The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-10-29
MISCELLANY.
MINA'S PERIL.

seventeenth anniversary OF my birthday.
and Pauline and I had been sitting so
long over our embroidery in the old oak
room that we had exhausted every topic
Of conversation save one-that one which
was the subject ever nearest my heart,
but which. was something to sacred too be
branded on the Tipping lips Of Pauline
d'Esterre, my ex.governess.
But silence did not suit my companion.
After a pause of few minutes, she laid
down her work, making the most of a
deep yawn, and then pointing, to the pier
glass opposite, she remarked:
"What a fine contrast you and ] make,
Nina! Look no man would admire
both Of us, VIC are 50 totally different"
She spoke English with perfect &C.
cent, having been born and educated in
England; but she inherited from her
parents the French vivacity and marve.
lous taste in dress. As snc sat there,
with her dainty laces and bows and fur
bellows, she looked every inch French.
woman.
She made true remark-we were to-.
tally different for, while she was short
and round, was tall and slight; she was
dark as night, with handsome black eyes;
I was blue.eycd and fair.haired.
If I had one single point of beauty it
was my hair-and was really proud Of
that. I delighted in the pale yellow
waves which fell uncontined below my
waist, and persisted in wearing my hair
in that fashion, in spite of Pauline's sug.
gestion that should never get lover
while I looked so "babyish.''
mo one could look disti,,gue," was her
opinion, with her hair fl ying about in all
directions and she would stroke her
own elaborate plaits and coils with com
placency.
I had given one look in the glass, at
her request, and was turning away with
o smile but she caught my hand and de.
tanned me.
"Now which is Cousin Hugh's taste 7"
she cried with laugh that had mock.
ing ring in it.
IN spite Of myself my face flushed. and
I wrcnched my hand away in annoyance.
This was tho one subject upon which I
could not talk or jest with Pauline. I
had never loved or respected
her; but the light hand with which she
had held the reins Of gvernmcnt had rec.
onciled me to her constant companship.
At this moment felt that positively
disliked her.
With q touch of her own sarcasm. I
replied. 1T is absurd to compare girl
of seventeen with a woman of twenty.
eight" and turned away with a scornful
lip and burning checks.
1t was an ugly spitcful speech, know,
nd In
ashamed Of it.
''Forgive me, mademoiselle," pleaded,
venturing to lay my hand in hers but
ought to have known that I had commit
ted an objectionable offense., Pauline
would forgive any impertinence, but no
modification Of her personal vanity and
on tho tender subject of her age she
was particularly sensitive.
She pushed me angrily from her, and
hounced from her seat, and out Of the
room, with such violence that my un-
fortunate work.basket was caught in the
whirl Of her silk skirts and dragged to
the ground. This, and the catching Of
the Aforesaid skirts in the door, rather
marred the dignity Of her exit; but tho
lace she turned on me - she disappear.
ed might have been that Of an injured
queen.
l stopped to pick up the reels and
scissors, and then walking to the window,
and f1attening my nose against one OF
the rain'dimmed panes, began to think
'humbly and regretfully over my late net.
tishness. What could have induced me
to be SO rude and unladylike! Could ,
mean, contemplate feeling Of jealousy
have been the cause-jcalousy that poo1
Pauline d'Estcrre should have the small.
est share Of good looks which might DOS
sibly attract the attention Of the mar
who was to be my husband?
Oh, Nina Brandon, thought, in spit@
ofyour ancient name, what a contempta
bic little being you arc for such nobl,
giant as Hugh Gordon to dream Of call
ing wife! sEz
This same Hugh Gordon was an en-
bodiment Of my ideal of tho noble AMI
chivalrous. As child, my love for my
soldier.cousin had been intense beyoni
my years, and the tears shed at his do
parture had been amongst the bitterest
that my life had known. .:5s.
i was an orphan. There, on tho vim
dow.pane before me, had been writer
eighteen years before. with diamond
and BY the hand Of my fair voun.
mother, the words, Nias Brandon. "a
eighteen" A year after, she had died
her gentle lifo had ended when mine