The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-29

most ludlcrouS suggestion Tor female az
tire! He would dress himself in a skirt
of Carrie, jacket of Norah, and any
ones hat-sometimes mine-and, entering
the room with dignity, ask who we
thought him like. All, childish nom
sense; but how we delighted in it ALL
The winter was come, and still Ned
staid on, though his leave was getting
very short. The tears used to come in
Mrs Leigh's eyes now when his departure
was talked of; so, though no one could
help thinking of his going, no one men
toned the subject.
| | thought on one or two occasions Car
rie's bright eyes fixed themselves on me
in an inquiring manner that winter; once
or twice she made queer little remarks
about her brother, which |, fearful OF
showing the great love in my heart, al
ways willfully understood.
1t was quite true-deny it how l would
in my heart, quite deep down, lived the
image of Ned, dear, kind, gentle Ned,
who had never askedm my love-how could
he? l was only poor seamstress-but
to whom / had given it all-passionate,
deep, agonizing love, whose wild aching
half frightened me.
AT last it came; how we had all dreaded
it! 1t came: Ned's recall. The old
Captain gave little short sharp laugh.
'''To work, to work, Sir! Do you suppose
her Majesty keeps great strong fellow
like you to read to parcel of women-folk,
and dress up in their petticoats% Then
he walked to the window, took pinch of
snuff, and used his handkerchief more en-
ergetically than usual / thought.
Carrie ran up to Ned, aud hid her wet
eyes in his neck; Norah poured out the
hot water instead of the tea; Mrs Leigh
-ah, | shall not say what she did; you
who have no Neds would only call her a
foolish old woman. OF course it was no
business of mine, none in the least; l had
no right to feel the tiniest atom moved;
but my heart seemed to die away in me,
and then-oh, then-l went on cutting
the bread-and-butter!
| If you could have seen them all during
the day, each bearing up for the others
sake, and each longing to be alone and
take off tld5 mask of gaycty. In the
afternoon somehow they went off one by
one; Just stole out of the room.
Thank God 7 was alone too. 7 MIGHT
hraatba freeIy now. no more need to hide
II ali THE TWILIGHT came. 7 could not
see to work, and. unbeeded, the bio tears
tumhled down on INV knee, Then. O
then, my love, my darling, | thought |
might neverI see him again; and in fancy
l pictured ali possible and impossible hor-
NV hands went up 10 NV face. and the
.tiAinc sobs came and The bio lumn in
nv throat and-O. would thatI had died!
7 don't know how long had been cry
ina like this when NV two hands were
pulled down from nv face and a
voice said. "Why. what's the matter,
Nelly? What are YOU cs ing for?"
II was Ned who had come into the
room and caught me.
There was no Good denvino If. he had
hoard tba sohLinG. 20 thonr6 7 triod to
choke it all back, could not. could
NOT. He still held nv hands: "Wbv,
YOU silly little person, any one would
think YOU had real big trouble" Ay,
SO had, Ned dear
as your mother i'll again, Nellie? Can
help you any way"
What should do? 1t was heaven to
have him there by me, holding my two
hands in his firm grasp; and yet could
not let him think %, what should l do?
Do? Just what | did; make an utter
fool of myself, and begin crying again
worse than ever.
'Poor little Nelly! There, Nelly, don't;
tell me all about it. Poor little Nell,
dear little Nellm His hand went on my
shoulder, gently round my neck, and
Ned's lips lust touched my hair. All, it
was killing me; to sit there and make no
sign with my pulses throbbng and my
heart boiling over with love for him!
Jumped up from my chair and ran
out of the room, up stairs, until reached
Carries door, where ] threw myself,
painting and aching all over, on the door.
mat.
The door opened, and moment later
Carries arms were round me, and she
had lifted me into the easy chair by the
fireplace.
"Why. Nelly, whatever made YOU
scamper up here like that? Were YOU
frightened of ghosts down below there,
or had YOU headache%
Silly good-hearted Carrie! Not head.
. ache, dear, but such weary hcartache
"Its verv silly. Carrie; but YOU know
| am nervous sometimes; | am sure q
storm is coming up, and | feel all shaken
and have one of my headaches"
Gle down on my bed, then, and you
shall sleep here if you like"
| 1u,, Io,yp and C,rr;o vot h1, mn un+i