The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06

AAltIu whose mousse IS empty VINO mas
beautiful art collection. and he wants to
have it catalogued. and If 1 care 20 do it.
he thinks be can get me the work. and you
know the little Hunts are going away next
week. and 1 should have nothing 10 do for
a month";"
EFT sounds al right" said Mrs. Liver
sedge, with the air of a woman who is de-
termined to find motive underlying every
kind deed.
She was brushing Esthers hair as she
loved 10 do. and the golden tresses fell about
her IN q ghttering cloud Her little room
was scrupuo!Usly neat, with its shelf OF
well-worn books. its small white bed its
writing table and few pictures and Inorsels
OF choice china, brought from the old house
at Norton. What different life this was
from what she had once expected Essie to
leadi Life was such d sapOinting affair
altogether, ana Mrs. Liversedge had begun
10 lose all nope that matters might be i'm
proved, Tor Spituega te-TOad was a place
where no one succeeded and no one got
beyond the means to provide the bare neces-
ssries of life. Some people let lodgings in
Spittlegate-rOad. and here and there poor
little shop struggled on precariously. Cost
ermongeTS came up II, crying hOarsely, and
Watercress men made the day hideOus with
their shoutings. When Essie had Grifted
there after her brothers fall. she had felt
the gray dinginess Of the place. but now
she was accustomed TO il, and now and
again when she could afford it, she bought
golden daffodils and scarlet wind anemOnes
10 delgnt her eyes with a spot or color. But
just lately every penny had been boarded
towards the journey 10 Darkheld.
John. said Mrs. Liversedge. when she
was putting the helpless bundle who was
her husband 10 bed that night, Miss Essie
has found young man, and he's coming to
see her tomorrow She says he's clerk
ana maybe he might have as much as mis-
three pounds week. The Lord may have
sent him-Or again, IL may be the work of
the Evil One. Anyway, 1 shall see to-mor-
row. for he's coming 10 tea. and we must
have a muffin"
It's time she got married" said Liver
sedge. feebly eth be a change for her"
Much OF a change matrimcny is" snOrted
Mrs. Liversedge. It's like buying a sur
prise packet-may be you get present and
may be no"
Its meant precious little presents for
thee, Anne" said her husband. bitterly
"A dark room, instead OF the orchards of
Devon. and the watercress man instead Of
the thrushes, AID helpless invalid TO lug
about instead Of pail of sweet milk
And I'd as HeVe have the invalid, cried
Mrs Liversedge: Go on with you, John. ="
and she wiped away tear that was hard
~ one of Indignation.
Sir Anthony Garstine. in his fine house
In Hill street. dressed with much diff
dence for his visit 10 the small street in
Westminster as though he were going to
court he had lived alone since the death
OF his mother, ten years previously, and
ne went very little into society, dev0ting
of his days TO various interests that ex-
cluded the fashionable world One Of the
richest men in London, he had gone through
life untouched BY the crowd of matchmak-
Ing mothers who moved about him. Once
for short time he had thought himself in
love with a girl with pretty face, but he
nad been speedily diSillusiOned, and since
that day he had gone by the name of the
~Invincible'-the man who never glanced
second time at any woman.
When Sir Anthony was atti-ed in the old
suit that had seen him salmon fishing in
Norway and otter hunting on the banks
OF the Dart. he sent for his hOusekeeper.
Mrs. Stainby, who had nursed him as a
child, and who was the only woman in his
confidence, and had a short conversation
with her, which ended in the good woman
leaving the library in condition border
Ing on mental confusion. She saw Lorlng,
the valet, in the hall and their eyes met.
The master Is going TO live over the
ESQ ! understand; said Ioring With q
sniff II wonder what's up now? Last time
as he was took with a fad the man as he
helped got away with a good bit of the
plate. He's too beiievin' is master
"Loring. said Mrs. Stainby, with some
heat. If he asked me TO walk through fire
and water TO help him I'd do II cheerful
not sure as / wouldn't. But when il comes
10 pretendin' that this house belongs TO a
Mr.. Anthony, and not mentiOnin' the name
OF Garstine 10 any one while the pictures is
being numbered. IL seems to me as IL you'd
a bit of difficulty before yOu-and I'm glad
that my part IS Twin over the bank"
Men are always glad TO be in easy
Job said Mrs. Stainby. as she departed 10
her own regions with a snort.
Sir Anthony Garstine knocked with some
trepidation at the door OF the house In
Spittlegate-road, and was ushered into the
parlor. He had chosen an hour when he
imagined that a clerk in a business house
would be free. but Mrs. Iiversedge. glanc-
Ing at him with keen eyes. recognized in
him something that made her drop a deep
curtsey. and instead OF accompanying him
10 the parlor. she slipped into the kitchen
70 make the tea.
Esther was sitting by the fire with a
book on her knee, but started up to greet
Garstine with a bright flush of pleasure
he thought her looking more lovely even
than on the day they had spent together.
She had on a gray gown with bunch OF
violets tucked into her blouse. and little
old-fashioned fichu crossed over her Shout
oeIs. She looked like one of the ladies in
the gallery ut Garstine court, who had been
his ancestresscs. and as he shook hands
with her. he felt that sne might have step
ped down from the frame Of a ROmney OF
Sir Joshua. He held her hand in his for
a moment, and then took the chair she
pointed out, his eyes wandering about the
room with keen interest.
Isn't ii quaint she said. with dane
ing eyes. II would not have my old nurse
think that We were amused by ii for the
world"
The shell boxes. the plush frames. and
the cork bookcase at once assumed high
worth in Sir Anthony's eyes. and the glar-
Ing cOlOred prints or racehOrses and do
nestle scenes appeared suddenly 10 be
and the muffin cooked TO perfection. and
before the kettle was singing on the lit.
tie fire they were chatting as if they were
old friends
1T Is very nice to have some one to look
after one" Garstine said. with a faint
sigh. as he watched the slim figure fitting
about the room.
1T must be terrible / have often thought
10 be a helpless man alone in lodgings.
she answered, with a little laugh: land
cannot hope that your landlady can be as
considerable my old nurse"
He was silent. for the reality of his life
in Hill street was so different 10 the ex
istence that she was picturing, but befOr,
he could betray his confusion she had light
~ passed into a talk of books and theii
authors and he found that their tastes were
all I'm common. Later I'm the afternoon h,
preached the subject Of the work in pros
pect, and said that he was going 10 make
the final arrangements with his friend
on the following day. and ventured 10 hop,
that she would allow him to come and tel
her the. result OF his interview two, day,
later. Esther stood up straight and tall a.
she gave him her hand.
Thank you-oh, thank you" she said
''TO do such work viii be delightful.
will make very happy"
He looked into her eyes and read in then
the new light OF hope that he had brough
there, and thanked heaven in his humility
for the chance that had come into his way
OF TightiDg such a sorrow.
They had been two hours together, ang
n had passed like two minutes, and wheI
Sir Anthony found himself outside I'm tn
street he held crushed violet In his hanS
that was as sweet a hedgerOw In spring
aud when Esther heard the door shut OF