The Republican journal., 1873-03-06

let me escort you to the piano ?" and will
great gallantry offered his arm, and seat
ed her at the piano.
| "You are quite sure that this is not one
| of the accomplishments that you con
| denim ?" and Nina gave him careless up
ward glance.
II don't understand" said Chandos,
very puzzled.
"No? WE'LL then, what shall it be
No ballads or comic songs for you,
think. Will 'Casta Diva do ?"
"My favorite Of all others, Miss Wal
singham."
So after brilliant prelude, which
Chandos could not help but admire, she
commenced to sing. He was spellbound
hel style and rendering were inimitable.
and her voice sweet, rich, and powerful
Chandos stood at her side, watching the
small white hands striking the keys, and
wondering how anything so soft and white
could manage Luciter. The song ceased,
the clear, bird-like notes fell into an echo,
and still he stood there mute.
care you asleep, Mr.. Fairleigh? ~ said
Nina, laying her hand on his arm but he
did not shake it off.
"a thousand pardons. but this is my
favorite. You sing exquisitely, Miss
Walsingham.
81 thank YOU" said Nina, bending her
head haughtily, and, then Joining group
of ladies and gentlemen we were discus
sing astronomy she made clear, concise
remarks, and Chandos could not help ad-
miring her logic. After while some
young men came and joined the circle.
and in few moments she was talking all
about horses and their racing with the
ease of jockey, and Joking and Laughing
Chandos walked away. muttering be-
tween his set teeth, "What a sphinx
How she can talk if she had only q mind,
from astronomy to horses. Bah what a
taste But why should crticise her
wish that she was my sister. or cousin for
month or two; I'd train her in the way
that she should 60"
A week later the storm and wind ragged
and beat around Mountain Lodge. Inside
Gin the cosy parlor) the merry guests were
assembled; a blazing coal fire made the
room warm, and beautiful women lent
the brightness Of their eyes to grace the
company. Ethel was coaxing Nina to
read to them while the LADIES worked and
the gentlemen helped, or, more likely.
bothered them. Nina shook her pretty
head. "She didn't want to-" she said.
Chandos Fairleigh came forward, and,
offering his arm, led her to a seat below
the gaslight, and whispered softly ::
"Please, Miss Walsingham, read for me 50
The dark eyes were magnetic, and after a
faint demur Nina took the book he hand
ed her She opened it and read the title
"a faint flush crept over her cheek The
hnv Gokn ~,
her sweet, vibrant voice, reading s'Aurora
Leigh" And even Chandos, cynical and
blase as he was, felt the tears come to his
eyes as he heard her read, in a voice full
of tears
Ny father, thou has knowledge, only thou,
How dreary tits for women to sit still
On winter nights by solitary fires,
And hear the nations praising them afar off
Too far! aye, prasing their quick sense Of love.
The very heart Of passionate womanhood,
Which could not beat so in the verse without
Being present also in the unkissed lips;
And eyes undried because there's none to ask
The reason they grew moist.
Chandos watched the gaslight glimmer-
ing over the bowed head with its sunny
hair, and the sweet face with the dark
lashes resting on the family flushed cheeks,
and it fell over the white, beautiful
shoulders which rose out over the low cut
blue silk. A knot of azure ribbon nest
led in her hair, and passing by Chandos
it fell at his feet. Mr.. Fairleigh put his
foot over it, and when he thought none
was looking he picked it up and leisurey
pocketed it. But three persons saw him,
and there was three smiles-namely, from
Ethel, Clarence and Nina.
One morning Miss Walsingham had
raced round and round the lawn with a
young gentleman, and played billiards
with two more. and had been little more
slangy than usual, and Chandos Fairleigh
had gone off up the mountain to an isolat-
ed ledge of rocks, which he imagined was
only known to himself, to sulk, for he was
jealous of Nina. He had Just found out
that in spite OF her many faults he was
madly in love with her. He sat up there
on the rocks lon", long time, meditat-
ing how to make an attack on Nina's
heart
Nina Walsingham came softly up the
narrow path. springing from rocky point
to point, sure-footed as a chamois. Softly
she came up behind him, her cheeks
blanched with horror as she saw, close by
the unconscious Chandos, a huge rattle
snake coiled and ready for spring. its
flat head swaying to and fro, and its fork
ed tongue projecting, and its eyes gleam-
ing as it waited to spring at its uncon-
scious victim. Only a second Nina paused,
then she placed her hand in her pocket,
and with quick spring forward she
pointed pistol at the head OF the snake,
and pulled the trigger. A flash, a report,
and the snake lay writhing and gnashing
its fangs in its death agony, and Nina
seized a stick and pushed it over the
precipce.
When Chandos heard the report he
started to his feet with muttered excIa-
nation of terror, end saw the huge snake,
and Nina as pale as ghost with tiny
pistol in her hand He stood looking at
her in astonishment, perfectly speechless.
He saw her push the snake over, and then
saw the pistol drop from her nerveless
hand.
Miss Walsingham Nina, how in
Gods name came you up here in time to
save my life ?''
Nina, very pale, was leaning against
the rocks, but a faint smile disturbed her
lips as she said, family:
''By the assistance of one of my con-
demned qualities-strength."
"That makes twice, Miss Nina, that you
have made use OF strange words. You
have heard something? If so, tell me all
about it, for after this we must be warm
friends, between whom there is never to
be any Misunderstanding.
Nina's eyes fell. She forgot dignity,
composure, and buried her face in her
hands, and burs. into tears.
'She can sing like an angel, and cry
like a woman-two feminine qualities,
anyhow" thought Chandos, and he look
ed on the dropping figure of the young
lady with infinite satisfaction. Saucy
Chandos, softly, caressingly he stroked
the bright hair, his own eyes mostly over
flowing, and still Nina wept.
"You're i'll, Nina, and I'm a brute to
tease you"
Don't apologize, Mr. Fairleigh-death
is fearful to contemplate, and we were
both so near it,"
"God bless you, Nina Walsingham.
value my life more highly as coming from
your hands," and, offering his arm, they
| went to the house.
1t is the wedding night. and sweet Ethel
Fairleigh is Mrs. Clarence LOrimer now.