate, and
| Ruth stood there awhile. looking at the
stars. She was not at all startled when the
| convaiescent suddenly doomed out of the
| shadows and spoke TO her.
What IL | already have a wife!' he pro-
| pounded abruptly.
do you feel that maybe you have?" she
| asked. quickly.
"By no means" he answered, but IL is
new possibility, and it rather scared me
I'VE don't think you are married. de-
| clared Miss Ashton. in tone OF conviction.
| The matron has never seen married
mans linen In such splendid repair. But
you might be engaged. Indeed that is
"Ruth-Miss Ashton he protested II do
| not think | am engaged. but If am, | will
| never marry the girl. for do not love her.
| Since / have known you
| But YOU do not know me and you should
| not be here talking TO me. she remanded
him. You must remember that you are
only an unknown conyalescent that ! am
| To atone for her harshness she brought
| a fortune teller along early the next morn
ing to ferret out his past, present and fu-