Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-17
How He Learnt His Lesson.

oh, what have | done. What have i
DONE" exclaimed Nellie, under her breath,
as sad and dismayed she hurried up the
garden path. .'ie will never be kind 10
me any more. How could have said such
a thing :"
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.
Nellie glanced up at the rambling old
farm house, which had been her home for
many years How she loved it! Every
nook and corner that it contained was dear
TO her.
81 have it, and all in it, left TO me, she
said. in a soft. sad tone; land dear father
and mother, too. y happy, happy home 1t
has always been, and | am thankful for it
But. oh, Edward, how could YOU he so un-
kind: Oh. how could you Z"
She listened, fancying she could hear his
departing footsteps vet. And perhaps she
might have done 81.
With lofty looks and disdainfnl curve "i
his rather thin lips, he WAS on his way
home along the winding lanes. lie was
man of five and thirty, while Nellie was
scarcely twenty She was simple and in
| nDcent as q child: but he had learnt many
lesson in the school of life ere this. And
one lesson which Edward Melville prided
| himself on having learnt was the value OF
money. Tie was a bachelor, and 50 he
made up his mind he would remain until lie
could find woman with money who would
he his wife. lie himself was country
doctor. and, with a very small, and not in
creasing practice, il 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 outside the
| gate. He was her aunt's step son She
had known him all her young life, ard had
ALWAYS called him Cousin Edward, all IN
suspicious of the feeling which was gradu-
ally gathering strength within her heart,
till this evening And Edward, for his part,
had ALWAYS treated her as mere child.
You will go to meet Miss Basset, sup
nose. Nelliel' inquired her mother.
"Oh. yes, mother. Edward was good
enough 10 saw that he would drive ne to
the station in his carriage, and he will drive
lis both home, too. He says that rich
young lady like Miss Basset will not care
to walk mile along our lovely lanes, he Is
sure"
Perhaps there was the slightest under
itone of sarcasm in NellIe's voice, for her
mother glanced at her as if in surprise with
out replying.
Edward had given Nellie, BIT by bit, and
with good deal of tact, his IDEAS upon
the subject of money, and of the COM
fort to be got from proper use of IT,
Outwardly the two were as good friends as
ever. At heart, however, he was carefully
on his guard, while Nellie, tender and gen
|, tle-natured thongh she was, could not help
slightly despising him.
Miss Basset was an old schoolmate Of
Nellie's and an heiress, and she had taken
fancy to spend the remainder of the sum
. mer in the old tumble-d down farm house
: which Nellie called home.
Edward was very attentive, even speci
ally kind to Nellie on the way to the sta
ton, and her heart went out to him again
IF only had not said that tc him, "sh'
thought. as the carriage stopped, and h
carefully lifted her out. 81 hope-oh.l d'
} hope that he may forget it.
The train steamed in. There was pret
+ " Oracle Basset's face al parlor-car WIN
, dow; and in few moments she was seated
in the carriage beside Edward, chatting t.
!. and laughing with him as if she had know
J him for years; and Nellie had taken tn
seat behind.
And that was not the only drive the.
had, nor the only evening they spent II
chatting and laughing.
Nellie, her father and mother-all three
and many of the neighbors besides. sool