The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-12


eyes with the steady gaze of a sim
pie, earnest nature shocked by cur
rent quite strange to it. She did not
understand him, and she did Her fine
intuition gathered swiftly together d
hundred shreds of impression received
from him during their recent grow
ing intimacy. He was a patrician, as
she vaguely made him out, a man of
wealth, whose family was great He
belonged among people of gentle
birth ana high attainments. She mag
nitied him so that he was diffused in
her imagination, as difficult to com
prehend as a mist in the morning air
and as beautiful.
You make fun of me-" she said.
very deliberately, letting her eyes
droop: then she looked up again sud
denly and continued. with certain
naive expression of disappointment
gathering in her face L have been
too free with you. Father Beret told
me not to forget my dignity when
IN your company. He told me you
might misunderstood me I don't
care; I shall not fence with YOU
again She laughed, but there was
no joyous freedom in the sound.
Why, Alchemy dear Miss Roussil-
lon, you do me a wrong: beg a thou
sand pardOns if I've hurt you" he
cried, stepping nearer to her. land I
can never forgive myself. You have
somehow misunderstood me. I know
YOU have"'
on his part it was exaggerating
a mere contact of mutual feelings
into dangerous collision. He was
as much seIf-deceived as was she,
and he made more noise about it.
1t is you who have misunderstood
me" she replied, smiling brightly
now, but with just a faint, pitiful
touch of regret. or self blame Hnger-
ing in her voice. Father Beret said
YOU would. I did not believe him;
but"
And you shall not believe him"
said Beverley. Il have not misun-
jerstood YOU. There has been moth
ne. You have treated me kindly
ana with beautiful friendliness. You
lave not done or said a thing that
Father Beret or anybody else could
,riucise. And if I have said or done
he least thing to trouble YOU. I re-
pudiate i'll did not mean it. Now.
YOU believe me. don't YOU Miss
BOussilion2"
He seemed to he falling into the
habit Of speaking to her in English.
She understood il somewhat impcr-
feCtly, especially when i'm an earnest
moment he rushed his words together
rs if they had been soldiers he was
leading ar the charge-step against an
enemy. His manner convinced her
even though his diction fell short.
Then well talk about something
else. she said, laughing naturally
now. and retreaung 70 a chair by
the hearthside. II want YOU 20 tell
me all about yourself and your fam.
.ly your home and everything"
She seated herself with an air Of
conscious aplomb and m0tioned him
10 take distant stool
There was q great heap Of dry logs
in the fireplace with pointed flames
shooting out Of its crevices and lean
Ing into the gloomy. caveliko throat
Of The flew. Outside a wind passed
heavily across the roof and beloved
in the chimney top
Beverley drew the stool near Alice.
who, with a charred stick, used as 70
poker, was thrusting ut the glowing
crevices and sending showers Of
sparks aIoft.
Why there wouldn't he much n
tell he said, glad TO feel secure
again. our home is a big old man
sion named Beverley Han on n hill
among trees, and half surrounded
with slave cabins. It overlooks the
plantation in the valley whore a little
river goes wandering on its way" He
was speaking French and she followed
him easily now. her eyes beginning
70 fling out again their natural sunny
beams Of interest. IT was born there
tWenty-siX years ago and haven't done
much Of anything since. You see
before YOU. Nademoiselle a very mn.
DISTINGUISHED young man. who has
signally failed to accomplish tho
dream Of his boyhood. which was 10 |
be n great artist like Raphael or An.
gelo. Instead Of being famous I ann
hut poor lieutenant in the forces OF
Virginia"
You have mother father. broth
ers and sisters?" she iutcrr0g3teI
She did not understand his allusiou TO
the great artists Of whom she knew
nothing. She had never before heard
If them. She leaned the poker against
the chimney jamb and turned her face
toward him.
Mother father and one sister" he
said. no brothers. We Were "a happv
little group. But my sister married
and lives in Baltimore. am here.
ETfa hon =