Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-20

this apparent romance, and, therefore,
begged Mr.. Nelson to take a cup of
coffee before he started. Her husband
cordially seconded the invitation, and
volunteered going with him to adver-
tise in the next mornings papers.
"By the way. where is Miss Nelly ?"
he asked, touching the bell. 1--WE rang
an hour ago"
"Fm sorry to say" said Mrs. Mason,
turning TO their guest, "tbat this IA
nous Nelly of ours has one great fault
she's very pretty, and has q follow
err AT this moment he is down
stairs, for / heard him come in some
time ago"
"Pm trespassing on your hospitality.
madam, and feel, too, that no time
should be lost" said the poor man,
scarcely needing her, and then, turning
to Mr.. Mason, he proposed going at
once.
Certainly" returned Mason. But
just then a light step sounded on the
stair, and the door opened.
Nelly's eyes were red with weeping,
and her hair was pushed back from
her face as though her head ached.
Her manner was quiet and self-con-
tanned, however, as she came into the
brightly lighted room. The gentleman
stood before the blazing fire. Mrs.
Mason was husying herself in clearing
place on the little table for the fresh
cup and saucer.
"Nelly. we're ready for Coffee" said
she, kindly.
Eyes, Mrs. Mason" in low tone.
The stranger wheeled suddenly round
at the sound of her voice, his eyes
cleaned with hope, surprise, and
terrible longing, and so startled his
host, that for one instant Mr.. Mason
believed he was harboring lunatic.
"Deliai'
With great cry the girl lifted her
head, and holding out her aims toward
Nelson, sank down upon the floor.
"My God!' cried Nelson, springing
to her side. "Mry darlingl-found at
lastP And folding poor Nelly in his
arms he burst into tears. Clinging to
each other neither spoke, forgetting all
around them, or the two wondering
people standing near them.
81 thought you were dead!" sobbed
the woman, kissing Nelson on the eyes
and lips. "Ohl is it dream after all
He is my husband, Mrs. Mason, and 1
thought should never see him againp
Nelson did not speak, he merely held
the little figure closer and closer to his
breast, while the Masons beth stood,
scarcely knowing what to do, in SYM
pathetic silence. Their delight at this
happy and unexpected denouement
to the story they had just been hearing,
was sincere and genuine. Their inter-
est was more than ever aroused as
Nelly, or rather Mrs. Herbert Nelson,
told why she event out to service"
under another name. Holding each
others hands, the new-found husband
and wife heard their mutual stories.
His we know and hers in part. In a
few words she told of bitter poverty,
herself and brother in strange city,
without friends they had hoped to find.
"And so, dearest, thought would
become a cook" with bright glance
j at her husband; "you know always
fancied that art above all others, and
loved to cook for you sir. And aunt
Mintie's lessons were never thrown
away; ask dear Mrs. Mason if they
WERE"
"But, Della, darling, how about that
lover down stairs?" asked Herbert,
with sly glance at Grace, who
laughed and blushed.
Dear me! poor Rickr and with a
bound "Nelly" ran out of the room,
leaving the trio to wonder and laugh
at her fight.
depend upon it, my dear friend,
you have a rivalp cried Mason.
"Not a bit of it, said Mrs. Grace
! saucily. give gone over the enemy,
|, sir, and here he ISL as Nelly appeared
, with "that horrid man" and introduced
"my brother Rick, Mrs. Mason"
Later in the evening, after con-
, tinued chapter of explanations about
Nelly, and the reason why she wanted
to go out that afternoon for celery
she had seen strange advertisement
in an old newspaper about her and her
brother, not knowing what it meant,
because she believed her husband dead
! and all her misery and despair, and
general comparing of notes, Mrs.
Mason said, kissing her on the cheek
81 beg ten thousand pardons for ever
} supposipg that splendid brother of
yours was follower Oh, my dear
I child, if you had only told me in the
first place about yourself, how much
unhappiness might have been saved
e you'll No, Charlie, you needn't call her
J "a trump and I'm sure it's a great deal
3 nicer to be her brother, than to be only
Nelly's lover"