Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-04-06

CONTINUl

bELLAS LASI fLihIAIlON.
CONTINUED.
"A dog?" ventured.
mo"
"A bear?r
Don't be too provoking, auntie"
Not another man, Bella?"
Eyes, auntie, another man." she
said. with the resigned air of martyr.
"Were you very much frightened?"
/ asked, laconically.
Not so very much" she answered,
in apparent good faith. mot enough to
scream, or faint. anything so extreme
as that; | merely opened my eyes and
looked up, without speaking, in baby
ish. helpless fashion.
II am sorry to have disturbed what
seemed TO be such pleasant dreams,
he said, in deep, melodious tones.
NOT half so sorry as | am" | re-
piled. ''but to use homely truism it is
not worth while to cry over spilled
milk" He laughed.
"a small philosopher, Newton in
petticoats, observed; but know you
will forgive me when you understand
the true state of the case, which is, in
short. that this is the only fire in the
house, and in my present drenched
condition.
"You are rather damp" remarked,
/ glancing down at the water dripping
| from.his overcOat and forming a circle
of small pools on the handsome rug.
Don't you think it would be advisable
to remove your hat and coat?"
"Ah thanks for the bright sugges-
ton. 1 will certainly profit by it,"
And he stepped into the entry.
He soon returned in a more presenta-
BILE plight, and, seating himself near
the fire. stretched out his wet boots or
the fender
/ now had time to observe that my
mysterious stranger had a most strik-
ing face, though it wore an extremely
fagged-out, over worked expression
that Immediately aroused my sympa-
thies.
"Are you very tired" l asked.
Yes; and sleepy, too. But that is a
natural consequence, isn't it, when one
has not closed ones eyes for forty-eight
hours 20
Mine instantly flew open at this and
a brilliant idea flashed though my
brain.
"Ohl you must be DIR. Selwin, the
Cousin Max that Nell speaks of so Of
ten | exclaimed.
1.-The same" he replied, 'but why
covery?"
Because. +" / answered, the truth in
voluntary cropping out in my astonish-
ment, you are not half so old, or ugly,
or disagreeable as l had anticipated. :"
He smiled quizzically.
"What naive child you are, anyway;
but must speak to Miss Nell about
the character she has been giving me.
You are, however, apt at old adages,
and perhaps remember that even his
Satanic majesty is not quite so black as
painted. wonder who had fore
thought enough to have this fire light
ed; this would be downright comforta-
bic, now, if we were not so ravenously
hungry
You do not mean to say that you
have not breakfasted yeti
Precisely my meaning. | was up
all night with patient, and stopped on
my way this morning, to see child's
broken arm. SO that altogether, eleven
O'Clock finds me IL bre;lkfastless man."
"A most deploraDle condition, truly;
possibly might prevail upon the cook
tn allow you lunch"
IF you only would | should consider
myself under lasting obligation, as
sure YOU"
| waited for nothing further, but,
fguratively speaking, flew to the kilch-
en-, and with some assistance, soon pre-
pared most tempting breakfast; de-
Ginning the aid Of servant, l carried
the tray myself and found the doctor
patiently, or rather impatiently, wait
ing my appearance. He did ample JUS
tice to the meal, while stood by and
looked on, wistfully it must have been,
for suddenly glancing up he stopped
short and began TO laugh. Il do be-
lieve you are breakin. one of the CON-
mandments by 'coveting that which is
your neighbors,' but as there is an
abundance for two, you shall not make
"a little sinner of yourself. l will be
generous and divide"
readily accepted the invitation, as
my nap lad whetted my appetite, and
we-the doctor and I-soon became the
best of friends over our informal, tete-
a-tete breakfast.
A few evenings after this was stand
ing on the piazza, near one of the par
lor windows, idly watching the couples
within, while waiting for Charlie, whom
had sent for my fan. l was not an
Intentional eavesdropper; but. without
any effort on my part, the conversation
from within came floating toward me,
and, as is generally the case, under such
circumstances heard nothing compli-
mentary.
where is Miss French? have not
seen her this evening"" DIR. Selwin ask
ed of Dora Wheeler.
''Out in the moonlight somewhere,
flirting with Charlie Lee, presume"
was the iiippant answer.
FLIRTING" repeated the doctor; You
speak as if this were Miss French's
usual pastime. Is she then such
flirt?"
''Pshaw! l thought every one knew
what a consumate little croquete Bella
French was, and, entire nous, doctor, it