The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-10-31

my feet stretched out to the next space.
I kept my eyes closed, and 1 knew the
Handkerchief upon my forehead was
1 moistened again with cologne water lust as
the train stopped, The conductor shouted,
&, ''Elizabetb, " and the ladies' gathered up
their traps and departed.
I 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 a cordial well
come for me, and I longed to die where
there was a friendly face in sight. But
I 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 I 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 I was well pleased.
Much of my faith in Amy's friendship
had evaporated, and [ wanted my shaved
/ head to be eOvered-my emaciated 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 a sea voyage to perfect my
recovery. But he had his way, and
again it was summer before I returned
home, and accepted Tom s invitation to his
cottage at Long Branch.
ave have concluded to take cottage
at Long Branch this summer" he wrote,
"and want you to join US, if possible, in
July"
How can I describe Nettie-Nettie
Raymond still-after three years of sep
aration2 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 stings nto quiet,
apparent innocent speeches, and l often
WINGED under her satire.
Fer I 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 I had recovered my health
and strength almost entirely, I was still
subject to attacks of headache that pres
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 Istaggered into the
house, nearly blind, and he put me down
upon wide lounge in a lower room, dark
ened the windows, and put cold water on
my head.
amy will be here presently" ," he said
''she has gone to ride with Nettie. TT
keep Nettie out of your way, old fellow.
She must be rather a torture to a sick
man. Viyacity Is all very well in its
place, but I had as lief shut up a swarm
Of mosquitoes IN a sick room as Nettie. .
I made noreply, and lay mute and mis-
cradle until the carriage drove up.
"m? Walter ill?" I heard Amy say I,
in a low voice "Go in, Nettie and see !
if he wants anything"
"You can attend to him, said Nettie,
coldly. II have my dress to arrange for
the hop" sT
"Nettie! !" this in a provoked whisper,
''yOu are not going to let half a million
of money"
'Hush p was thesharp reply. "Twish c
he was a beggar I"
'He would be very much obliged t, I
you" !!
But Amy little dreamed she spoke !
the truth Nettie wished I was beg
gar Why? Could ie be my wealth
was the barrier between us, that as a :
beggar I might have won her love? I
My heart thobbed heavily as Amy q
opened the door Of thereon where 1 lay .
and came softly to my side. y
"Walter," she whispered and then stole 4
out again. !.
'He is asleep p she said, and I heard I. 1
her 90 up stairs. But presently there Il
was a soft rustic in the room, and ray a
Of sunshine that had crept to a crack ?
in the shutter was shut out. A perfume D
lowered about me, though the handker-
chief was not laid upon my head, and T
hen little choking whisper came to my
ears.
"PoOr fellow I can never forget he
saved my life once" s.
The soft rustic came nearer and Net q
lie was looking down at me, when I q
opened my eyes. She was startled, but al
,nly showed it by faint flush on each I'll
air cheek. Her voice was quiet as she C
aid: d,
"Can I do anything for you?" ht
"Won't you please fan me?" said, al
lfter trying to think of an occupation "
hat would keep her near me. Still she nj
AIMED in a hasty way and I said: al
"You have not improved since last OF
summer. You made fan initiate the Ok
5entIest summer breezes then" OF
al Inever famed you before p "
"Once before" I said, ''you famed OF
ne, bathed my forehead, and pillowed my tu
lead on this p and 1 drew out from my III
,reast a fimsy handkerchief marked A
Annette Raymond" til
Rut Nettie was only bewildered- The IL II
tntle act Of pity.and charity I had cher y
shed as a memory almost sacred she had - -
lmost forgotten. u u
"You did not recognize me-" I said, L. m
I am the sailor you thought dying in a. a.
be cars last summer" I'd
1T cannot be possible !" she cried. y"
"It is true, Nettie," continued, in : :
loringly catching her hand as she was i
Ding to arise "Wby must all your AZ a.
and pity be kept for beggars ? 81 81
an not you give one little corner to a W; ";
ch man who loves you? See how I w. w.
eed you as much as l did last sum- " u"
ler, when you thought was a pau Io I9
er and dying. Now my heart is dying - -
II your love, Nettie." IL ~
She was trembling, blushing yield Jr 5L-
.g, and 1 did not spare my pleading. - -
With all the eloquence at my command ~ ~
wooed her, and at last the little hand al al
mine struggled for freedom no longer, W W
nd Nettie consented to be my wife, my y -