The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-06-25

ones guests are gone-snd-anl-" But she
stopped, and shook some rose leaves off her mus.
lin dress, which looked more erumply than
usual. D.
You know all the advantages, Nell," he said,
you have evidently learned them by heart. IA
children learn the multiplication table in the
days of their infancy. Go on"
| "And-and'-she was nearly crying his cool.
ness was 60 provoking-"some one-a hus.
oand and she gave great gulp at that word !;
she couldn't have brought it out if he hadn't
been SO disagreeable-"to love one, and take care
of one'
There are others willing to stand in that re.
lation to you besides Brownlow"
! "Oh !" she said. waiting for him to proceed ::
but he didn't, only went on strokine his NOUS.
tache-in az insane manner, Nellie thought so
she wished that she had said "Where 2" instead
OF "oh" which might have induced him to be
more explicit.
| Wish wasn't such pauper," he remarked
presently, and he sighed.
Nellie heard the SIGH, and was delighted. He
mad lett OF stroking his moustache now, and
was looking into her eyes, SHE did see the OK.
preston IN his eyes now, and she felt her turn
| had come
Nv hat a delightful couple we shall be she
| sad teaslnsly. "ilow we shall yawn at each
other from each side of the fire place: and how
snperoly polite We shall be to each other: and
how he will hate ms in six months, when he finds
l lulni al my duties properly, excepting that of
loving him; and she was Il little bitter now
| on do not love him, then :" he asked
eagerly.
Didn't tell you deestod him :"
Nellie, and his face very close to hers,
Nellie, how happy ace could have been :"
es, she whispered, and she didn't move her
face
mo use, darling and he kissed the lips that
were SO tomptingly close to his, and wasn't re.
proved Very shocking, wasn't it ?--especially
considering mat diamond ring on the third fin.
ger of her left hand. Perhaps she had forgotten
1T, though, for she hadn't taken off her glove,
"l on see there would be such fearful row and
| We have no money"
| Eyes" she said doubtfully.
| just then the WALTZ ended. and little knots of
| heated dancers strolled in, so their hte-a.tcte
came to an untimely end.
BERTHE was quieter than usual when he reached
| home that night, and stroked his moustache moro
| than ever.
"Dear little girl |" he said to himself. "If old
Moneybags would only do something, or some.
thlng would only turn up, I'd risk it-declare l
would. She's much too good for Brownlow."
AND when Nellie reached home she Invested
herself OF her finery in five minutes, rolled her
muslin frock up in ball in her excitement, and
| cried herself to sleep.
CHAPTER ii.
There WASH any hope left fol. her it only
wanted fortnight to the time and the cake was
ordered, and the bridesmaids finery bought, and
tire guests invited. Nothing turned up. Money.
bags was alive, BERTHE out of town, and, atogeth.
er, the whole thing was certain
"Cgh" she said to herself, show l hate him p
She was trying on her wreath, which had just
come from Nine. de Blanks. "Ugly old thing ~
That was not at all proper expression to make
regarding her future spouse but she made it.
Nasty, Pompous old thing to insist, too on
our spending the honeymoon at his mouldy old
country seat, when wanted to 90 to Paris and
see all tho shops Nellie had a weakness for
shops, and Partially for spending money in
them. Honeymoon, indeed Oh, BERTHE, if it
had been you, darling - and she began to cry.
After all she was only woman, and women arc
very foolish.
Now, chance played Nellie that day, q very good
turn. The colonel had gone into the country to |
soc sn old friend; Mrs. Vince, and Clara. and |
Arthur had gone out; and so Nellie was alone in |
the house. AT that moment the housemaid en- |
tered. She was good-looking house,naid, and a |
good natured one, and good.tempcred one and |
she was very fond Of Nellie who sometimes told |
her her secrets.
Miss Nellie" she said, "Mr. Egertou il in the
lrawing.room, and they are all out :" and Mary
Jane looked as if she knew all about it.
You don't mean it? Here, take this - and ,he
Hung aside her wreath, gave nasty look in the
glass, and rusned down stairs; came to fnl |
stop at the drawing-room door, and walkedkin in
very composed manner
Nellie, he said, meeting her as she entered
they are all out, are they not?' And he took
her hands in his while she wondered if ANYTHING
haa turned up, and almost thought that it had. !
Yes. ''
That's jolly want to talk To Won 40 much
dear. Come and sit down on the sofa by me. he
said caressingly and she went.
"Well?" she asked
well he said, "how is the wedding getting
on - s'''"e
alp" - '"''
"A!l. Why do YOU not know wedding is the
most important thing in the world, in a Young
ladv's eyes,"
at is no. in mine she said, gravey, for she
'c"S disappointed, and could not help it: and her
eyes began to till with tears and he. seeing them,
was hercitul. BESIDES, she was looking wonder
lui!y pretty Just at that moment, and he longed
to KISS her, but was not sureNhe proper moment
had arrived for that performance.
Nellie he said, "Uncle Blake is dead 1rncle
Blake was old Moneybagsl; died week ago
and mas LETT me all his moSey--all every penny"
"Oh ! and she opened her eyes very wide.
"Oh. BERTHE! Well?' and she waited
80 l. shall 90 able to give you something jolly
for bridal gift, sha'n't | z"
"Berte"' she exclaimed, Indignantly, and
tried to pull away her hands but he held them
tightly.
Darling he said, 1--WE won't put off the we'd
ding but shall we change the bridegroom, ?"
u don't understand" she said innocently.
though she did of course
hnvn f =