The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-11-15

recess there, and disgracefully easy chair
here in the bay-window."
"And fill the balcony with roses and
things" completed young Wyndham, whose
mind was plainly distracted by that red
rosebud.
Not bad suggestions either" said Jack,
whose pencil was already jotting down
pianos, easy-chairs, and plants Now
what do you say, mother?
This room with the dark paneling I
should furnish in deep crimson" said Mrs.
Heaton, refectlvely, from the threshold
1t is just my idea of comfortable winter
parlor and with a handsome set of book
cases--that is, if it was my own house, |
mean" she added, suddenly pnlling herself
up short in this field so delightful to a wom-
an, and resuming the prudential tone with
which she considered it necessary to hold
Jacks lavishness in check" but | can't
see the good of getting together pretty
things for strangers to spoil"
"Oh, Ill get the worth of my outlay, nev-
er fear" id Jack, laughing. deep GRIM
son, you say--m-book cases-'m-m."
And that is the way it was from garret to
cellar Not word could any body drop
but Jacks little stump of pencil caught
it up and pinned it fast in a twinkling. If
these suggestions were carried out, there
was every prospect of as elegant a little
dwelling as any body need desire.
And it was so. Yes, don't know why
should be shy of the truth, and | openly
declare that | never wish to see nicer
looking house than was after the cabinet
maker and the upholstered had finished with
me, and l stood complete from top to toe in
my new clothes. The work had been thor
oughly well done. had variety without
gaudiness bright clear tints, and dark rich
shades, lit up with the geam of mirrors and
gliding, and softened with such profuson
OF greenery wherever it could be placed, that
| appeared to have grown rather than to
have been made. Minnie, who approved of
me thoroughly-and, indeed, was mainly
the result OF her taste-had declared should
be named the Nest, for was not like any
other ordinary house.
1t was an autumn day when was finish
ed-the evening, as l recoect, before Min
MES birthday. She stood in the garden of
the old house with Jack, looking at me as
my windows frightened in the setting sun,
till seemed all in glow, inside and out.
The last stick went in to-day" said
Minnie. "The nest is all ready for the
birds"
Then suppose we go over and take a
bird s-eye view" suggested Jack, with a
laugh, taking his arms from the fence and
throwing away the end of his cigar. He
opened the gate, and they stroll over to-
gether.
7 Minnie was S,i il black that evening,
with black necklace round her throat, and
her thick black hair waving all over her
shoulders She made me think of little
nun, only those curls and bright eyes didn't
suit with my ideas of nun exactly.
They came in and stopped in the little
bay y-windOw room, furnished just as she had
suggested. She looked round her, then out
at the flowers and green things in the bal
cony, and then all round her again.
"Oh," she said, " hope whoever comes
here will be somebody l can like, for I do
love this house so, can't give it up en-
tirely."
Now l thought this very pretty speech
| indeed, and made the most of the last
sun-rays in order to look as bright as could,
as suitable acknowledgment.
Jacks face frightened too. "Im SO
glad you like it," he said, heartily, and TAX
ing both her hands in his. My dear Min
ME-" he continued, tomorrow, know, is
your birthday, but you won't mind my anti
cipating by few hours, suppose, on max
ing my present something useful as well as
ornamental. You are monarch of all you
survey" he went on, jestingly-"Of of this
house and all it contains and, my dear lit
tie girl, I only hope you may be as happy in
your nest as have been in building it for
you"
"You built it-for-me? said Minnie,
in so low voice that should hardly have
thought Jack could have heard, and without
once looking up at him, which did not seem
to me pretty manners under the circum-
stances.
For you and King Toad" answered
Jack, laughing.
king Toad ?" repeated Minnie, looking
up now with puzzled face.
Il ought to beg Mr.. Edward Wyndham's 8
pardon for that, suppose" said Jack
but have you forgotten our conversation
last spring, when you gave me to understand
that you could not make that young gentle
man your King Toad for want of toad
stool to hold your court under? Now here
is the toad-stool, and l hope"
Il don't want it won't have it" in
terrupted Minnie pulling her hands away,
and rushing to the window with cheeks as
red as the scarlet geraniums there. "Its
too, too bad! Ned Wyndham indeed"
But, my dear child' demonstrated Jack,
who stood like statue of astonishment
where she had left him, we all fancied you
liked him."
I'm sure I don't ,chy you should fancy
it" retorted Minnie, with an emphasis very
much misplaced on so small word. | de-
test him, and--and every body!"
"Me, too? Oh, Minnie, Minnie !" said
Jack, walking toward her. why, what is
the matter, Minnie?"
Jack Heaton built me, know that but
still must say think there could hardly
ever have been another man so stupid in such
case. was new had had no experience
in that kind of thing but, for all that,
knew what was the matter with Minnie.
Are you angry with me?" Jack blund.
cred on. What have I done? Won't
you look at me, Minnie" for she sat still
where she had flung herself into the a" dis.
gracefully easy chair" and kept her face
obstinately turned away from him. But
when he said Wont you look at me, Min
ME I! she raised her eyes to his very slow
ly, almost as if against her will. l don't
know what he read in her eyes, for | was
watching him, but | know | saw the oldest
sort of change come over his face, and he
put out his hand quickly in blind sort oI
way, and struck 1t against the window sill
There was q lonu DauSe