The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-29

brscelets round and round in her hand.
without attempting TO draw them on heii
wrist. "Only Pm thinking they're too line
for working girls like me or Nellie. So, il
the man you got them from would take them
hack, and give Us lice dress or the like
But Willie interrupted her with laugh.
"Je~, GIRL" he said, Jewellers don't sell
They do down this way" Jessie per-
sisted. still with an admiriag eye on the
bracelets, despite their uselesness. There's
q man goes through here once q fortnight
With rings. breaches, dresses, too, Of all
sorts."
"Ay, Erummagem iewelryw Willie said,
contemptuously, atrifle neitled at his cons-
ms questioning acceptance Of his gift.
"Well," she said, with a smile ON her
bonnie honest face, Pm no. scorn your
present, Willie, but FL lock i; up, and keep
it to wear at Nellie's wedding"
dayton laughed, but though he laughed,
he felt his face flame ho&ly, a. he followed
the girls smiling glance to where Nellie
stood in the open doorway, watching the lit
tie scene between the cousins.
"You had best keep them for YOUR own
wedding" Nellie retored, as she passed
through the door, with pout on her scarle,
lips.
But Jessie only laughed, and said she had
no chance for a wedding yet; while Nellie,
with the pout upon her lips changing into a
smile, held out her hand for Willie's offered
present.
III.
Willie and tho two g;,,, w,Il., ,o.,..-
that dav 10 C,l,born. cburch hv ,ha .o.d
"a the snow Law too tbickIv on the m.,do-
nth 40 .,loy ~ ,h.;. 80. ~. "h"".s.
ron,e WV ''''''
Gaming ON, .f,sr tho se,r;cs ,h.v f,,rd
stalvart Marx Wilton v,;,;no Tor them in
the churchv,rd d,ss.sd in hi. homsIv SIM.
dav best He v.s 10 dino ,h., d.v -, The
Oak Farm. nv specisl invitation and having
Joined the Dravtons in the cbnrchv,rJ he
walked back 10 the farm with Nellie taking
his place at her aide with , allen, .ssnmn,
ton of ownership which made Will Drav-
ton feel a triHe snikv-not that !, had auob,
to do with him, a. he told himself while he
went with LESLIE down The NAH LEADING 10
the church gates. only the Girl was too dainty
and pretty for such a rough giant "a NV
lords head keeper.
In honor of Christmas. dinner x,s served
that dsy in the farm parlor in pl,ce of the
kitchen. where the family dined On ordinary
occasions and at dinner Wilton took bis
place by Nellie again. with the same owner.
shin which had offended Willie on their v,v
home from church.
81 suppose IT'S settled Wilton il TO have
Nellie for a wife. aunt ?o Willie hazarded.
when he and Jessie and Mrs. Dray,on came
out after dinner into the kitchen LEAVING
Nellie and her lover si,tino bv the p,rlo1
fire.
"Yes, I suppose it il. THEY'VE settled il
between them. and I'm content Mrs.
Dray,on said quietly.
Something in Willie,s Voice when bs ALI.
ed the question made Jessie look sharplv nm
at him, and then glance away again into the
fire: but nothing more was said on either
side. and the talk drifte1 away IN other
things.
Late in the afternoon. when the D,v,ors
were sitting down 10 tea Tom Cbnr,on an
old Claiborne friend of WiIlie's. dropped in
TO have a chat with him. and when Cburton
ro.e to leave Willie volunteered m wall b,ck
with him to the village. whisner;po IN Leslie
as he followed Charlton ont, ,ba, be would be
back to saw good night to Max before he
left The farm I'm, when ,bev rs,che.i ri.
horne. instead of letting him ,e,nrn "a no
meant to do when he started. Willie WAS in
duced by his Communion N come into the bar
Of Claiborne Inn and have someth;no hot
before walking bach 10 the farm THROUGH the
darkness and the driving snow, which had
begun to fall again. Talking in the lighted
bar, and drinking his brandy and water, 80
beguiled Will Dayton into forsetfulnesS, that
. - IL l. L
gate of the Oak farm again, and saw TO his
1ismay that all the lights in the house were
Dun, and only a glimmerinp blaze from the
kitchen fire gave hope that any Of the fami.
" were astir
He knocked softly at the door, which was
Inbolted and opened as SOLELY by Nellie |
Drayton, who crept back instantly within |
he warm circle of the fire.
Willie fastened the door behind him, and |
hen taking off his hat, shook the white |
now from it as he neared the hearth, where |
Nellie stood looking down upon the blazing |
mbers, while the glow of the burning wood |
hone on the silky glossiness of her hair,
md lighted up the subtle softness of her eyes
She turned toward him as he approached
nth little smiling rod, but her lips said
'o,hIDg.
SO yon are all alone, Nellie 2, Willie
egan, BY way OF breaking ground; for Mel
les little nod had coy reticenCe In 1t which
nred Drayton more fatally than freer well
ONE. where are my aunt and Jessie ~
Out OF the mellow brown eyes shot a
lance half smiling half laughing, as she
nswered him with demure grayitv:
"They are gone to bed an hour ago; so If
OIL want Jess Won wont be likely 10 see her
ntil Tomorrow.
''But don't particularly want jess, Mel
e."
She gave her head a coquetish little toss.
"How am to understand your Lon!on
avs of asking for people you don't want ~
,e said, looking away from rayton's face
Ito the FIRE.
There for a moment in the silence Of NE
aping freight the two stood wordless, until
ellie, raising her head to brush the hair
,ck from her forehead. the Glitter of a gold
!, bracelet on her uplifted wrist struck on
e Young mans delighted ewes.
"You,re a brave T,,l. c,u.;n N.lI;e ~
,;iI;e cr;ed EAGERLY s.,o wsa, nv OFF, .,
,ur arm. instead Of locking il M in bo1
ke leslie"
NaII;s,s ev.s fell n, tho ,,e.n,;n, h-oo.I.,
, her left arm and sie half Iangb;ngIv COW.
ed II over with her riyb, hand
az onlv wore ono ,o-n;gh,u oh. s.;d
;mIv half inclined m ,.ts NAV for hs,.
n VIII rho vonn. man.. ..a.rn.:, r., hi,
,,shed and touched NV !, ..i,s, N show !,
:. f,,o,d y
l