Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-04-26

II Al AAo 4dGC.
1t is none of your business"
" 1t is my business. You may scold
as you like. If it is unmaidenly to
stretch out hand to a dying man for
five minutes, then 1 shall never meet
your idea of decorum,"
And as If to prove her words, the
speaker arose from her seat and leaned
over mine.
My head was lower than the back of
the seat, resting on the window sill, and
my feet stretched out to the next space
l kept my eyes closed, and 1 knew the
handkerchief upon my forehead was
moistened again with cologne water Just as
the train stopped. The conductor shouted,
Elizabeth, and the ladies gathered up
their traps and departed.
L could only see linen busters and
brown wells as they walked down between
the car seats, but I kept my seat.
Elizabeth had been my own destina-
ton, for Tom had always cordial vel
come for me, and I longed to die where
there was friendly face in sight. But
1 kept on to New York, presenting my
self to my old landlady, who had some
difficulty in believing in my identity, but
being convinced nursed me as if 1 had
been her own son.
Tom came to see me when my lawyer
informed him of my return, but the ladies
had gone to the Delaware Water Gap for
the summer, and 1 was well pleased.
Much of my faith in Amy's friendship
had eYaporated, and 1 wanted my shaved
head to be eovered-my emaeiated face
to fill out before Nettie saw me again.
I had had my taste for salt water am
ply gratifed, and rebelled when the doc
tor ordered sea voyage to perfect my
recovery. But he had his way, and
again it was summer before I returned
home, and accepted Toms invitation to his
cottage at Long Branch.
"We have concluded to take a cottage
at Long Branch this summer" he wrote,
"and want you to join US, if possible, in
July"
How can l describe Nettie-Nettie
Raymond still-ater three years of sep
aration? Beautiful as ever, animated,
accomplished, she was fascinating to all.
But the imp of mischief had not quite
deserted her, though she was more dig
nifed. She was not openly saucy, as she
had been, but could put stingg :ntO quiet,
apparent innocent speeches, and I often
WINGED under her satire.
Fer l did love her then. Every hou,
added to my admiration-my affection
yet there was never in her manner
one atom of encouragement on which to
hang a hope.
Although 1 had recovered my health
and strength almost entirely, 1 was still
subject to attacks of headache that pros
trated me for hours conscious of moth
ing but terrible pain.
The first one I had at Long Branch
came on about three weeks after my arriv-
al, when 1 had walked too far in the sun.
Tom was alone when l staggered into the
house, nearly blind, and he put me down
upon a wide lounge in lower room, dark
ened the windows, and put cold water on
my head.
"Any will be here presently" he said;
"she has gone to ride with Nettie. III
keep Nettie out of your way, old fellow.
She must be rather torture to a sick
man. Vivacity is all very well in its
place, but I had as lief shut up swarm
of mosquitoes in a sick room as Nettie."
I made no reply, and lay mute and mis-
cradle until the carriage drove up.
CLIP Walter i'll ?" [ heard Amy say
in low voice. "Go in, Nettie and see
if he wants anything"
"YOu can attend to him" said Nettie,
coldly. 81 have my dress to arrange for
the hop" d
"Nettie /" this in a provoked whisper,
you are not going to let half million
of money"
"Hush l'' was thesharpreply. "Iwish
he was beggarP'
"He would be very much obliged to
you"
But Amy little dreamed she spoke
The truth. Nettie wished l was beg
garl Why? Could it be my wealth
was the barrier between US, that as a
beggar 1 might have won her lOve2
My heart thobbed heavily as Amy
opened the door of the room where I lay
and came softly to my side.
"Walter," she whispered, and then stole
out again.
"He'is asleepT' she said, and I heard
her 60 up stairs. But presently there
was a soft rustic in the room, and ray
Of sunshine that had crept to a crack
in the shutter was shut out, A perfume
hOvered about me, though the handker-
chief was not laid upon my head, and
then little choking whisper came to my
ears. '....
"PoOr fellow I can never forget he
saved my life once"
The soft rustic came nearer and Net
tie was looking down at me, when
opened my eyes. She was startled, but
only showed it by a faint flush on each
fair cheek. Her voice was quiet as she
said:
"Can I do anything for you?"
"Won't you please fan me2" Isaid,
after trying to think of an occupation
that would keep her near me. Still she
famed in hasty way and l said:
"You have not improved since last
summer. You made a fan initiate the
gentlest summer breezes then.
al Inever famed you before p
"Once before" 1 said, "you famed
me, bathed my forehead, and pillowed my
head on this '' and l drew out from my
breast a fimsy handkerchief marked
annette Raymond"
Rut Nettie was only bewildered- The
gentle act of pity and charity l had cher
shed as a memory almost sacred she had
almost forgotten.
"You did not recognize me" l said,
II am the sailor you thought dying in
Jhe cars last summer"
at cannot be possible |" she cried.
cit is true, Nettie," I continued, i'm
pDoringly catching her hand as she was
going to arise. "Why must all your
gentleness and pity be kept for beggars?
Can not you give one little corner to a
rich man who loves you2 See how l
mood won NO ,,,u.b n, I dSJ loct rIIDo-