Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-20

NdutlIiS, 81 lIdG In liza was almost as
familiar with his character and pursuits
as II he had been personal acquaint-
ance. Here she had the advantage
OF him; he knew nothing of her an
tecedents, and took her simply for what
she seemed here. Nina felt some twinges
OF conscience at continuing to mislead
him, but she had that mistrust of. her nos.
sessions frequent with heiresses, and the
little summer idyl she had been living
was SO pleasant to her, she shrank from
breaking in on it with other interests: she
promised herself to make full. confession
Immediately on her return, and Quoted
her scruples with that
But the summer idyl came to an end of
itself. Jimmy was getting so strong that
DIR. Hilton had no excuse for remaining.
and the work he had left behind seemed
to be summoning him away from this
unWonted idleness. Nina too had her
own reasons for return; SO the party broke
up, Jimmy and Kitty, by their own and
Mrs. Hutchins's desire, being left to her
motherly care to be initiated in the vari-
Gus mysteries of farm life. Their delight
at the idea of living in the country serv-
ed to always dry their tears at Nina's de-
partule, and her promise to come to them
next year made them quite cheerful again.
1t was very pleasant journey to Nina,
and she could have found it in her heart
tosWlsh it longer, particularly as she had
a 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,
till she became almost nervous, and as the
miles flew by she specialized 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 spiteful little
push with her parasol There, [ haven't
word to say to you" she cried, continu-
ing, nevertheless, to talk very volubly !;
Il 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 place nobody
hnorH Of
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 preiudices.
"9ou hear him?" said Mrs. Chudleigh,
with a shrug of the shoulders that ex-
pressed at once anapatience and long-suf
fering. ssBut that is not the worst my
dear; he is actually engaged to this-this
Neeny Pratt. Did you ever hear so ex-
traordinary name? 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 I am glad
you have the grace to be ashamed of
yourself. And to think of the plans 1
had made for him!" sighed Mrs. Chud-
leigh, lapsing from anger to sorrow.
1.-The best-laid schemes o. mice an
men gang aft a sley," demurely said Nina,
who understood very we'll what the plans
in question were, and who, in spite of
herself, could not help enjoying the dou-
bic cross purposes, and DR.. Hilton's evi-
dent mystifcation
ooh yes" said he, lightly, trying to
rally from an uneasy sense of some mys-
terry, / know your plots against my
peace well 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" ola lE l5dsina.s g4 s
4, "a polite speech, consideringr" said
Mrs. Chudleigh, sarcastically. You must
excuse him, Nina. Of course those rus
ties have completely demoralized him
By-the-way, Nina,oI With asudden recol-
lection, 'do tell me where in the world
you have been?" s;t....9 a.{J
""Nowhere IN the world" answered Nj
ma, with a smile, 'ebut long way out
Of it. 1t is another case of rustic demon
alization. So you see / can easily excuse
your cousin, Do1ng quite as Dad myself
l"Not quite, hope!" cried Mrs. Chud-
leigh, laughing unless you have come
back en- gagged to hay-maker!'
swell, - soberly replied Nina appear
ing to consider, II cannot deny that I
have seen him handle rake"
"Nina!" cried Mrs. Chudleigh, sharply,
cit is not true? You are jol1ing?''
"What about-the engagement or the
hay-maling?" zlHP28 ialFsa
''Either-both. You have not really en-
gagged yourself IN the counry?'' Is
"Really and truly But, dear Mrs
Chudleigh, pray don't look SO Mortified!
He is the most respectable of hay-makers,
[ assure your' nj an aurasI ssE.
"Wellh' Mrs. Chudleigh clasped her
hands, and sat staring. away at the water
for full twenty. seconds, actually unable to
express herse1f-"I don't know what the
world is coming to! Both Of you Why''
the fact of their being together once
more recurring to her preoccupation-
"perhaps you have been in the same place,
that Stone-Stone place?''
Eyes," answered Nina; it was in Stone
borough [ met Dr. Hilton" a8-i31ae
"Such an opportunity thrown away -
plaintively murmured Mrs. Chudleigh to
borco1f llAp1. tba hoy, ~, q / ORB, 20 r.