The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-08
limited quantity Of gore would have salts


the handle to it, was his particular aver
sion. Itwould have given Frank great pleas
ure to have waded in the blood Of the
whole Bernard family.
At eleven o'clock, the major and Nellie
left the dancers, to stroll in the moonlight.
Oh, if Frank could only have got at him
The conspicuously tender way in which
the major put her shawl around her
created volcano in Frank, compared to
which Vesuvius was mldness. When
he went to bed, that night, it was
with determination never to make love
to Nellie again.
| That was how it happened that for six
months he never called to sac her. When
they met in the street, she gave him re-
proachful, almost pleading looks, but he
only bowed coldly. He would have given
anything to have taken her in his arms,
but congratulated himself that he was not
to be deluded by her arts. Foolish fellow,
not to know he might have done so for
the asking
1t was time of great financial de-
preston. Frank Gray's business was
good, but collections were slow. For a
year he had found it hard work to meet
his obligations A note of his for three
thousand dollars would be due in few
days at the town bank. The man o'whom
he had given it-a rich old miser with
heart of stone--had refused to renew it
either wholly or in part
In vain, as the day drew fatally near,
Frank had endeavored to collect the money.
That failing, equally vain was his endeavor
to borrow it. Every one seemed to be in
the same condition as himself. He found,
too, that most friendships won't stand q
thfee-thousand-dollar test.
OF course the whole town knew he was
in trouble. Blow your nose at one end of
country town and somebody at the other
end sneezes.
Nellie Btainard had heard of his diiR.
culties, and taking into consideration the
fact that he had not called on her for
months, seemed to take great interest in
Frank. Gray's affairs. She questioned
and cross-questioned until she had ascer-
tanned the amount Of the note, and the day
upon which it would fall due.
Upon that day, at four o'clock, Frank
sat in his office waiting for the protest.
He had requested the teller of the bank, a
friend of his. to bring it.. He had suffered
much all day. He was a proud fellow,
and would rather have lost his right arm
than his financial honor.
In little while his friend entered and
exclaimed:
"Why, old boy, how pale you are
Cheer upn'
But he only answered, in desparing
way:
"Give me the protest"
'tFrank," was the reply, "there is nc
protest.
The astonished man sprung I'd his
feet.
"No protest? cannot understand !"
"Now," said his friend, eff you will
sit down again, and not act so much like
a wild Indian, l will explain.
) $50 on-go on!"
"The note was paid at ton minutes O
three
! "What mystery is this?
"Will you be quietf 1t is no myster,
to me. When | had given up all hop
; that you might by some chance raise tn
money, a middeaged lady entered.
: had never seen her before. She waIks
up to my window, and said, in quite
matter-of1faet way. There is note o
Mr.. Frank Gray's, for three thousan
dollars, due here to-day l assenteG
Believe me l was astonishod when Sd
> said, Here is the money. | do not WIS
the note; give it to Mr.. Gray"
i, "The mystery is greater than ever |!
;, Frank interrupted.
: "Not so fast my boy" his friend wer
on. "You need not blush when l tell yo
4 l know you love Nellie Brainard. No
y do not speak again until am through
You may blush if you wish when l sa
that believe all along Nellie Brainar
, loved you. Nov | am certain of it,"
Frank gasped- actually gasped.
n
"You know she has quite large d.
posit in our bank. Well, this mornin
8 she came in, and, to my astonishmen
drew twenty y-nine hundred dollars.
zen minutes of three the note was paid b
4 the middle-aged lady of whom have tcl
b you. Il have since learned there is a
n aunt on a visit to Nellie, who answers ii
. description Of that middle-aged LADY
Nellie no doubt had one hundred dollar
In ready cash, and drew only twenty-nin
y hundred as blind"
1t was plain enough now. Frank Ea
Q tlazed.
Of course he didn't .drees himca1f RI