The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-08-01

BY the time n could 90 on crutches the
other was quite helpless.
Ii practice makes perfect, il Is not 10 be
doubted that Miss Lascelles said No with
the utmost grace-at least she would
have done so, only that this time, perhaps
for variety's sake. she chose To say Yes
instead. Was she crazy enough. then, 10
engage he.self to an entire stranger?
No. for, as il happened, he was not quite
\ stranger 10 her. she speedily discovered
that this DIR. Hilton was a person of whom
she had heard a great deal before having
seen him +: no other than a certain cousin
Of her friend Mrs Chudleigh. His de-
votion 10 his profession In general
and his poor patients In particular, his
indifference 10 society-in a word, his
~oddity-were grievances on which Mrs.
Chudleigh was never tired Of descant-
ing. so that Nina WAS almost a. familiar
with his character and pursuits as II he
had been a personal acquaintance. Here
she had the advantage of him /; he knew
nothing OF her snteceaents. and took her
simply for what she seemed here. Minis
felt some twinges Of conscience sc con-
tinuing 20 misiead him, but she had that
misrrust OF her possessions frequent with
heiresses. and the little summer idyl she
had been living was so pleasant TO her,
she shrank from breaking In on IL with
other interests; she promised herself TO
make full confession Immediately on her
return, and quoted her scruples with
tuat.
But the summer idyl came 70 an end of
itself. Jimmy was getting : strong thar
DIR. Hilton had no excuse for remaining,
and the work he had left behind seemed
10 be summoning him away from this I'M
wonted idleness. Nina TOO had her own
reas0nsfo for return; ; so the party broke up,
Jimmy and Kitty, by their own and Mrs.
Hutchinsf desire, being left 10 her mother
ly care 10 be initiated ia the various mys-
teries of farm life Their delight at the
idea OF always livingin the country served
TO dry their tears az Nina's departure. and
her promise 10 come 10 them next year
made them quite cheerful again
IL was a very pleasant journey to Nina.
and she could have found il in her heart
TO wish ir longer. particularly rs she had
a guilty dread Of the revelation its end
must bring. Not that she really supposed
DR.. Hilton would be annoyed at finding
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,
IL cut OENaAllC AAAnOct Lrl NOl-s anu ~ lllt
miles flew by sne SPECIALIZED TO herself
how she could best say what she had 10
saw, and half wished for some chance Q
save her the embarrassment Of the disclo-
sure.
The wish was destined TO BE fulfilled.
but in q most ~unlOoked-for manner, cal
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 = corner OF the deck. Ii would be hard
TO say II the surprise on her face or Nj
mas was the greater at this rencontre.
You two. Of all people in the world :"
exclaimed Mrs. Chudleigh. holding out a
hand 10 each, and together Where
did you drop from" then, with a sudden
she gave DIR. Hilton a spitefui little
push with her parasol. There, | haven't
4 word TO say to you!" she cried. contin-
nevertheless. to talk very volubly
= l wonder you're o ashamed TO look
me in the face, Fred. Hilton, Only fancy,
Nina. this wretch. who won't leave his
patients long enough 10 make us a
visit. has actually been spending
,rseks. whole weeks. in a place nobody
ever heard of-Stone something or other
and what must he do there but fall in
love with q nilkmaid, as he coolly an
nounces To mel@
mo, no.; only that she was milking
when | first saw her. hastily interpesed
Hilton, invoking any thing but a blessing
the letter in which he had INDUCED in
mischievous -exaggeration for the
special benefit OF his cousins p~reiudices.
"You hear him. said Mrs. Chudleigh,
--.sh 49,. - ~Au .hArr1l.-- %h.e -
pressed at once impotence and lOng-suf-
But that Is not the worst, my
dear: he Is actually engaged 10 this-this
Neeny Pratt. Did you ever hear so ex-
rrsOriinary a namel Neeny. 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
the grace TO be ashamed of yourself.
And TO think Of the plans | had made for
him :" sighed Mrs. Chsdleigh, lapsing
from anger to sorrow.
1.-The best-laid schemes o. mice an
gang aft a-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
double crOss-puE poses, and DIR. HiltOn's
evident mystification.
"Oh yes said he. lightly, trying to
rally from an uneasy sense OF some mys-
II know your plots against my
peace well enough, Emma. A spoiled
they are always more or less
am thankful for having
escaped the marcy Is my old Patrick
A polite speech, considering!" said
Mrs. Chudleigh. sarcasticallv. "You
must excuse him. Nina. OF course those
have completely d~enoralized him.
Nina with a sudden recol-
.lection, "do tell me where in the world
have you been?"
Nowhere ga the world,- answered
Nina, with a smile, but a long way out
II il. IL Is another case of rustic demo--
slixation. So you see | car easily excuse
Tour cousin. being quite as bad myself"