The Portland daily press., 1879-09-13

''Flattery, thy name is man. What can l
tell YOU about myself that you don't know
already? You know my favorite poets and
novels, my religious views, my slender ac-
complishments; you know live in the coun-
try, and am just now keeping house III the
city for my brother and sister, who are
abroad. Do you like my boys, MI Elphlh-
stone?'
'What a depression. | can tolerate them.
By-the-Way, speaking of boys, reminds me
| of a CORRESPONDENCE I've had with an anX-
ious mother on the subject. think have
| one of the precious epistles about me; they
are such sweet-tempered specimens, you
| ought to see them. Listen, here's one OF
them" as he struck a match and read
| Mr.. Thurston: ,..---. ,,...-.,..
And i'll fail to eorganize the manners of our boyit
must be because your own furnishes him with such
evil examples. Ill. BROWNE.
..There! Don't pity Mr.. Brownel Isn't
she a Xantippe? Think of marrying a
woman of that kind Ye gods"'
''But-you are not Mr.. Thurston! gasped
Nora
''Not exactly. l was his amanuensls on
this interesting occasion. Grandpa Thurs
| ton has a mischievous grandson, besides
myself. who had come to fisticuffs with said
Master Browne. Grandpa Thurston is par
| alyzed, and can neither walk nor write,
therefore the burden fell upon your humble
| servant"
eyes, think the wind has changed, Mr..
Elphinstone," said Nora, after pause, Il
must go below"
LET me bring your wrap instead, Miss
| Nora"
"Thanks; but it is growing late. The
others have already gone; l really 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. Good night"
ooh, what foolp thought Nora, as she
lay upon her pillow, lever to have written
| that silly. bad-tempered note to Mr.. Thurs
ton. 1t did sound spiteful | confess. Per-
haps l ought to have told him was the
author: perhaps he already suspects it.
.'Isn't she a Xantippe. Think of marrying
woman of that kindn' she quoted.
sWho wants him to? He needn't have
| taken pains to assure me of his indlffer-
ence,' she groaned inconsequenty, :'as IL
didn't know the difference between flirta-
ton and love-making Well, We get home
tomorrow, thank goodness! But, oh dear
it might have been all so nice"
When they parted next day Miss Nora was
very cordial in her thanks, but omitted to
ask Mr.. Elphinstone to call and see her.
Nobody but himself observed the omission.
$50 you don't ask me to call?' he asked,
deliberately. 'Does our acquaintance end
here?"
eff you ever happen to come to Administer
| | shall be glad to see you''-with a blush.
''And why may L not see you here?''
II am going home to Administer" she
evaded.
'sThen 1 shall certainly happen 10 GO
there"
The Elphinstones went to some fashiona-
BILE springs directly, and Nora lost sight OF
them for the nonce. She had dreaded lest
Lucius should inquire her residence, and in
calling establish her identity with Zantippe,
/ and she was greatly relieved when Mr.. and
Mrs. Warner returned from Europe, and
she could pack up and start off for AXmin-
ster. But fate had not designed that the at
fair should end here. The Administer train
was thrown from the track, and when Nora
came to her senses she was lying in cool
room, with Nell Elphinstone bathing hel
brow, and a racking pain in her head
ssWhat is it? Where am L? Where-how
did YOU come here, Nell?'' she cried.
.Hush, dear! II was so lucky that the
train came to grief just in the midst of your
friends, so to speak, Now go to Sleep that's
dear. The doctor says you are in no dan
ger, but you'll have to stay here long time
and nothing could be nicer than to have you
here. And your sister has sent up nurse,
as she's not well herself; so don't worry
Nora had, indeed fractured an arm, and
sustained bruises that would detain her al
Bitter Springs for some weeks; but as she
began to mend she found that her lines had
fallen in pleasant places after all. Lucius
Elphinstone madeith business to entertain
and beguile her invalid hours; brought in
the latest books, the choicest flowers amused
her with descriptions Of the fashionable fol-
lies at the springs, with scraps from the OPP
eras and tidbits from the burlesques of the
day.
''You see we had picnic in the neighbor-
hood at the time of the accident" Nell con-
fided to Nora one day, "and | insisted upon
going with Lucus to view the Hweck, and
do what L could for the injured, and you
were the first victim we stumbled upon.
wish you could have seen Lucius's face, il
looked so white and strange, as if the iron
had'entered his soul.'
"He was very good to care" said Nora.
''Dear me, how cool you take itH'
~ am very grateful Had Lucius really
cared for her, or was he only shocked?
81 am almost sorry that you mend so rap
idly" Lucius said to her on the following
day. II hear that you will take wing TO-
morrow, and 1 shall have no one to listen to
my nonsense"
There are plenty of listeners, Mr.. Elphin-
stone"
| but none exactly like yourself.
Thanks. Who is that coming up The
lawn? 1t looks like-Why it is Oliver!'
''Oliverr' repeated Lucius, aghast, seeing
the color that trembled on her cheek, the
light shining in her eyes. But before she
could reply the door opened, and Oliver was
in her arms.
''Why, Oliver, did you rain DOWN."
81 amt pollywog, aunty. No, played
hockey just to come down and see you.
Mother don't know-and Jack Thurston, he
lent me the money"
"Jack Thurstonf'
''Oh yes. Jack and mes all made up; we
amt going to whip each other no more. Oh,
l say" turning to Mr.. Elphinstone, ''you're
Jacks cousin, amt you"'
''Did you ever see Mr.. Elphinstone before,
Oliver?''
''Lots of times, over to Jack Thurston's.
Jack thinks there's nobody like him, you
see. Jack and me got mad the first thing
about you and him. Jack said he was the
best fellow in the world, and said you was
l made his nose bleed, and he gave me a
black eye; don't you remember, and then
you wrote to his grandpa"
Nora caught Lucius's eye.
$50 YOU are the author of those billet
doux?" he said, laughing.
eyes, Tam the Zantippe," humbly.
"But you are not III. Browne?"
''My name is Honora Browne"
''Well, Miss Browne since you leave to-
morrow, shall we continue our correspon-
dence?" he asked. ''Tell me, Nora, could
you love me little? VIII you write and
tell me if l may love YOU forever and aye%'
he whispered, Oliver having gone down to
look at the game of lawn-tennis.
Glove me, Zantippe, woman of that
kind! Mr. Elphinstone, you are laughing
at mer'
''Come, Nora, mavourneen that's unfair.
How could guess that you were ii. Browne
whom I mistook for divers mother? Come,
dearest, forgive me. Our acquaintance be-
gan through a blow; let us perpetuate it
with a kiss
And she obeyed.