The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
LEARNING A LESSON.
CHAPTER L.

"Oh. what have I done! What have I doner exclaimed Nellie, under her breath, as sad and dismayed she hur- ried up the garden path. He will never be kind to me any more. How could have said sucn thingP"
 And her hands trembled so that she could scarcely lift the latch of the old fashioned door, and she turned away to quiet herself little before going in.
 The garden was lovely and luxuriant, and heavy dews, weighing down the heads of all the beautiful blossoms, made it still more lovely in the calm clear light of the moon which shown so brightly overhead. But with sigh Nellie crept out of the glory of silver light, and paced to and fro beneath row of rugged elms, whose far-spreading branches cast fretwork of shadow over the ilowery borders and neatly gravel cd paths below.
 Nellie glanced up at the rambling old farmhouse which had been her home for so many years. How she loved it! Every nook and corner that it contained was dear to her.
 II have it, and all in it, left to me, ;" she said, in a soft, sad tone; "and dear father and mother, too. A happy, happy nome it has always been, and I am shankful for it! But, oh, Edward, how could you be so unkind? Oh! how could youP"
 She listened, fancying she could hear his departing footsteps yet. And per haps she might have done so.
 With lofty looks and disdainful curve of his rather thin. lips, he was on his way home along the winding lanes. He was man of five-and- thirty, while Nel 1' was scarcely twenty. She was sim pie and innocent as a child; but he had learned many lesson in the school of life ere this. Yet another was in store for him, and probably another and another - for while we live we must learn; and we will learn-so foolish are we-in the most costly and laborious way, for the most part. Experience keeps dear school" says the proverb, "but fools will go to no other"
 And are we not all fools until hard and memorable experience has knocked and kneaded wisdom into usP And one lesson which Edward Melville prided himself on having learned was the value of money. He was a bachelor, and so he made up his mind he would remain until he could find n woman with money who would be his wife. He himself was a country doctor, and, with very Small and not increasing practice, it would never do to marry and have nothing but that to depend upon, he told himself.
 He had generally escorted Nellie to her own door, after their evening walks, but this evening he had left her just out side the gate. He was her aunts step son. She had known him all her young life, and had always called him Cousin Edward, all unsuspicious of the feeling which was steadily gathering strength within her heart, till this even- ing. And Edward tor his part, had al- ways treated her as a mere child.
 "A glorious nightw he murmured, as he leisurely pursued his way; and as he looked round at hamlet and trees, and rayside brook, and picturesque farm iouses dotted here and there, all sleep Ing in the moonlight, the disdainful curve left his lips, and pride and haul teur smoothed themselves away from his brow.
 Poor little Nelliei" he said again, with something like q mplacent smile '.I suppose, then, that she cares a little more for me than l deserve. It is g great bore, for, of course, it is out O the question that I should-that could"
 He paused, and began humming {, tune, and switching the dew-lade, hedges with his walking-cane.
 No" he presently recommenced "one must have enough to be comforta ble. And Nellie has got nothing, and have got next to nothing. One ma, put up with the want of little senti ment, I should imagine, if one has tol erable settlement in life. At all event mean to try it."
 CHAPTER II.
 "Ycu will go to meet Miss Bassstt,
 ' 1.r0 ko.. |,
 .'Oh, yes, mother. Edward wa . good enough to say that he would driv me to the station in his dog-cart; he vii bring us both home, too. He says tha rich young lady like Miss Bassett vii not care to walk q mile, even along ou lovely lanes, he is sure."
 Perhaps there was the slightest under tone of sarcasm in Nellie's voice, 10 her mother glanced Ut her as if in sur prise witheutreplying.
 Edward had given Nellie, bit by bi' and with good deal of tact, his idea upon the subject of money, and of tn comfort to be derived from a proper us e. it. Outwardly the two were as goo friends ns ever. Aheart, however, h was carefully on his guard, while Nellie tender, and gentle-natured though sl was, could not help slightly despisin him.
 Miss Bassett was an old schcOl-fell1' of Nellie's and great heiress, and sl had taken fancy to sptnd the remain der of the summer in the old tumhl down farmhouse which Nellie callt home.
 Edward was very attentive, even SD cially kind to Nellie, on their way the station. and her heart went out him again.
 "If only had not said that to him she thought. as the dog-cart stoppt and he carefully lifted her out. '' hore-oh. I do hope tl.at he may forg it."
 Tie train ran in. There was pret Grlc Bassetgs flce at first-class ca