The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21
CHAPTER XIV.
WHEN SHALL THESE THREE MEET


| AGAIN?
| Christmas Eve in Cloisterham few strange
faces in the Streets a few other faces. half
strange and half familiar. once the faces Of
| Cloisterham children now the faces of
and women who come back from the outer
world at long intervals TO find the city Won
derfully shrunken in size, If IT had not
washed by any means we'll in the meanwhile.
] To these the striking Of the Cathedral clock,
and the cawing of the rocks from the Cathed-
! raj tower like voices Of their nursery
| time. To such as these, il has happened in
| their dying hours afar off, that they have
! imagined their chamber-hoor 10 be strewn
! with the autumnal leaves fallen from the elm
| trees in the Close: have the rustling sounds
| and fresh scents of their earliest impressions
revived when the circle of their lives was very
nearly traced, and the beginning and the end
| were drawing close together.
Seasonable tokens are about Red berries shine
here and there in the attices OF Minor Canon
Corner; Mr.. and Mrs Tope daintily sticking
sprigs Of holly into the carving and sconces OF
the cathedral stalls. as if they sticking
| them into the coat buttonholes of the dean and
chapter Lavish profuson is in the shops:
! particularly in the articles of currants, raisns
| spices, candied peel and moist sugar. An I'M
| usual air of gallantry and dissipation is abroad;
| evinced in immense bunch Of mistletoe hang
| ing in the green grocer's shop doorway, and a
| poor little twelfth cake, eliminating In the fig
| ure of a harlequin-such very poor little
! twelfth cake that one would rather call it
| twenty-fourth cake forty-eighth cake TO be
ratified for at the pastry cooks terms one shll-
ing per member Public amusements not
| wanting The waxwork which made deep
an impression the reflective mind of the
Emperor of China is to be seen by particular
desire during Christmas week only, the
premises Of the bankrupt livery stable keeper
UP the lane; and grand comic Christmas
pantomime is to be produced at the theater; the
latter heralded by the portrait OF Signor Jack
sonini the clown, saying: How do you do to-
morrow" quite as large as life and almost as
miserably In short, Cloisterham is up and
| doing: though from this description the high
school and Miss Twinkleton's are TO be ex-
| cuded From the former establishment the
scholars have gone home. every one Of them in
love with one Of Miss Twinkleton's young ladies
(who know nothing about iO; and only the
handmaidens hutter occasionally in the win
dows of the latter. II is noticed, by-the-bye,
| that these damsels become. within the limits Of
decorum more skittish when thus intrusted with
4 the concrete representation Of their sex. than
| when dividing the representation with Miss
Twinkleton's young ladies.
Three are TO meet at the gatehouse tonight.
| How does each one Of the three get through
| the day?
| Neville Landless, though absolved from his
books for the time by Mr.. Crisparkle-whose
fresh nature is by no means insensible to the
charms of a hohday-reads and writes in his
| quiet room, with a concentrated air. until it is
two hours past noon. He then sets himself to
clearing his table. to arranging his books and
to tearing up and burning his stray papers. He
makes a clean sweep of all untidy accumua-
| tions, puts all his drawers in order and leaves
no note scrap of paper undestroyed, save
| such memoranda s bear directly his studies
This done, he turns to his wardrobe, selects a
few articles Of ordinary wear-among them,
change of stout shoes and socks for walking
and packs these in knapsack. This KNAPP
, sack is new and he bought il in the High street
, | yesterday. He also purchased. at the time
and at the same place, heavy walking stick;
strong in the handle for the grip of the hand.
and iron-shod. He tries this swings IT. poses
t IL and lays it by. with the knapsack. win
dow seat. BY this time his arrangements are
complete.
He dresses for going out and is in the act Of
! the Minor Canon on the staircase coming out
of his bedroom upon the same story-when he
, ing he will carry it now. Mr.. crisparle. who
has paused on the staircase, sees II in his hand
| on his Immediately reappearing, takes IL from
5 him and asks him. with smile, how he chooses
subject he answers. Il chose it for its
weight"
E TO rest upon in long walk STRIP
Rest upon?" repeats Mr.. Crisparkle. throwing
upon it; you merely balance with it.
Il shall know better with practice, sir.
True, says Mr. CrisParke Get into a
miles tSgetbsr should leave you ie RowSeTe
now. Do You come back before dinner?"
Mr.. Crisparkle gives him bright nod and a
/ | cheerful goodbye; expressing mot without in
Na9e Psn to he Nu ana asess and
quests that Miss Landess may be informed
that her brother is there by va appointment As
threshold; for he is on his parole not to put
His sister is at Least as mindful Of the obi
| They meet affectionately, avoid lingering there
and walk towards the upper inland country.
ground Helena says Neville when they have
walked some distance and are turning ''you
will understand in another moment that 1 can
e not help referring to-what shall say?-ny in
Had you not better avoid 1t. Neville? You
a know that can hear nothing"
has heard. and heard with approval ''''' ''''
Yes; can hear so much.
I Ting and interfering with other people How
s do l know that, but for my unfortunate pres
party. our engaging guardian excepted miHbi
a be dining cheerfully in Minor Canon Corner To-
4 can see too well that I am not high in the old
= lady's opinion and it is easy to understand
what irksome clog I must be upon the hos
: FATALITIES of her orderly hOuse-especially this
q time of year-when must be kept asunder from
| this person, and there is such reason Tor my
| not being brought into contact with that person
and unfavorable reputation has preceded me
| with such another person. and 50 on. ! have
G / put this very gently TO Mr.. Crisparkle, for you
| know his self-denying ways. but still l have
Z | put it, What 1 have laid much greater stress
| upon at the time Is that engaged IN
: | a miserable struggle with myself. and that
| little change and absence may enable tC
= | come through il the better. SO. the weather
| being bright and hard. | going a walk
: | ing expedition. and intend taking myself OF
Z | everybody's way (my own included, l hope) TO-
:. | morrow morning"
when 20 come back2'
: I'm fortnight"
"And going quite alone?'
ITO BE Continued Tomorrow