Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 December 1893 — Page 11

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 27, 1893 TTTELTE TkGES.

ONLY

' ' CII APTKR I. ITe was tall and by no means Ill-look-!r.. Tvith dark brown hair and eyes arul Ftralght, well-cut features; a pleasant, manly fellow enough, whom everybody liked and nobody considered. For he whs "only Jack." In those TYords you read the whole history of his position; so far, at least, as his domestic life was concerned. Some people seem born to be slighted find put upon; Jack was one of thtan. Ills sisters made use of him when it Ftrved their purpose, and then forgot his very existence until the next time they wanted him; his mother never dreamed of consulting him until she had made up her own mind, when she intrusted him with the execution of her wishes, he, of course, defraying all expenses. Why should she trouble hereelf with the discussion of details and euch annoying matters? Why should Fhe ask his opinion? It v.-as "only Jack," she said. Mother and sisters all lived in Jack's house, and they lived in very pood style. That is to say. they spent a preat deal of money and kept a great deal of company, and whatever Jack thought about 1 ha never said a word. Why, indeed, should he when nobody asked his opinion? Jack had been the nominal head of the family for some years and the actual hoad of Myerson's bank. He was very regular in his attendance at the lank, and no one there would ever have dreamed of applying that slighting epithet "only" to Mr. Myerson. Perhaps this was one reason why he spent so many hours beneath that respectable, if somewhat somber, roof; for. after all. It Is never pleasant to be treated as a person of no consequence; and the most pimple, unassuming nature cannot feel exactly grateful to those who consistently adopt this tone. But whatever he felt. Jack said nothing, and so nobody was any the wisT. Jack's house the house where his father and grandfather had lived before him stood some little way out f the town. It was a ratnblinpr. picturesque old building, all overgrown with ivy and dowering creepers, and the grounds that surrounded it were extremely beautiful. It was a very pleasant house to stay at, end so many people knew who had been fortunate enough to receive an invitation to pass ;i few days there; but the guests rarely remained long, more especially if they were ladies, and nt as yet well stricken in years; for the Myerson girls liked change, and usually tired of their acquaintances with astonishing rapidity. "A week," said Constance, the younger and cleverer sister, "is amply lotiß- enouph to exhaust th'e average person's topics of conversation, and when those are once exhausted the persotv becomes a Ik ire. It is then better to part, and to start fresh." and on this theory she consistently acted. Hut every rule must have its exceptions; little Minnie Hrender had already been at le;;st fourteen days beneath the Myersons hospitable roof, and there was as yet n talk of her leaving: on th contrary. Constance herself spoke of engagements :i week hnef, taking it for granted, apparently, that Minnie would bear h r part in them, and seeming not only contented, but well pleased that It should ! so; and yet the girl's topics of conversation were by no means particularly varied. What. thn. was the meaning of it? Jack, who was rather an observing youm; man in a quiet sort of way. would very much have liked to know; but there was nothing in the circumstances of the case so far as he was acquainted with them which could throw any liirht upon the mystery. Constance had made Minnie's acquaintance while on a visit to a friend; she liked her. she said, and wished to pee morn of her. Hut then Constance liked so many people; there was nothing unusual in that, though there was in the fact that the liking had lasted so long. Minnie was a pretty little thing, with big. soft eyes and a nice voice; not at all like Jack's sisters, who were tall, stately young women, in whose nature softness and gentleness were by no means pronounced characteristics. She seemed a. little shy, too. Jack thought; but then, to be sure, he had scarcely said two vord3 to h-r except at the dinner table, and there was always such a lot of people about that a fellow had no opportunity of reallv makinsr a .vuim int a nee with any one of them. Heside. when they usually stayed such a very short time it was really hardly worth while to do so; from which it will be seen that Jack's views on these matters differed considerably from his sister's, though it was not often that the difference caused him anything more than a momentary feeling of regret. Jack had returned from the bank much earlier than usual one afternoon and was pondering in a quiet way over this matter while he smoked a peaceful cigar in the garden, when the sound of voices attracted his attention. lie strolled on down the path; and as he approached the speakers the following words fell on his ear: "So, Connie; I cannot do it. Don't ask me." 'Xonsense, you ridiculous child! I tell you, it's only Jack!" "That is no reason why I" she broke off suddenly, coloring hotly, as Jack himself emerged from the shadows of the shrubbery on to the sunlit lawn. "There, did you ever see such a coincidence?" Constance exclaimed. "We were just speaking of you. Minnie wanted to ask you " ".No, Indeed! I never thought of such e. thing!" "Oh, yes, you did! Don't be absurd, dear. The fact is. Jack, her guardian Is staying at th Verners's, and sh! wants to go and see him; but we have to drive in the opposite direction, so we thought " "Please. Connie, don't say any more; you mean It kindly, but " "Will you walk over there with her?" "Delighted, of course, if " "It's all settled then. I must go and dress; good-by, and a pleasant walk to you." And Constance swept across the lawn, without giving them time to raise objections. That was Constance's way; she always settled thirgs cut of hand, tir.d often without paying much attention to other people's wishes in the matter. Jack bgan to laugh; Constance's little ways often amused him immensely, though she was far from suspecting it; then, seeing that Minnie really looked embarrassed and annoyed, he stopped abruptly. "I hojK you don't mind Con's nonsense?" he said. "It isn't worth lathering about. You know I shall really be very glad to take you over there." "Indeed, Mr. Myerson. I couldn't think of it! I don't particularly care about going, and I never dreamed of asking you; it was all Connie's doing." "I know that," hastily; "but Jf you Wish to go " "Uut I don't! At least it's of no consequence, thank you." "Hut we have neither of us anything to do this afternoon, and if you want to see your friend, I want particularly to see Dick Venner . No, is isn't humbug!" as she looked at him qu'-stkm-Ingly: "I really mean it. Won't you let me be of use to you?" "You are very kind, but have you really nothing better to do?" "Really and truly." and he smiled, lie had a very nice smile, she thought. "Are you ready? for if so, we may as well be off at once." So th'y started; and reaching the irarden gate, passed out Into the narrow, winding lane, which led through pleasant fields fragrant with new-mown hay. to the Venners' house, seme two miles distant. It was a charming walk, up

JACK.

hill and down dale; with ever-varying views, and no monotony about it. Minnie was rather silent at first: perhaps Jack's polite assurances had only satUfied her, perhaps she had private causes for preoccupation quite apart from him; whatever the reason, he certainly found conversation somewhat uphill work; but he persevered gallantly, and at length his efforts were rewarded. Needless to say, his conversational powers were not highly thought of in his own family; and, in point of fact, he was not a ready talker; there was small inducement to talk, when no one apparently cared to listen; and his sisters' girl friends were not usually the sort of women he cared to talk to; they were apt to be fast, and rather noisy, and a little too conscious of their own attractions to attract him. Hut with this quiet little thing It was dhTerent; if she did not say much, he soon found she was an admirable listener, and scarcely htd he discovered this before she was taking her fhare a very small and timid one in the conversation. Jack felt quite proud, and began to enjoy himself amazingly. Yes; it was a very pleasant walk! At length the chimneys of the Venners' house appeared above the trees, and Jack pointed them out to his companion. "We shall be there in five minutes now," he said regretfully. "So soon? I did not know we had come so far." she replied, looking along the road before them. "I wonder whether he will be out?" Something in her tone some fleeting expression in her soft gray eyes made him fancy it would not occasion her deep regret if he were; but this might be a. mistaken idea. "He is not expecting you. then?" "Oh. no! He does not know I am here. Hut Constance thought I ought to go and se him. It was she who told me he was visiting the Venners." "Constance Is very fond cf telling people what they ouht to do." he laughed. "Don't let her order you about too much, or she'll give you no peace." "Sh was quit right in this case. Col. H.eigh has always been very kind to me. and I owe him every respect and consideration," she said, quietly but firmly; rather too firmly, he thought, fur the circumstances, but then, perhaps, he hardly understood what those circumstances were. "He is your guardian. Is he not?" he asked, as he paused to open the gate. "Yes. What a pretty drive! I have never been here before, but the views are lovely." Apparently she did not wish to discuss Col. Leigh, and Jack felt a sudden curiosity to see the man, which, however, as he presently learned on inquiry at the front dor. was not to be gratified for the present. "The colonel's out. sir: went out directly after luncheon with my mistress and the young ladies, and they've not been in since; and Mr. Dick, he's out. too. Won't you come in and rest, sir? and won't th young lady have some tea after her walk?" "What do you say. Miss Hrender; shall we wait?" "If the colonel is likely to return " Minnie began doubtfully. "He may, miss; and then again he may not. Let me bring the tea out in the veranda, miss, and perhaps he'll be in while you're taking it." "I really think we'd better say yes." Jack said, as she looked at him in evident hesitation. "Mrs. Venner was quite hurt once when the girls went home without letting Jones give them tea; wasn't she, Jones?" "She was. sir. She told me as 'ow I was never to let it 'appen arain." "Then we will have it. please; and let the colonel know directly he comes in," Minnie said, with a sudden air of resolution. "Yes. miss." He then conducted them through a vide hall to the drawing-room, and thence to the veranda, where, under masses of clustering roses that filled the air with their delicious perfume, the teatable stood ready. "This is certainly better than trudging back at once." said Jack, as they sat in the pleasant shade and waited for the tea. "Don't you think so?" "Yes, but it seems rather cool making ourselves at home in this way. I suppose you know Mrs. Venner verv well?" "Kather! I assure you we are doing the very thing of all others she would approve of. so you may be quite easy on that score," Jack said reassuringly, as he took off his hat and hung it on th creepers near. "Odd thing your friend should be here, and just now, too!" he added thoughtfully. "Not so very odd, for Col. Leigh has a great many friends. I should not have known he was here if Constance had not told me." "Does Constance know him, then? Ah. like your guardian, she has a great many friends!" "She has met him. I believe; and they have mutual acquaintances. I think It must be very confusing to have so many friends; a few would be much nicer." "Oh, if you found you were getting mixed among them you could easily drop a few .'s Con does." "But I should not like that at all. It would sc?m heartless and unkind," she exclaimed. "That wouldn't trouble her!" cynically. "No. don't look so horrified. Miss Brender; I'm not defending the system; I'm only explaining to you how it is done." "Hut you don't approve of it?" the girl asked. looking at him doubtfully. "Not in the least. It is contrary alike to my principles and my practice. I believe in having few- friends, and never changing them. Hut in the sort of whirligig society my people go in for. it's next to impossible even to make a friend, far less to keep one." "What a pity!" sympathetically. "But you have the Venners, and neighbors like them?" "Oh, yes, we have lots of neighbor ; any number of them. But then one doesn't choose one's friends simply because they happen to live next door," "That is true," thoughtfully. "In fact," Jack continued, "they have to be very much one's friend before one can get over their living next door at all." "You would realize the truth of that very forcibly if you lived, as I do, in a little village," Minnie laughed. "Nextdoor neighbors are Miss Framley's pet grievance, and they give us no peace. Miss Framley Is my governess, yon know, and she js very particular about the acquaintances we make." , "She is quite right," Jack said emphatically; and somehow he felt glad to know how carefully this pretty little girl was guarded in her home life. So they talked on. idly enough, until the arrival of Jones and the t--A-tt ay gave them some further occupation; find Minnie grew quite bright and an.m.ted over the cake and thin bread and buy:ter. The novelty of the position, as she thus did the honors In somebody else's house, appeared to afford her a certain childlike satisfaction, and she laughed and chatted more gayly than Jack had ever heard before; so that altogether it was a very cheerful little party that sat In fn. Vernier's veranda that sunny afternoon. So, at least, thought one unseen spectator, as he paused for a monwit at the drawing-room window and gaM at the scene before him with wondering eyes. Then he stepped out onto thi veranda and Minnie turned with a ifittle start and saw him. "Colonel!" she cried, and ehe sprang up to meet him. "You have tome back, then!" "Yes, I have come back:' he quietly as he shook hands with "Wero you waiting for me?"' said her. "Of course; did not the man tell I camn here to see you." you? "And where are you staying, If I ask?" may "With the Myersons, two miles off. Mr. Myerson auletly watked over with

me, as I did not know the way." she added. Introducing him rather nervously. Jack thought. "I am obliged to you. Mr. Myerson," He spoke with perfect courtesy, but not the slightest cordiality. "I am sorry I was not Jn when you arrived. You should have sent me word, Minnie." "But I thought you were leaving tomorrow. Connie told me I had better come at once." "Do you mean Miss Myerson?" he asked. "Do I owe this visit to her?" Somehow he looked as though the suggestion were scarcely an agreeable one to him. "Yes; at least, she suggested it." "!'he is very good to interest herself in my affairs." He spoke In a perfectly colorless tone, and yet Jack felt uneasy as he heard him. He scarcely knew why, but he had an uncomfortable conviction that Connie had better not have meddled in the matter. Col. Leigh was a handsome, soldierlylooking man, whose appearance would have commanded attention anywhere; his hair was slightly grizzled, but his age could not have exceeded fifty, if. indeed, it were so much, and his expression was singularly cold and severe. Minnie was very evidently afraid of him, and hin manner to her. though profoundly courteous, was by no means reassuring. She might owe him every respect and consideration; she said she did, and no doubt she knew best, and the debt would be paid to the uttermost farthing; of that Jack felt sure; but she wasn't fond of him. and the young man noticed, with a satisfaction for which he did not attempt to account, that she was not half so much at ease as she had been a quarter of an hour ago. "Has Mrs. Venner come in yet?" he asked presently, wondering a little at her non-appearance. "No," the colonel replied, "she has gone on to see a friend with her daughters, and will not be back for some time." Jack began to feel uncomfortably in the way. Conversation flagged terribly, so presently he arose, and strolled off down the garden under the pretense of seeing Dick's dogs. "Perhaps he wants to talk to her, and I'm in the way." he said to himself; and yet there was an appealing look in Minnie's big eyes as he turned away, which almost recalled him to her side. He did not stay in the .-arden long, and as he came back to the veranda he heard Col. Leigh say with great distinctness: "That is enough, Minnie; we will now drop the subject. You meant no harm, I know, but it must not happen again." "And you are not angry with me?" "I have said you meant no harm. Miss Myerson should not have done it, but it can't be helped now; ami you Ah. Mr. Myerson, are you ready? Miss Hrender is sulFiciently rested now to return home." "I'm quite at her service. I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you there while you are in the neighborhood?" "Thank you. Your mother has kindly sent me an invitation for the day after tomorrow, so we shall meet aprain." "Oh, yes; the girls have a dance coming off, 1 know." Minnie looked a little surprised. Jack thought, but she said nothing, and the colonel made no further allusion to the subject. He walked down the drive with them, and saw them fairly started on their homeward way. Then he turned away and strode back to the house, a very sombre look on his grave face.

cniTi;it ii. "I tell you, Susie, I would do anything to annoy hini anything in reason, you know. He is simply the most selfcontained, unimpressionable maji I ever met; and I tried to impress him, I did, indeed." "I've no doubt you did," Susie replied, with sisterly frankness. "And you failed, you say? Well, never mind, it isn't the first time." "Susie, Connie saii impressively, never tried so hard in my life, only fail in the end. 1 stayed for a week l to in the same house with him, and people knew they knew. I tell you! He was very courteous oh. maddeningly courteous but he wasn't one bit impressed by my attentions: he wasn't even flattered by them. Yet, goodness knows, they were marked enough." "Yours usually are," and Susie smiled. "Don't you remember Ma J. Hart on, anl the Venners' picnic? You made yourself quite remarkable on that occasion, and yet nothing came of it. I've always told you it was bad form." "It's bad form of him to be so ungrateful, and I'll pay him out for It yet. You see if I don't!" she said vindictively. "Why do you want to flirt with him'." "Because no one has ever succeeded in ilirting with him yet. Isn't that reason enough?" "Quite, I should say. And do you expect to be more successful in your efforts to annoy him?" "Yes, I do." "But how?" "That, my dear Susie, is my affair." "I couldn't understand your sudden affection for that child before, but if she is this man's ward " "Yes?" as Susie paused significantly. "Don't be hard on her, she's a nice little thing." "I'm not hard on her." with a disdainful smile; "on the contrary, I'm her best friend." "Oh? She didn't seem very cheerful after you sent her to call on him the other day." "No." "Perhaps her visit annoyed him?" "It is quite possible." "Or perhaps he didn't like her going over there with Jack?" "That. also, is possible." "Yet it was only Jack; If it had been any other and he is old enough to be her father!" "Who? Jack?" "No, no; Col. Leigh." "Quite old enough," with a cold smile, "but not, perhaps in his own opinion too old to be her husband." "What? Are they engaged, then?" "There is a sort of understanding. I fancy; or perhaps it would be better described as a misunderstanding." "But you did not tell us this?" "Why should I? It's their affair, not ours; and she never mentions it." "You'd better let them alone, Connie." "I think I shall now." She was looking from the window as she spoke, and a faint smile played about her handsome mouth; for she saw two figures pacing up the lawn side by side, and recognized them even at that distance. Yes, Col. Leigh would probably be very much annoyed before all was over; but oh, what a pity it was only Jack! "And what If Jack should mean business? for really, you know, it looks rather like it." Susie, too, had come over to the window, and she was drawing her own conclusions from what she saw there. "No such luck, my dear. Jack ' Isn't a marrying man." "Luck? Do you want him to marry, then?" "No; but there would be compensations. We should live in town then, instead of this dull, out-of-the-way place. But don't be anxious, Susie. It will all end In smoke as far as he is concerned." "And she?" "That, you must acknowledge, is her affair, not mine." Constance said carelessly, as she turned from the window. Meantime the young people themselves all unconscious of Constance's plots and schemes were rapidly progressing In each other's good graces, and for a short space Col. Leigh, and all his claims to consideration and respect, were forgotten. Yet he was coming to the dance that very evening, and in another hour or two Minnie knew that those severe eyes would be upon her, and she would be called to account for all her present happiness. It was not a pleasant prospect to contemplate, so the poor child tendllv averted her eyes from it. and

enjoyed the present moment with a reckless disregard of consequences very unusual In her gentle nature. Perhaps she. too, thought it was "only Jack," and therefore would not greatly matter. Time passed on all too quickly, however as is usually the case when we especially desire to delay its progress and soon Minnie had to hurry indoors to dress for the dance. How much she wished there wasn't going to be a dance at all. but just a pleasant, quiet evening with only the house party; an evening when everybody would be free to stroll about the garden in the deepening twilight, listening to the thrushes' melodious evensong; or to sit on the terrace, watching the moon rise slowly from behind the dusky trees, while perhaps some one else strolled or sat there, too, and seemed in no haste to go In. Such an evening, in fact, as the two last had been evenings unlike any she had known before; and never, never to be forgotten, whatever new experiences the future might have in store for her. But this was the night of the dance, and Col. Leigh was coming: would be here almost Immediately Col. Leigh, who had always been so kind to her, and whom it was her duty to respect, and by and by to love! Had not her mother always told her this? Had she not urged her to remember it almost with her dying breath? "I wronged him," she had said; "it is for you to make amends. He has promised to make you his wife. Minnie, and I wish you to marry him; remember, I have no dearer wish in the world than this. You are too young yet, but by and by he will ask you. and you must say yes for his sake and your own!" Two years had passed since then, and Minnie was now eighteen; but Col. Leigh had not asked her yet, nor had he even troubled himself to see very much of her of late. She lived with an old governess, and an extremely quiet, not to say dull, life it was. for she had few friends, and the old lady did not approve of her visiting those she had. Miss Framley had known something of the Myersons years ago, and had therefore consented to make an exception in their favor and allow her young charge to accept the invitation Constance had given her, though, had she known the kind of woman she was Constance Myerson would assuredly have been the last friend she would have chosen for Minnie. In point of fact, she knew nothing of her, and great would have been the poor old lady's dismay could anybody have enlightened her comfortable ignorance. Fortunately for her peace of mind, there was no one to do this. Thus matters stood between Minnie and her guardian on the eventful evening of the Myersons' dance, and undoubtedly it could scarcely be considered a satisfactory state of affairs to either of them; but of all this. Jack, of course, knew nothing. How should he? It was 10 o'clock and the dancing was going on merrily too merrily, perhaps, for Col. Leigh's tastes, as he stood in the doorway contemplating the gay seen? with a somewhat bored expression. He had given up dancing years ago, and was not one of those who take a lively interest in watching other people's amusements. He watched Intently, it is true, but he seemed to take no pleasure in it. and Constance thought she had never seen him look so stern. Minnie had never looked prettier than she did that night and excitement had lent a color to her cheeks and a light to her eyes that intensified her girlish beauty into positive loveliness. Even Jack's stately sisters were not so much admired as she; and Susie made up her mind that, despite any plans Constance might have to the contrary, Minnie's visit should not be prolonged beyond the date now fixed for its termination. For she felt that, under favorable conditions, the girl might become too dangerous a rival. Of course Minnie had leen dancing a good deal, but she was not dancing Just now; she was not in the room at all, neither was Jack. Perhaps, after all, they had gone to see the moon rise. Constance crossed to the colonel, a mischievous smile on her lips. "You must be frightfully bored by all us frivolous people," she said sympathetically. "Won't you come into the library and see Jack's engravings? He has some very valuable ones, and I know you are a judge of su.-h things." She spoke very courteously, but without any of the coquetry that had formerly annoyed him so much. Yet he distrusted her. "Thank you; but I dn't like to trouble you so far." "It is no trouble, colonel. Come this way." She led the way across the hall to the library", a large room with French windows opening onto the terrace. it was very dimly lighted, and through the opened windows a flood of moonlight streamed into the room. "Oh. I wonder where Jack has put them? They are rot in their usual place," Constance explaimed. glancing around the room. "Wait one moment while 1 go and make inquiries;" and before he could raise any objection shs was gone. Col. Leigh walked up to the open window and stood there looking out. He was perplexed and troubled. Past scenes rose before his mind's eye. throwing a bewildering shadow across the present; a voice from the dead seemed to ring in his ears, crying ever with a passionate insistence. "Save her, save her from my fate! She will be rich; save her from such fortune-hunters as have ruined my life! Ouard her and make her your wife!" And he had promised to do so; at least he had promised to obey her last withes in the spirit, if not to the letter- for he remembered always what the woman who had jilted him and spoiled his life years ago seemed always to forget that he was himself a poor man, and that he knew that Minnie was an heiress a fact that had been carefully guarded from her own knowledge and the prying curiosity of the world at large. He would take no advantage of his position, therefor?; his own wishes in the matter had nothing to do with It. He strove always to persuade himself that he had no wishes In the matter; that he was merely a machine, and incapable of taking any sort of human interest in his gentle young ward. He had almost succeeded, or so he flattered himself, till was it only tonight or was it not rather that afternoon two days ago, when he stepped out on the veranda and saw Minnie his little Minnie with that new light in her eyes, that new tone In her voice? I'oor child! And yet Suddenly he started and drew back a little into the shadows. Two figures were standing together on the terrace, and In the brilliant moonlight he recognized them at once. He recognized, too, the motive that had brought them here, and smiled contemptuously. They were talking very earnestly, but in a low tone; not so low, however, but that, standing so near as he did, a few words reached the unseen spectator before it was possible to him to withdraw out of earshot. Then Minnie, deadly pale, trembling, came into the room alone. She started when she saw him standing there, but mad? an effort to recover herself not a very successful effort, however, but he was too preoccupied to notice it. "Minnie." he said quietly, "I think you were rather overhasty just now. You have, I fear, sent that young fellow away under a mistaken Impression." "I. Colonel!" she filtered, flushing painfully. "I only " "My dear, I overheard a few words unintentionally of course which make me think it is time we came to an understanding, you and I." He paused a moment, as though to give her time torecover herself, and then added abruptly, "Your mother made you promise that you would marry as I wished!" "Yes, I promised." Very slowly the words came, and she spoke with her eyes bent on the ground. The colonel, meantime, watched her intently. "And you thought, foolish child, that your wishes were not to be considered in the matter? That was hardly fulr to me, Minnie." "My mother said that It was your wish, and hers; that she had wronged

I must atone. She made me promise A great many foolislf things, as was her custom!" he said Impatiently, u hy. she made me promise that I would ask you to marry me. Will you?" "If you wish " she began; but he Interrupted her with a quick laugh. "But I don't, my dear; not now. I must keep my promise, that's all. It would be no atonement, child, to spoil two lives instead of one. What can your mother have been thinking of? But you, are to be guided by my advice, and my advice is call back young Myerson, and tell him there's been a little misunderstanding somewhere or, wait he's out here! I'll do it myself." And, without allowing her time to say anything against this proposal. Col. Leigh stepped out en the terrace. He paused a moment, and looked up and down. Jack was standing at some little, distance, leaning moodily against the balustrade that parted the terrace from the grassy slopes beyond. The peaceful moonlight .shone all around him. the merry dance music sounded In his ears; but In Jack's heart there was neither peace nor mirth. nly perplexity, and grief, and deep disappointment. The blow had been so vnlooked for, so totally unexpected! In a few moments he would pull himself together, and return to the noise and the crowd of the garish drawing room; but just for a minute The colonel walked up to him hastily and laid his hand on his shoulder. "I want your attention one moment. Mr. Myerson, if you please," he said gravely. Jack looked up, with a very visible effort to pull himself together. Ills face was white and haggard in the moonlight. "Col. Leigh!" he ejaculated. "I'm at your service." "You have. I understand, been making an offer of marriage to my ward, Miss Brender?" "I have; though how you come to know It ". "I was In the library, and fortunately overheard a few words." "Fortunately?" Jack echoed bitterly. "Yes; fortunatfely," the oolnn?l re peated emphatically; for it enables me to put things straight: to explain matters, as I hope, to your satisfaction. I heard my ward refuse you, and I heard he reason that she gave." "She told me she was already engaged." "To me; yes." "To you? She did not say so, bnt I suspected it." The younger man looked at him for a moment In silence. "You have not explained much to my satisfaction yet!" he added bitterly. "No; there has been a great deal of misapprehension, and it is time we undersood each other. Minni", despite her assertion to the contrary, is not engaged to me, and never has been, though she promised her mother to marry me if I wished it. Well, I don't wish it!" and he drew a long breath. "The girl is free, free as air or would be but for one small consideration." "And that is " "That she loves you. Myerson; and Is waiting in the library, there, to tell you so. There he goes, off like a shot; and so ends what never had a beginning. save in one old fool's fancy! Ah. well." and the colonel passed his hand over his brow with a weary gesture, "he's a good fellow, and a gentleman: and all oi.e hears of him is to his credit. A good sort, not like the sister. I couldn't wish a better fate for little Minnie:" Yes, the colonel was satislied; and if life seemed to him drearier than he had thought to find it of late years, he was not he man to complain. Then suddenly he saw a stately figure crossing the terrace toward him, and recopnized ConStance. What was she after now? he wondered. And Constance herself immediately answered his question. "I was just looking for you." she said, as she paused beside him. "Oh. colonel, 1 can't tell you how sorry I am!" "What, about those engravings? Never mind; I'll see them another time." "Oh, I didn't mean them. I meant But you ought to see for yourself though, perhaps Why did you not wait for me in tiie library?'' she asked abruptly. "Because other ponple seemed to have more need of it than I had," he replied slowly. "other people? You mean " "My ward and your brother, yes." "Oh. it is shameful for her to treat you so! A heartless little Hirt!" "Miss Myerson." he said sternly, "you must not say such things of my ward. Your brother is there with my knowledge sind consent. I sent him to her." "But you are making too much of a foolish flirtation!" Constance cried in dismay. "She didn't mean any harm. I'm sure. She knew it was only Jack." "Yes; and she rinds him quite enough to satisfy her; so we need not distress ourselves on their account." "Or our own?" she asked spitefully. "Or our own," ar.d ho smiled. "You have done your bet, and I thank you." With which enigmatical words he left her, and strolled off down the terrace. All the Year Round. ' Itpnmrknhle Heard. Three brothers bearing a resemblance to one another are in the habit of being shaved at the same barber's shop. A few days since one of the brothers enterd the shop early in the morning and was duly shaved by a Herman who had been at work In the establishment for one or two days. About 12 o'clock another brother came in and underwent a similar operation at the hands cf another person. In the evening the third brother made his appearance. when the German dropped his razor in astonishment and exclaimed: "Well, mine goodness, dat man has the fastest beard I ever saw! I shaves him in (lis morn In. anoder shaves him at dinner times, and he comes back now mit his leard so long as it never vas!" London Tit-Bits. It Ilnrt Him. Strawber "Did you feel the late financial depression?" Singerly "Feel it! Why, old man. for a period of a month I wasn't able to borrow a dollar." Judge. " My Sick Sisters, " Let me tell you something, " I have no motive other than to do you good. " For years I have been almost a constant sufferer from female trouble in all its dreadful JiiltlK. UUUU1C 111 Uli 1LS UlCdi y I A over forms: shootis all over my l$ Z 5yr ä body, sick . i f Vl,oi,lolif. Jf spinal xveak. ' C ness, cuzzimr! Harriet wampler ness.deprcssion, and everything that was horrid. I tried many doctors in different parts of the U. S., but Lydia E. Pinkhavis Vegetable Compound has done more for me than all the doctors. 'I feel it my duty to tell you these facts that you also may be cured. My heart is fall 'of gratitude to Mrs. Tinkham." lilrs. Harriet J Vamp! er, jo 7 A 'asota Block, Minneapolis, Minn, All druggists sell it. Address in mnfiHrnce, LVDIA Ii. IlNKMAM MlD. Co., LVKN, MW. Mrs. Pinkhaja's Liver Pills, 25 ciots.

you. and

MiLMlöi

At r

fit the Columbian Exposition. A NARRATIVE OF THE Grilsl Aclenil aad Misl Intel Eveln Ii Mitel Mil lift?

Slow Offered By The Sentinel

A BOOK OF UNIVERSAL INTEREST!

Attractive in Literary Style! Popular With the Reading Public! A Companion of the Scholar! Of the Greatest Value for Reference! Unique Among all Publications!

TWO VOLUMES IN

This work is profusely illustrated with most beautifn! and expensive full -page engravings of the Art Palace, Portraits of the Speakers and Delegates, Principal Officers and Foreign Representatives. It contains a full account of the Origin of tho Parliament of Religions, Proceedings of every Meeting of tho Parliament, Speeches delivered and Papers read at every session of the Noted Gathering. A lucid explanation of the Great Religions of the Earth; the beliefs of the various Religions Denominations. Narrative as to many gatherings held in connection with the Parliament. Notices of leading men representing Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, New Churchmen, Theosophists, Friends, Mormons, Jews, the Ethical Culture Society, and Religionists of other kinds. Opinions of Eminent Divines in regard to the Parliament. . Influence of the Parliament upon the Religious Thought of the World. An index rendering all material at ones available.

OPINIONS AND FREDERICK G. BROMBERG. Com1 missions from Alabama to the World's Columbian Exiosition. It is invaluable .as presenting a body of statements of relipious beliefs ami creeds. ; HKXRT HEROWITZ. IX D.. Philadelphia. Future fenerations will, I doubt not. date from this event the epoch of penoral religious liberty. PROF. DAVID SWING. Chicago. Out of al! these inquiries and greetings something new is coming namely, a great religion. MAKY ATWATEP, NEELY. The light and the nobility of ideas displayed in the Congress of Religions by Rrahmins. j Mohammedans and other Oriental i philosophers has been a surprise to the ! whole occidental world. MADELINE VINTON DAHL.GREN, :Washington, D. C The Parliament of Religion, whose spirit and purpo.se was ,the study of all beliefs, presented a epectacle of unequalled moral gTajxieur. Your work will be of superior Interest. bend me three copies. WILLIAM DRYSDALE. Cranford, N. J. The Parliament of Religions strengthens one's faith in the real brotherhood of man. But without your report of the proceedings its influence may have been

READ OUR PROPOSITION. THE SENTINEL will send this great work to any address in the .United States (postage or express, prepaid) at the prices named below, which are tho regular subscription prices, and, in addition to th book and postage, it will pive one month's subscription to TIIE DAILY AND SUNDAY SENTINEL, the cost of which is included in the regular price for tho book. No coupon is required, and do extra charge or expense of any kind will be made for carriage. The work may be seen at THE SENTINEL office, where it will be delivered on receipt of tho price and an order for TIIE DAILY AND SUNDAY SENTINEL for one month will bo booked without extra chargre. Orders may be left at THE SENTINEL office or sent by maiL UNDERSTAND FULLY that the complete work in one handsome volume, weighing about six pounds, will be sent to any address in the United States, charges prepaid, for the regular subscription price; and you also get THE DAILY AND SUNDAY SENTINEL one month without extra charge. If you are already a subscriber you may 6ecure the book prepaid to your address and the paper will be sent to any one you may name. Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money Refunded. The ariount paid will be most cheerfully refunded to any not perfectly satisfied if the book is returned within two days after its receipt

Two Volumes in One -Fully Illustrated. A magnificent book for any library. Indispensable to the Scholar, Teacher and Reader. Bound in Fine English Cloth, Gold Back and Side Stamp, - S2.50 Bound in Full Sheep, Library Style, .... 54,00 Sent to any address in the United States, all charges fully prepaid. nd TIIE DAILY AND SUNDAY SENTINEL for one month included without extra charge. Books on exhibition and ready for deliver- at THE SENTINEL office today.

FORM OÜF1 ORDER. THE INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL CO., Indianapolis: Agreeable to your offer I inclose S , for which please send, prepaid, ''The History of the Parliament of Religions," bound in This in vudes one month's subscription to the Daily and Sunday Sentinel.

Name Street No. City.

If the paper is desired eent to a different address please wriie It on separat Iheet. Au other form of order Is optional. Money may be sent ty postal note, moo er Mder, txpresa order or draft.

l I

IIB

7 ONE 1000 PAGES. INDORSEMENTS. -woefully limited. No thlnktny naq should be uninformed of the opinion cl so Important a representative body anl on this reat snbject the man who !oe not think mut be incapable of thought. NEW YORK WORLD. W. Pw Houghton has compiled the perfect record of that memorable conference. CLEM STUDEBAKER. Commiscicacp of the World's Columbian ExposltlaiuI believe that the Parliament of Religions will result In bringing religloi: denominations closer together. COL. THOS. KNOX, New Vork-Th book, will be an important addition to tne literature or the nineteenth, century. RABBI ALEX. H. GEISMAR. Ne York. Two features of this magnificent Exposition pre-eminently type Xtim progress of the century the electrical display and this glorious Congress oC Religions. Unity is the text of both, ElfCtriclty brings earth' ends int mental unity, the Congrefs polrrta earth's spiritual unity in human brotherhood and Divine fatherhood. D. W. CURTIS, Fort Atkinson, "Wis. The publishing of the discusrton of th Parliament of Religions will enltghteir the world with regard to tha faiOi of the different nationalities. . State .