The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-30

nv hot words.
"Miss Wallingford," I said, 81 have
come "but how to ask herP 1t seemed
such an insult to speak of dishonor
while that calm, steady glance rested on
me. "Did you'll stammered, "did
you know poor Harry ArcherP"
The girls face blanched with look
OF horror that went. alasl far to con-
vince me of the truth of Walters story.
"I was his dearest friend, and loved
him." added, with what must have
seemed wanton cruelty; but Mines face
flushed, and, seeming like flash to
divine my thoughts, she said, with a
proud glance of contempt at me:
MAY 1 ask why you wish to learn
the fact of me having known your
friendP" she said.
"Oh, Nina" cried, "tell me it is all
a horrible, torturing mistaken
81 am at loss to understand you,"
she replied, rising. 60 knew your friend
Harry Archer, and having now answered
your only lucid remark, you will, no
doubt, excuse me if retire."
With stately bow and steady step
she left me, while l reeled drunk with
despair to my rooms.
For several days l was ill; low,
obstinate sort of fever kept me, after the
|
and depressed. Then, after hasty pre-
parations, sailed for home,
That time / had so often looked for
ward to, that day that was to bring me
back with record of work done and
reputation established, brought me no
happiness. More work l sighed for,
and it alone gave me rest. slaved and
spared no nerve or muscle. A penalty
must be paid sooner or later for such
overtaxing of brain and body. Ifell ill,
and all was blank.
A placid, kindly old face, in Quaker
cap, looked at me when l awoke from a
long, feverish dream; of course l tried
to speak, but my voice failed me, and
the lady laid her plump hands on my
head and said: wait little, you will
grow stronger, and then we will do a
vast amount of gossiping."
l let myself be petted and soothed
like baby, and before many days l
could ask how l happened to be in what
seemed to be hospital.
"This is not quite like hospital" )"
to which Doctor s., who was called
in to you when you fell so very ill, sends
his patients"
"But you are not hired nurse, l am
sure"
"No," answered the lady, smiling.
"I am Mrs. Penthwick, an idle old body
who amuses herself by looking in now
| and then on the sick people. | can help
| them little, too, occasionally; l have
brought you these flowers, and can
write for you, if you wish, to your
friends, when the doctor allows you to
dictate"
"There is no one who would care par
| ticularly to hear of my welfare" said,
sadly, although since fortune has ia
yored me little, there are many who
call themselves by that much abused
title of friend"
Good Mrs. Penthwick seemed to set
herself from this time To the task OF
cheering me. when you are able, .
she said, II will take you for little
jaunt to my quiet old house in the coun-
try. have taken fancy to you, SO
don't protest; | am able, thank God, to
do good turn now and then to my fell
| low-creatures. have inquired about you
you will neither steal my spoons mol
run away with the pretty girl who is
now my one guest. Here is your beef
tea; drink every drop of it, and get
strong as soon as you can"
l began to take pleasure in seeing the
wrinkled face which so often bent over
me, looking pleased at my improvement
and when we went by slow stages tC
Penthwick cottage, found myself be.
ginning to hope and long for the battle
of life again.
The second day, after a siesta In s
cozy, chintz-hung room, l went, leaning
on Mrs. Penthwick's arm, to be pre-
| tnA 70 hn rho,, cl, ~
as my daughter" but was really only
a much-loved friend.
| my daughter" arose from din
corner, came into the light, and Nins
Wallingford was before me!
i was sti so weak that the surprise
overcame me, and l sank back in 8
chair, for a moment unable to speak
and dare say looking half dead. Nins
thought so, and the mistake was for m,
the hsppiest one in the world. She
sprang to my side with tears rolling
down her cheeks, and l miraculously
recovered myself sufficiently to catcf
her hands and cover them with kisses
"Oh, Nina!" cried, - have Otter
been convinced that you could explain
away my despicable doubts of you"
YES" she answered. MY still
more despicable pride prevented my
tel ing you of the one sad mistake
made in my life; but my punishment
has been surely out of all proportion tt
my fault Your lack of trust in me tha
day wounded me al the more that haC
brooded over the affair and grown NOR
bidly sensitive; but l will tell you al
about it now. Harry Archer loved M
when l was quite young-tOo young t
know fthe feeling that prompted me t,
| "a appnt him was love nr 1TatitlGH Uani VI
He was, you know, of 80 peculiar TEN
perament that by degrees | found myse.
utterly dsenchanted; attimes unreason
say more of this, for he is dead. HI
would not listen to my doubts of tn
wisdom of our engagement, and gave m
to time the wedding day. / know
alone; my one friend, Mrs. Penthwick
was i'll. When she was sufficiently re
covered TO allow OF it, / wrJte to her
confiding all of my great wretchedness
OF the certainty that, if l ever had, l n
longer loved Harry Archer"
Poor child! What dilemma it wa
for your
SAT the same time / wrote in repl
to reproachful letter from Archie
friendly but non-committal one, l S
foolishly hoped something would inter
vene to induce him to forget me. Fat
would have it that / misdirected eac
letter, and Harry learned the true stat
Of my feelings. You know the rest.
course was misjudged, and my weak
ness brought, God knows, bitter frui
That you, too, believed the curreI
Opinion hurt me deeply. Can YOU eve