Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-01-15

him to be the neighbor of whom she had
often heard her sister speak in the high
est terms. Nell had not OWNED the
motive in these expressions of esteem,
and was blissfully unconscious of the
fact that her maneuvring sister had
planned this new years party for the
purpose of furthering long cherished
wish.
Nell soon forgot her grievance, but
not its cause. She had met her beau ideal
and lost her heart at last, though she
did not know it. Long she mused on his
handsome face and splendid black eyes,
and caught herself wondering with a
pang if he were married. Then she clos
ed her eyes and rested her head comfort
ably back in the corner. obllvious of the
busy hum of voices around her. She
did not intend to sleep. but she had been
wakeful the night before, and now occu-
pied very easy position, and, as the
omnibus glided smoothly along, she soon
lost herself in the land of dreams.
In an hour Lakeville was reached.
and Harold drew W before the small
village inn. A sleepy man came out
with lantern, the feeble rays of which
only rendered it visible. The passengers
poured out of the omnibus, and Harold
handed down the luggage. He then
looked through the crowd for Nell, and,
seeing young lady whom. in the gloom,
ne thought to be her, and at the same
time observing that George Wentworth
was making his way toward her, he
drove around the corner, imagining that
all was right He had not far to 90. and
soon horses, omurs,--.--L.lI ,.oro :,
the barn. and everything locked up Tor
the night. He hurried to get through,
for he was anxious to make his appear
ance in Mrs. Wentworth's parlors, where
he hoped to get better acquainted with
the young beauty who had caPtlvated
him. So in short time brs toilet was
made, and he was on his way there.
III.
HAS not come %
Harold Ellsworth repeated the words
and gazed at Mrs Wentworth in amaze
ment
No" said Nell's sister, wondering
at his astonishment. land | am really
disappointed; did SO want Nell to be
here this evening. She wrote that she
would surely come to-day, if not before .
"But you must be, you certainly are
mistaken. She did come" asserted Har-
old with considerable emphasis. 81
brought young lady from the depot.
who was either your sister or some one
answering to the same description, of
the same name and coming to your
house; l saw her among the other pas
sengers over at the crossing, and George
was going directly towards her when ]
drove around the corner"
Then she must have been suddenly
spirited away" exclaimed Mr.. Went
worth. iucredulOusly; II certainly saw
nothing of her, and | could not well
have missed her. had she been there"
"Yes, you could" said Harold. "foI
there was an unusual crowd, and it wa:
barely possible to distinguish one person
from another in the darkness.
YES" put in Mrs. Wentworth, 30
course that was the way of it. George
how could you be so careless? The poo
child is undoubtedly over at the inI
now, waiting for US. Hurry right alon!
and bring her home"
81 will CO." said George; ''but
doubt if Nell is there: she has been her
before, you know, and | think she woulC
have come such short distance alon
sooner than wait ten minutes. However
We can quickly ascertain. Come wit
me, Harold"
Harold was willing enough, and tn
two went out together.
Agnes Wentworth stood for momen
in the doorway, gazing out into the i'm
penetrable loom, through which cloud
of snow flakes we're madly whirling
"How dark ii ie ~ eha mnrmnree
with an anxious thrill in her voice. ''Th
wind is rising and it is showing hard.
hope Nell has not started to come alone
for wild storm is at hand. and in thi
: pitchy darkness she might take tn
wrong road and wander far out of th
| way"
: Here party of arriving guests CLAIM
ed her attention, and she welcomed thel
cordially. A long time passed, and Ha
old and George did not return with Mel
Agnes was sure something had happene
e and went to the door again and agail
e The increasing storm and intense darI
ness only augmented her anxiety. Su
e pense became unbearable, and she W;
L about to hasten to the inn, when Geors
d and Harold entered with NelPs trun
but no Nell. The first glance corrob
i rated Mrs. Wentworth's fears.
i "Where is Nell p she demanded, pa
with alarm.