Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-08-21

guilty dread of the revelation it's end
must bring. Not that she really suppos-
ed Dr. Hilton would be annoyed at find
ing her position so different from his idea,
only that she did not quite know how he
would relish having been kept in the dark
so long. The doubt grew with thinking,
miles flew by she speculated to herself
how she could best say what she had to
say, and half wished for some chance to
save her the embarrassment of the dis
closure.
The wish was destined to be fulfilled
but in most unlooked-for manner. cal
culated rather to increase than lessen the
embarrassment of the situation. Coming
on board the boat for the last stage OF
their journey, they came face to face with
Mrs. Chudleigh, sitting quite by herself
in a corner of the deck. 1t would be hard
to say if the surprise on her face or Nina's
was the greater at this rencounter.
"You two, of all people in the world!"
exclaimed Mrs. Chudleigh, holding out a
hand to each, ''and together! Where did
you drop FROM" then, with sudden
frown, she gave DR.. Hilton a spiteful little
push with her parasol. There | haven't
a word to say to you" she cried, continu-
ing, nevertheless, to talk very volubly;
II wonder you're not ashamed to look me
in the face, Fred Hilton! Only fancy,
Nina, this wretch, who won't leave his
horrid patients long enough to make me
a days visit, has actually been spending
aoeeks, whole weeks! in a place nobody
ever heard of-Stone something or other;
and what must he do there but fall in love
with milkmaid, as he coolly announces to
me.
mo, no; only that she was milking
when | first saw her." hastily interposed
Hilton, invoking anything but blessing
on the letter in which he had INDUCED in
some mischievous exaggeration for the
special benefit of his cousins prejudices.
"You hear him." said Mrs. Chudleigh,
with shrug of the shoulders that ex-
pressed at once impatience and long-suf
fering. "But that is not the worst, my
dear; he is actually engaged to this-this
Neeny Pratt. Did you ever hear so ex-
traordinary a name? NeeDy, indeed!
Ninny would have been more in keeping
with the whole affair No, it is of no
use your making signs to me, Fred; |
shall say what | think, though / am glad
you have the grace to be ashamed of
yourself. And to think of the plans l
had made for him." sighed Mrs. Chud-
leigh, lapslng from anger to sorrow.
"'The best-laid schemes o. mice an
men gang aft -gley,'" demurely said Nina,
who understood very well what the plans
in question were, and who, in spite Of
herself, could not help enjoying the dou-
BILE cross-purposes, and DR.. Hilton's evil
dent mystification.
ooh yes" said he, lightly, trying to
rally from an uneasy sense of some mys-
terry, II know your plots against my
peace we'll enough, Emma A spoiled
heiress!-for they are always more or
less spoiled. ! am thankful for having
escaped the marcy as my old Patrick
says"
"a polite speech, considering" said
Mrs. Chudleigh, sarcastically. "You must
excuse him, Nina Of course those rus
tics have completely demoralized him.
By-the-way Nina" with a sudden recol-
lection, "do tell me where in the world
yOu have been?'
"Nowhere IN the world" answered Nj
Ma, with a smile, "but a long way out
of it. 1t is another case of rustic demon
alization. SO you see l can easily excuse
your cousin, being quite as bad myself"
Not quite, | hOpen' cried Mrs. Chud-
leigh, laughing-"unless you have come
WELL" soberly replied Nina, appear
have seen him handle rake.'
Nina" cried Mrs. Chudleigh, sharply,
at is not true? You are joking?"
what abOut-the engagement or the
ay-making?"
"Either-both. You have not really en-
gagged yourself in the country"
Really and truly! But, dear Mrs.
| Chudleigh, pray don't look so Mortified
He is the most respectable of hay makers,
| assure you"
"Wellh' Mrs Chudleigh clasped her
| hands, and sat staring away at the water
for full twenty seconds, actually unable to
express herself-"I don't know what the
world is coming to! Both of youl Why
the fact of their being together once
I more recurring to her preoccupation-
| "perhaps you have been in the same place,
that Stone-Stone place?7
Eyes" answered Nina; at was in Stone
| borough | met Dr. Hilton"
"Such an opportunity thrown awayn'
plaintively murmured Mrs. Chudleigh to
| herself. 'And the er"-raising
| her voice-"who is hep another of the
Pratt family?"
ALLOW me to formally present him.
| Sdlu MISS LdScelleS, laying nef nanu on
| DR.. Hilton's arm. This is the hay maker,
Mrs. Chudleigh."
"And this is the millSmaid," said the
young man, covering the hand with his
| own.
The double explanations that followed
were almost as amusing as the preceding
cross purposes Mrs. Chudleigh, the mat
ter fully understood, was entirely delight
| ed; DR.. Hilton not so entirely; still he
managed to reconcile himself somehow to
marrying spoiled heiress, and it is to be
concluded that neither has regretted the
step, for when Nina Hilton next year went
to see how her two little transplanted slips
throve in Scarborough, the whole party
seemed as happy as need be.
Single Blessedness.