The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-04

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.Whv he's eieht wears old, Nell. To be
sure. his nurse lives with us still, and re,
CARDS him as the apple OF her eye, anu
Thomas looks after him like detectVej
still"
uCb. comcl throw your conscience over
board,o begged Lucius. coming up 10 ciose
the argument. s., :. ~, eootv
laughed Nora. g But may as wen en!os
myself," which she straightway proceeded
TO do. after the most approved metnoa Oh
filtration, as Nell called 1t. Luclus got GU.
his chess.board, and they played for hours
together. AZ. ooue.v
Neil would barangue. Lie hh 'o"s
enough TO learn it,"
cit is linked sweetness, long drawn OUT
Lucius returned. ,
On wet days they read Browning below,
or repeated in turn all the old baiiaoS tney
could recall, or danced to NelPs violin. 30
they drifted along the coast, touchlng neie
and there at some port, going ashore III
merry groups for books or mail or garden
narty. Nora acknowledged she had never
had such gay time in her life:
uOh, il could live on yacht forever
she said one starlight night, when she anu
Lucus were setting apart, as they nao ooh'
tracted habit OF doing.
"So You like sea-iaring llfe!"
ayes; how dull it will be TO return ~
commonpaces Just think, Mi. Elpnln,
stone, a fortnight ago had never neaio "a
YOU; aren't you mortified 7"
"Such is fame! And now?"
"Wby. now feel rs IL had known you
q hundred years or more ana tnen Noia
bor ncyn rash words.
81 regret that the time has seemed so
long laughed Lucius. ITO me this fort
night has seemed like dream. Tell me
about Yourself, Miss Nora" he said, after
q nause. Chow little I know OF you, IN
spite OF our long intimacy Pve taken you
entirely on trust, haven't II continual
comfort in face--the lineamentS OF gosnei
books,'" be quoted.
..Fiattery thy name is, man. what can
I tell YOU about myself that you don't
know already? You know my faVorite
poets and novels, my religious views, my
slender accomplishments; you know i've
in the country and am just now keeping
house in the city for my brother ana sister,
who are abroad. Do you like boys, Mr.. FL
phinstone?"
"W hat a depression I can tolerate
them. By-the-by, speaking OF boys re,
minds me of u correspondence I'VE haa
with an anxious mother on the suD!ect.
I rather think I have one OF the precious
epistles about me; they're such sweet-tem-
pered specimens, you ought 10 see them.
Listen, here's one Of them," as he struck
match and read:
"s Mr.. TAurSt0n:
"eSir,-I can implicitly rely upon our
divers word. And il I fail to re6rganlze
the manners Of our boy it must be because
YOUR own furnishes him with such evil
examples. II. BROWNE.
..There Don't I pity Mrs. Browne!
Isn't she Xantippe? Think OF marrying
a woman OF that kind! Ye gods!"
"But--but are you not Mr. Ihurston :"
gasped Nora.
Mot exactly. ! was his amanuensis on
this interesting occasion. Grandpa Thurs-
ton has mischievous grandson, BESIDES
who had come to tisticuffs with said
Master Browne. Grandpa Thurston Is par
alyzed, and can neither walk nor write,
therefore the burden fell upon your humble
servant"
eyes, I think the wind has changed, Mr.
Elphinstone," said Nora, after pause.
81 must go below"
"Let me bring you wrap instead, Miss
Nora"
"Thanks; but it is growing late. The
others have already gone; lreally must fol-
low. We get in tomorrow"
eyes. Remember, this is our last night
at sea. Let us make the most OF it,
; 81 have enjoyed the voyage. 1t is only
the end that is unpleasant. Goodnight
sob, what fool!" thought Nora, as she
lay upon her pillow, :. ever to have written
that silly, had-tempered note to Mr.. Thurs
ton! 1t aid sound spiteful, l confess.
Perhaps / ought to have told him was the
author; perhaps he already suspects II.
8 Isn't she Xantippe? Think OF marrying
woman of that kind -" she quoted.
"Wbo wants him to2 He needn't have
taken pains 10 assure me OF his lnolner-
ence," she groaued inconsequentiy, las II
7 didn't know the difference between nlrta-
tion md loye-making. Well, we get nome
tomorrow, thank goodness But on ocar!
il might have been all SO nice.
Wien they parted next day MISS Nora
was cordial in her thanks, but omltted 10
ask Mr., Elphinstone to call ana sec nel'
Nobody but himself noticed the OMISSION.
ESQ YOU don't wish me TO Call =! ne
asked. deliberately. "Does our acquaint-
ance end here?"
ster I shall be glad to see you >-Wlth
blush. a.. horo.y
81 am going home TO Axmlnstef' she
~Then 1 shall certainly happen to go
there" .......-..,.. -..-s,,
The Elphinstoncs went to some fashion
able springs directly, and Nora lost sight OF
them for the nonce. She bad dreaded lest
Tneius should inquire her residence, and
In calling establish her identity with Kan
Time: and she was greatly relieved when
MIR. and Mrs. Warner returned from Eu-
rope, and she could pack up and start for
Administer. But fate had not designed that
the affair should end here. The Administer
train was thrown from the track, and when
Nora came to her senses she was lying in a
cool room. with Nell EIphinstoneb bathing her
brow, and racking pain in her head.
s'What is it2 Where am I? Where
how did you come here, Nelly" she cried.
ssHusb, dear! 1t was so lucky that the
train came to grief Just in the midst of
your friends, so to speak. Now go 10 sleep.
that's dear. The doctor says you are in
no danger, but you'll have 10 stay here
long time; and nothing could be nicer than
to have you here. And your sister has
sentup nurse, as she's not we'll herself;
so don't get excited"
Nora had, indeed, fractured All arm and
sustained bruises that would detain her at
the Bitter Springs for some weeks; but as
she began; to mend she found that her lines
had fallen in pleasant places, after all. Luz
cius Elpbinstone made it his business to
entertain and beguie her invalid hours
brought in the latest books, the choicest
flowers, amused her with the fashionable
folles at the springs, with scraps from the