The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-30
Bentick would let her, and finish her visit.

Bentick would let her, and finish her visit. |
"Well-well," said Uncle 10, ''we must let |
'em have their own way, suppose; but young
folks are mighty quare creators. If they
could only have fancied each other!" he |
added, regretfully.
Meantime, Nellie, with rather a guilty
and remorseful feeling, had hurried away
with little black Jake to carry her valise-
her trunk could be carried by express-and
succeeded in reaching the station, half
mile distant, just in time to catch the train.
Flushed and excited she took seat, and
looked out of the window at the panorama
flying past, quite unconscious that little
behind her was a young gentleman regard
ing her with much interest, and evidently
anxious that she should not perceive him.
IRAN away from me, suppose young
Mr.. Albright thought, with sarcastic curl
of his dark mustache. "Might have saved
herself of the trouble"
And he looked for some moments at the
pretty profile and graceful figure, until. with
sigh and a bite Of the aforesaid mustache,
he unfolded paper, and pretended to be
absorbed in it's contents.
A sudden .iar of the train aroused him,
Then there wus crash, a chorus Of wild
cries, and some moments of inextricable
confusion. The train, in turning curve,
had run off the track and plunged down an
embankment.
Richard, quickly extricating himself, hur
ried to the window at which Nellie had been
seated.
"Nellie!" he cried, "Nellie!" and then he
saw her raise herself to her knees, and,
white and trembling, stretch out her hands
| to him.
| He lifted her out, and bore her in his
arms to the shelter of a laurel bush by the
wayside. She had tainted, but in q few
moments revived by the water which he
had brought from a neighboring brook.
| she opened her eyes, and gazed up into
! those looking down SO anxiously upon her.
| Then she released herself from his support,
and drew away from him.
Are you hurt?" he asked, anxiously.
"No-go away. IL do not require any
assistance"
81 think you do, and shall otleave you
until see you safe, he said, quietly.
She turned away her head, and burst into
a nervous fit of weeping.
He looked for an instant as though he
would have taken her in his arms again, but
he only said, soothingly;
F'Don't distress yourself. There is no.
body much hurt. Rest quietly for while,
and you will feel better"
Il think you had better leave mel" she
sobbed
"Why ore you so anxious to get rid of
me?"
BECAUSE" She hesitated, then added,
with peculiar emphasis: because don't
desire to be burden on your hands,
"You could never be that"
She looked up, with the old, spirited
sparkle in her eye and a curl on her lip.
''Then you have forgotten your own
words"
my own words! To what do you al
lude?"
'You have short memory sarcasticlly.
IL wish T had for then should have for
gotten how badly you once treated me, he
said. almost despite himself.
Nellie regarded him doubtfully, and he
returned the gaze. Suddenly the remem-
brance of his aunt;s words REQUIRED to him.
''Nellie, - he said, seriously, Il think-I
hope-there is some misunderstanding on
your part. What have done to make you
dislike me?"
I'll don't exactly-that u.s." said Nelly,
confused and blushing-''I had cause"
and then she stopped short.
"What cause? have right to ask, be-
cause I am certain that you do me injus-
tice"
Impossible. heard it from your own
lips"
"When?"
That day-the day after the great hunt
at Clairmont. You and Mr.. Townley stop
ped at the spring in the grove to drink, and
began talking. was on the other side of
the great rock, gathering ferns, and-I
heard YOU"
"What was it that you heard?"
''You were talking about me and Bella
Ashley, and you said
"Well?"
''You said you were disappointed in me-;
that was cowardly and stupid, and could
not be trained to be Of much use; and you
said I had turned-up nose and big feet, -
added Nelly, erecting her head with great
dignity;
Nellie, you astonish me. I can take
| oath that never spoke such words about
you," Richard protested. II cannot mag
inc"
II heard every word of it, she retorted,
haughtily; ''and heard you say, in conclu-
sion: L wish you would take Nellie off my
hands, Townley, and let me have Bella!'
and Nellie's eyes flashed again.
Richard gazed at her for a moment in
blank establishment. Then a sudden light
stole over his face-a smile curled his NOUS
tache-and he broke into an uncomfortable
laugh.
Nellie rose to her feet flushed and indig-
mani.
MIR Albright, this is insulting! I regret
that should have"
Hear me, Nellie! do hear me! It is all
a mistake on your part
II heard every word Of it, . she asserted
positively.
$50 you did but it was not you and Bella
Ashley of whom we were speaking Do you
remember the beautiful pair of setter
dogs which belonged to Townsley and me?"
What had they to do with that?"