The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-13
Ichapter XII. Continued from Yesterday

mothers lasting gratitude she showed such a
friendship for Edes as to cause gossip.
[chapter XII. Continued from Yesterday
He seemed rather to avoid her, she
thought, and she reasoned it would do no
harm TO be kind TO him. So whenever she
went to Mrs. Fry's. or CHANGED to encounter
him elsewhere, she would invariably say
a few words in a gentle, gracious way
that to him seemed divine
She was a musician of more than ordi-
nary gifts, and when she CHANGED to hear
him playing one evening In his room while
she sat talking below with Mrs Fry, she
was charmed into forgetfulnesS of her err
rand by the rare melody.
why, / did not know he could play like
that?" she said. as the wonderful strains
ceased-strains which seemed to be drawn
from the intense passionate nature of the
performer, rather than from the violin
itself; for ii was as an interpreter OF soul
wrought emotions, of an enwrapt mood,
that he played. rather than set music or
hackneyed chords.
Yes. an it's only lately he's. took it
up" said Mrs Fry $50 he says.
us il possibe.'' said Constance.
AS she took her way homeward over the
crisp snow, for it was winter now, the pas
sionate strains followed her until she
reached her own door and she knew that
he must have opened his window so that she
might hear him.
Strange, inexplicable man. Would
he have left her as Nane did with those
mysterious journeys all unexplained? All!
but to doubt her husband now with the
clods of suspicion weighing him down.
oryl She, his wife; and to give her
thoughts, any of them, TO another man
she. Constance Hamilton, hitherto proud or
her own virtue and rectitude and, IKE
one of Tcnnyson's fair women, proud OF
her pride!
Down on her knees went Constance at
the thought. and she prayed fervently to
be set right. to have taken from her all
that interfered with her husbands memory
But even while she prayed sweet strains
seemed TO importune her TO listen. and the
sad, haunting eyes of Primus Edes to be
looking into her very soul.
So matters progressed; but no word was
spoken between them that the world might
not have heard though the undercurrent
of intense feeling ran as wildly as ever
beneath the gentle manner of Constance
and the reserve of Mrs Fry's boarder who
went daily to the mill and fuihiled his
allotted task of manual labor with scrupu
lous fidelity.
The facts of Mrs. Hamilton's presents to
him had just become known in the neigh
borhood, and even reached TO the ears OF
the Rev. Arthur Hammerly, who had lately
been venturing to speculate how soon he
might approach Mrs. Hamilton with some
little attention whose gentle office ii might
be to fix her regard upon himself.
From his window he could look into the
marble yard where monument was being
finished: and once, with a satisfaction OF
which he was ashamed he had taken
field glass and read the inscription growing
on the marble under the workman's chisel'
Vane Ha-. So far ii had progressed.
The wife believed him dead. Why. then,
might not he indulge a hope? And that
day the minister plunged into study with
vigor that surprised himself His sermon
next Sabbath must be of exceptional fervor
and depth. She should feel this new hope
in his breast lifting 1t TO new heights and
aspirations of heavenly bliss. Those up
lifted orbS of hers were ever before him
that day.
But the next day he heard of the strange
infatuation said to exist in the mind of
Mrs Hamilton for a humble workman at
her uncle's mill. Mr.. Hammerly remem-
bered him. A dark. sallow-faced man with
brown hair and beard of reddish brown,
but with eyes of a strange brilliance and
beauty Evidently man of downcast.
brooding habit, quiet and orderly Of de-
meanor. but with nothing, il would seem,
to attract the regard of a woman like Con-
stance Hamilton.
STAY, Did he not resemble her husband
slightly? Certainly he did. Mr.. Hammerly
certainly a resemblance in this dark-haired,
STOPPING, sallow-faced workman to the
handsome. upright. light-haired mill owner
and cashier. Striking. though slight! If
Mrs Hamilton noticed him in any way
il was because of this.
Mr.. Hammerly called to see her that
day, and left her with warmer pressure
OF the hand than usual. But her thoughts
were otherwise occupied and she did not
notice il.
In another part of the country Bruce
lately crossed the ocean, and Swan, coaxed
into an allegiance with Bruce's plans and
theories, was in his turn struggling with
certain written disclosures and directions
far from plain or reasonable because set
down when Bruce was Ill and his mind
unsettled by the vagaries of illness. These
causes combined to prolong matter which
but for this might have earlier found the
light, perhaps. At all events, Bruce was
sure that he was on the right track now,
and sought TO make it known to Swan
who, however, was doubtful.
Thus matters stood Constance swayed
by strong emotion; two men, by dreams
OF love and its fulhlment; towering monu-
ment sometimes glistening meath the
grudging winter sunlight, but oftener mere
ly cleaning purely, frostily white
with its full inscription now, vANE
HAMILTON, and ready for the
cemetery when spring should open;
carpkg, prosaic village, with buy
ing and selling and eating and sleeping
going on as il will to the end, while just
outside it's limits and that of the present
an astounding event was walking straight
toward it in the person of a tall, handsome,
light-haired man who aighted unnoticed
from the train one afternoon in February.
He was passing by the marble establish
ment of Lisle Allen when Mr.. Allen
door door for "a lady to pass out and saying: the
II am glad it pleases you, Mrs. Ham
ilton."
Yes, ii pleases me very WELL" said the
lady in a sweetly modulated voice.
and was staring past them both at the
cleaning marble at which they were look
ing. a curious, slightly humorous glance,
followed by a graVer one came into his
face as he noticed the black-clad woma n
slight hesitation was manifested in his
manner He took a step forward and then
halted. The marble cutter was looking at
him now curiously, and the ladys glance
followed his for an instant Then a shrek
was wrung from her white lips and her
voice rang out in the wild cry, ''Vane
Hamilton my husbandi' and she fell or
would have done If Mr.. Allen had not
caught her and placed her in a large arm
chair Ana still he stood there, though ter
ribly moved. as could be plainly seen. until
Mr.. Allen. whose mind grasped the situa-
ton, said as quietly as he could, Your
wife has tainted Mr. Hamilton. for | pre-
sumo you are that gentleman"
I am, but his eyes turned toward the
name on the monument rather than 10
mis- wife's face.
Your wife thought by your long absence
that you were dead, and this was to have
beea erected in the spring" explained Mr.
Allen
Yes. l supposed So My absence was
unavoidable" replied Mr.. Hamilton. briefly.
and then ne looked fully at mis- wife for the
first time since entering. But he did not
now approach her. Instead. he suffered his
gaze To rest on the beautifully chiseled
face as white as his own monument the
gracious curves of her tall slender form
the white hand fallen TO the floor. until
charms. IL was an intense. adOring gaze.
like that of a lover rather than the master
ful one of a husband.
The man looking at him wondered: hut
he did not know Mr. Hamilton. so ne
wondered less. Presently. however. as a