Morris tribune., 1882-08-31

over with Nell as soon as she has finished
planting her ferns. We can take the basket
with u.s. You'll come, won't YOU, Nell?"
"All right" said 1 And Bob having given
his assent to the arrangement, and everybody
being pleased except Mr. Solomon Barker, who
glared with mild malignity at the soldier, the
matter was finally settled, and the whole party
proceeaed to get ready, and finally departed
down the avenue.
II was an extraordinary thing how that ankle
improved after the last of the troop had passed
round the curve of the hedge. BY the time
the ferns were planted and the gig got ready
Jack was as active and lively as ever he was in
his life.
"You seem to have got better very suddenly"
I remarked, as we drove down the narrow wind
ing country lane
'sYes," said Jack "The fact is, Nell, there
never was anything the matter with me.
wanted to have talk with YOU"
''You don't mean to say that you would tell
lie in order to have talk with me?" remon-
strated.. 81 .
sForty, y said Jack stouty.
I was too lost in contemplation Of the depths
of guile in Jacks nature to make any further
remark wondered whether Elsie would be
fattered or indignant were any one to offer to
tell so many lies in her behalf :
"We used 10 bs good friends when we were
children, Nell" remarked my companion.
YES" SAID l, looking down at the rug which
was thrown over my knees. / was beginning
to be quite an experienced young lady by this
time, You see, and to understand certain infiec-
tons of the masculine voice., which are only
20 be acquired by practice.
You don't seem to care for me now as much
as you did them" said Jack.
l was otill intensely absorbed in the leopard
skins in front Of me-
DO you know, Nelly" continued Jack, "that
when have been camping out in the frozen
passes of the Himalayas, when have seen the
hostile array IN front of me-in fact" sud
denly dropping into pathos, ''all the time
was in that beastly hole Afghanistan, I used to
think of the little girl had left in England"
'Iudeed!" murmured.
''Yes,'' said Jack, 81 bore the memory of you
in my heart, aud then when come back you
were aS-iittie girl no longer, found you q
beautiful woman, Nelly, and I wondered
whether you had forgotten the days that were
gone"
Jack was becoming quite poetical in his en-
thusiasm. By this time he had left the old bay
pony entirely to his own devices, and it was in
dulgiug ia its chronic propensity of stopping
and admiring the view.
Look here Nelly" said Jack, with a gasp
like a man who is about to pull the string of
his shower-bath, lone of the things you learn
in campaigning Is to secure a good thing when
you see it. Never delay or hesitate, for you
never know that some other fellow may not
carry it of while you are making up your
mind"
its coming now" thought in despair,
''aud there's no window for Jack to escape by
after he has made. the plunge" had grad
ualy got to associate the ideas of love and
jumping out of windows ever since poor SOILS
confession.
'Do you think, Nell," said Jack, s'that you
could ever care for me enough TO share my lot
forever? Could you ever be my wife, Nell?"
He didn't even jump out Of the trap. He sat
there beside me- looking at me with his eager
gray eyes, while the pony stroled along, CROP
NJ a wild Howars aithar side of the road
1t was quite evident that he intended having an
answer. SorAehow, as l looked down seemed
to see pale shy face looking in at me from
dark background. and to hear Sol's voice as he
declared his love. Poor fellow! he was first in
the field at any rate.
'iCouid you, Nell?" asked Jack once more.
Il like you very much, Jack" said looking
up at him nervousiy; ''but'-how his face
changed at that monosyllable!- ~ don't think
1 like you enough for that Besides, I'm so
young, you know. I SUPPOSE | ought to feel
very much COMMUNICATED aud that sort of
thing by your offer; but you must not think of
me in that light any more"
You refuse me, then:' said Jack, turning
little white.
'Whv don't you go and ask Elsie?" cried in
de-pair. "Why should you all come to me?"
Il don't want Esie,' cried Jack, giving the
pony cut with his whip which rather aston
ished that easy-going quadruped. "What do
yon mean by 'au,' Nell?'
Nd auS"ST
Il see how it is,'' said Jack, bitterly; "Tve
noticed how that cousin of yours has been
hanging round you ever since have been here,
You are engaged to him."
''No, I'm not" said L
'srhank God for that!" responded Jack, de-
voufly. "There is some. hope yet. Perhaps you
will come to think better of it in time. Tell me,
NAlie, are you fond of that fool of medical
IN leut?H
lie isn't fool" said I, Indignantly, ssand
I'm quite as fond of him as shall ever be of
yun.'
You might not care much for him and still
be tnat" said Jack, sulkily; and neither of us
~noAe again until a joint below from Bob and
Mr.. Cronin announced the presence of the
rest of the company ar.# .e
II the picnic was success it was entirely
,!ue TO the exertions of the latter gentleman.
Three lovers out of four was an undue pro-
portion, and it took all of his conyivial pow
,-rS TO make up for the shortcomings of tine
rest. Bob seemed entirely absorbed in Miss
Maberley's charms, poor Elsie was left out in
ne cold, while my two admirers spent their
line in glazing alternately at me and at each
other. Mr.. Cromn, however, fought gallantly
against the depression. making himself agree
able to all and exploring the ruins or drawing
crrds with equal vehemence and energy. ~.
Cousin Sol was particularly disheartened
antl out of spirits. He thought. no doubt, that
my solitary ride with Jack had been prear-
ranged thing between US. There was more
s'rrow than anger in his eyes, however, while
Jack, l regret to say, was decidedly lll-tem-
pered 1t was this fact which made me choose
ont my cousin as my companion in the ramble
through the woods which succeeded our lunch.
Jack had been assuming provoking air of
proprletorship lately, which I was determined
20 quash once for all felt angry with him,
too, for appearing to consider himself i'll used
at my refusal. and for trying to dis
parage poor Sol behind his back. I
was far from loving either the one or the
other, but somehow my girlish ideas of fair
play revolted at either of them taking what I
considered an unfair advantage. felt that if
Jack had not come should, in the fulness of
time, have ended by accepting my cousin; on
the other hand, if it had not been for Sol, I
might never have refused Jack. At present I
was too fond of them both to favor either.
chow in the world is it to end!" thought 81
other; or perhaps the best thing would be to
wait and see what the future might bring
FORTH
Sol seemed mildly surprised at my having
selected him as my companion, but accepted
the offer with grateful smile. His mind
seemed to have been vastly relieved.
$50 haven't lost you yet, Nell,' he muir
INJURED, as we branched off among the great
tree trunks, and heard the voices of the party
growing fainter in the distance.
Nobody can lose me-" said l, sfor nobody
has won ma vet. For goodness sake don't
talk about it aay more. Why can't you talk
like Yourself two years ago, and not be SO
dreadfully sentimental"
you'll know some day, Nell,p said the stu
dent, reproachfully. wait until you are In
love yourself, and you will understand it"
| gave little incredulous sniff.
''Sit here, Nell,' said cousin Sol, mansuv-
ring me into little bank of wild strawberries
aud moses, and perching himself upon the
stump of a tree beside me. snow all / ask you
to do is to answer one or two questions, and
I'll never bother you any more.'
l sat resignedly with my hands in my lap.
'Are you engaged to Lieut. Hawthorne?"