Smyrna times., 1880-04-21
Ishlnael.

"I'll bet you'll be hemssick enough to
die before two days are over your heads,
both Of YOU"
"What will you bet?"
My diamond ring against your picture"
The girls color came and went at mention
of the picture, and she glanced quickly ut
dark bright girl sittiag beside her.
Promise him Elsie there isn'L any
danger of losing your bet. Homesicls!
never was half SO sick Of any place in nay
life, as New York City. hope no one will
follow Us out there"
Z" Not even the elegant LIE Rly?' her
brother said teasing!y.
L" Bah the very na'..e Of the n'aR sick
ems me-"
lie is rich, Nora, and you know you are
going to marry "a rich man."
Yes, but vulgar. ! shall never marry
poor man, neither shall ! marry hpneath
me-"
Ned shrugged his shoulders.
" | shouldn't wonder if you would marry
farmer yet, Nora, and make your own
butter and cheese.
The naughty lip cured as she said
"There isn't the slightest danger. have
no fancy for rural life. 1t does very we'll
for few weeks in the Summer, when one
and sunshine"
The girls sat or the grass, and Nod, man
| like, was perched on the ience-a post.and
rail fence, too, at that. They were waiting
at the railroad station of D for the
carriage of a country aunt whom they were
goinglto visit, and whom they had not seen
since they were children.
The little station was closo and dusty, ano
they chose rather to wait outside. The
waiting was not tedious to Ned and Elsie
| for they were betrothed lovers, and thC
passing of time is always rapid to such q!
they but Nora kept wishing the carriage
would come every few minutes. At last i
came in sight--a low, uncovered wagon
such as are used great deal in New Eng
land, tasty little affair, but still unlike an,
Nora had ever seen before. That younj
lady arched her naughty brsws, and leOket
daggers at Ned, who was helping Elsie in
as though it were the incest barOuche Aey
York could boast.
"Is ray aunt expecting us to-day? p aske'
Nora, curtly, of the driver.
"She is, but your letter only reaching he
yesterday, she could not spare the time t
come and meet you, but she bid me say
warm welcome awaits you at the farm"
"a well-turned speech for person in hi
position, for l suppose he is only a farr
hand" Phis thought Nora to herself, an
once comfortably seated, she fixed he
bright eyes upon him, taking notes. Ii
wore q pair of dark pantaloons and a whit
linen blouse and plated straw hat SOM
thing the worse of The wear, was crpshe
down over the blackest curls she had eve
seen.
Ned and Elsie were sitting very close
together, Ned hOldiRg her hand. MOI
turned round quickly.
You TIVE are entertaining, | must sa
Ned, l should think Elsie would roast wit
you sitting SO close to her this July day"
Nora, don't you feel a little bit sickis
homs-sickish like, already?"
"No, don't, and haven't the least i'd
of being so. Elsie, / am sorry for one thir
that we let Ned come along. There
never any peace, where there is ma
never"
The handsome driver new arched his ey
brows, and would have whstled if he dare
and whispered
"DO yeu, Elsie, do you wish you hadr
let Ned come alOngP
Elsie blushed crimson, and the driv
said
"Yeu can see the house yonder throu
the trees"
A moment more and they were at t
gate. Long, low and rambling-I Ii
j" and Nora, gathering up her skir
placed her dainty foot upon the wheel, a
was out, before the astonished driver Cal
to her assistance.
Aunt Mary met them warmly for tn
mothers sake, and soon they were seat
around the ample board with very unci
- like sppstites. Mr.. Brewster, Aunt Mar
husband, was q wsll-to.dO farmer with
10 broad, kindly face aAd a large heart, but,
spite of lifetime's training, he would scr
times forget and put his own knife in
butter. Aunt Mary saw the look
supreme disgust with which Nora view
the proceeding, and she whispered sci
and tenderly to her husband, "Simon, dc
try apd remember the butter.knifs WI
the girls are here"
His manners were so gontle, and his vo
SO kindly, when he said to Nora, " Ht
childie let nae give yeu some more of
strawberries. Yeu must eat just as ni
as you can while you are here" that
almost forgave him for the affair of
butter-knife.
Father, where 10 Ishmael?"
"Hs went home he will be back es
, III LH1
la, "You should have made him stay to
father" a name Aunt Mary still called
husband, though six little graves in
So churchyard were all that was left Of
/ as children she had born him.
han az wanted him to stay, but he said
new S had promised Madge to help her with
rom lessons. Examination is coming on"
and and This was Monday. Tuesday, Wed
ever yer day and Thursday passed very pleasant
nor Nora She explored the house and grou
Dsss al. and read her favorite poets. Friday
pri- felt very lonely, and if Ned had beef
can can Europe, she would have said homes
Sly Ned and Erie were passing their time
- way very agreeable to themselves, fol
ting in their selfishnsss all about Nsra.
Saturday she was lonlier than ever,
Aunt Mary was always busy in the kite
s5s on that day.
eOh, Aunt Mary, Ira so lensly.n
rs rs IN "It's too bad, child Suppose you
! aent. nj on my big sunbonnst and carry this pis
ligats little pail Of milk out to the field to
rnish Isia uncle
lade. Anything for change, SO Nora tied
gagss ga zuaboanst over her brown curls, and !