Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-06-24
CHAPTER TX.

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factory the next day. Rising at
hrra[. she arranged her toilet and
N citing ready to leave her board
house.
must not give that IL II another
chance Ia ntrude upon me, she NUT.
tered He Is determined, a..i will in.
salt me again, if ] meet him.
hen Nellie fell to thinking and
w"adeIng why she was so harrassed
"a. the shortcomings and wickedness
Of others.
She uttered deep sigh and sat down
d. pondlngly by the little window of
her room
4 tap sounded from the panel of the
door, and Mrs. johnson entered.
Another gentleman down stairs to
see you, Miss Ruthven,' said her
landIady. My, you haye q, great
many gentleman friends" She &C.
ccnted peculiarly the last two words.
Nellie flushed slightly.
Il shall not have, after to-day"
she retOrted, with cOntemptuous
look. Who is the gentleman-what
is his name!'
Mrs johnson was obsequious in an
instant.
'.Mr. Martin, Miss, is his name"
Ncllie'S face frightened at once.
"Ah, my-my friend, Mr.. Martin,
she said as she left the room.
The young step brother of Horace
Remington advanced to meet her as
she entered the parlor.
Il have been to the factory" he
said, "but was told that you had not
been there to-day, and they thought
you must have over-worked yourself.
W., v,o1a .rIooI ~
The poor child" was not many years
his junior. He had quite q fatherly
manner.
Nellie adroitly avoided an explana-
ton of her absence from Mr.. Mason IS
factory and inquired about her parents.
''They are getting on very well, but
your father, mistaken man, puts all
the blame of your disappearance on
his wife's shoulders, who says very
little in reply"
Poor mother" sighed Nellie. 81
will recompense her. She bears it
we'll. On that eventful night-that
night when we left Woodstock.
could not help screaming with fright
when | saw her lying on the floor. |
never knew her to have such q fit be.
fore, and have feared she might have
return of it,
''No, she is quite we'll"
Richard Martin was watching Nellie
closely-his large, penetrating eyes
were turned fill upon her.
Nellie" he said, 81 fear you do not
know what you have undertaken"
II do fully comprehend all the diff.
culties," replied the girl, quietly.
NAY, pardon me, but you do not.
You are young, too young, to fight the
world.much too young, if not inexpe-
rienced in hardships. You are also at
tractive. Vultures loiter about every
highway l am sorry that you are de-
termined to throw yourself in their
way. However, l shall be near you
Tor time, as l have business in this
town, and, by the time leave l shall
devise some new method for you to
accomplish your purpose"
The tears stood in Nellie Remipg.
tons eyes, and her voice was choked
as she replied.
''My object is a worthy one, uncle
Richard" she said. 81 wish to get to-
gether sufficient money to buy back
my dear fathers home. You have
promised to do all you can"
Even to mortgage everything I pos
sess." interrupted Mr.. Martin.
"ies, and it would be folly for me
to sit with folded hands, expecting
events to transpire as would have
them. We have agreed to keep this
matter between US, so be careful"
All" sighed the youthful uncle,
had he told me of this trouble before.
might have aided him to avoid much
of it. 1t was not wonderful that he
should wish to keep himself in a per-
petual state Of excitement; under his
circumstances, think / would do so
myself-worse perhaps. But then
such folly is to be condemned, and I
am very sure can condemn nv BROTH
er's course heartily, much as 1 sympa-
thize with him."
'.Have you been with father so long
time and never learned his secret un.
ii now?"
"He lisped not a word of it," re-
piled Mr.. Martin. "You know have
always been away"
Yes, father many times has shown
me picture of you, and dwelt on your
good traits in glowing terms. That is
the reason seem to know you so well.
lou are more like brother to me than
staid, elderly uncle"
Nellie smiled IS she spoke these
words, and her eyes beamed with pleas.
That will do, if you please" said
Richard Martin. "I have NO des;re tn
be looked upon as brother, nor uncle.
either, If it comes to that-but. least
OF all, brother. l had rather be
your -"
lie stopped as Nellie's wondering
look fastened itself in his face.
Nellie. """" "sAeu
Your friend he said, quietly.
How particular. If nv brother
could not be likewise friend 1 should
di own him." '
All" muttered Richard Martin. as
be left the house, 81 have travelled
this world pretty nearly over, but
never vet have l seen the woman who
could entertain one as she does by
look or word. And l am her UNI.
cle." For moment he reflected, then
broke out: mo, l am not her uncle.
am not flesh or blood relation-yet |
must act in that capacity"
The day was drawing to close when
niece.
He left her standing in the doorway.
The shadows were again settling over
her face, and her gay manner disap-
,peared as he passed from sight.
Sad recollectiens were looming up
before her, and she dreaded to tell her
hther's kind brother of what had oc-
CURED to keep her away from Mr.. Ma
:, As yet, she had said nothing to him.
her pent-up feelings were kept under
IN noM long ere they would burst forth
sue Ieit she did not know.
just as she was about to 20 inside, .
10Y, wnom she had observed coming
t scf9ss the fields, ran up to her and
Nellie Remington at once recognized
'ne BOY as one Of the factory hands.
note from the boss, Miss" he
sag. With q side look, and began
wnlstling, in shrill kew 1Write a
letter to my mothers
Nellie looked at the seal scornfullv.
and would have handed the letter back
to the boy. But she feared that would
expose her secret to him. and PERHAPS.
tale would be borne to the factory
nands that would cause her trouble.
30, he would read the letter.
Sne tore open the seal, impatirntly.
and scanned its Contents
A Gnepr SnrasI