Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-29

wen, girls, SAID Nina, I'm go
ing to leave YOU" 1t was hard to tell
whether the tones were those of sorrow
or gladness.
why. what do you mean?' cried
Hildegard and /.
That | hope to have you both watch
the next New Year in. with me in nv
own home on Murray Hill"
This was a startling statement. For
an instant we were silenced with aston
ishment, then Hildegard, recovering her
voice, cried with agitation:
Explain! explain in words, Nina :"
"YOu know" said Nina, show much
have been with Adele, and how fond
she has been of me and l of
her. You know how attentive and
kind her father has ben to me,
and that l suppose that of course
it was out of consideration for her
Well, tonight, as we arc going out to
the sleighs, he said to me: Come,
you had better ride with me- His
manner was tender and affectionate all
the evening, and / began to imagine
that he would prove a devoted escort
for the rest of the winter, when my
anticipations were cut short by his
| proposal. 1t was just at twelve o clock.
MIR. Farquhar and were sitting in the
deep window, and 1. to be first, quickly
said: Il wish you a happy New Year
- Do youP said he. taking my hand.
Then, If you are really my we'll
wisher, will make you my confidant.
L am not happy when am away from
you. have remained here this past
year for the happiness of being near
i NnNV hnCinngo will xroif
and it is imperative that l return to the
city. Will you go with me?
"Of course, girls, l said, Yes and
shall consequently take up my abode
in that narrow, heated street, common
ly called Madison Avenue. and roll be-
hind those same spanking bays we
drove to night, through Central Park,
which is all very delightful to think of;
yet it breaks my heart to part from this
old home, the dear trees, and the old
folks, who are very precious to me. AS
Tor you. girls, you can be with me half
of the time"
Nina had hardly taken breath during
this explanation; the whole thing had
come so Unexpectedly that she was
flushed and excited. 1 was stunned at
the thought of losing her, and said
nothing. Hildegard. who had not
spoken, here uttered. as if in dream:
"P m glad did it; it is best"
Reused by the tone, both Nina and
saw that something troubled her. for
two great pearly tears had fallen on her
cheeks; and we urged her to have no
secrets from us.
Tell us, Hildegard, what is the mat
terp'
"Six words will do" replied she. 81
refused Harry Fenton to-night:" and
more tears followed.
Neither Nina nor said anything; we
didn't know what to say. We were
sure that she loved Harry. Then she
said: Harry is the best fellow in the
worldI but he is a farmer, and will never
be ANYTHING else. He said tonight, he
never could leave his father. | saw too
much of the practical farm-life at home
to form any dreams of Q poetical char
acter aboutit. / caDnotlive and die on the
same plot of ground like a vegetable.
| must travel; started the working out
of an irresistible desire when came
here, and must go on. would not be
| just TO Harry Fenton il should marry
him; for l could not be happy as a
farmers wife, even though that farmer
was Harry Fenton."
Don worry, darling" said I; ssyou
cannot help it; it is a drop of Richard
bottoms blood in your veins. Don't he
unhappy. dear, just help me congratu-
late Nina"
land your next move onward shall
be to New York." said Nina.
"Where you may capture Captain,
| with x-hnr,n IL L =.
seas" added /.
Hildegard said nothing. and 1, having
the floor. continued;
"Well. let's go to bed for the pres
ent; and when Nina is married, and
you are exploring the antipodes, l will
come to New York and teach, if Nina
will let me live with her."
"Ho! hum!' sighed Hildegard,
tumbling into bed; II wonder where
we will all be next New Yearp'
On Murray HILL" answered Nina.
But that was a mistake; it was many
years before we met on Murray Hill at
New Year's-in fact, not till tonight.
Nina was married in March; Hildegard
and l were bridesmaids Hildegard
went to the city with her, while her
sister came from Vermont to stay with
me.
In November Hildegard was married
to rather gay young millionaire, who
had just come into his money, and went
to Europe for a wedding tour. The
next New Year Eve grandma was not
well, so did not visit Nina, and Hide
gard was still abroad. Harry spent the
watch with me, and talked about her
poor fellow, l felt very sorry for him.
especially when he said; IF father had
not sent me TO college, should have
been better contented to remain upon
the farm, for then should have had no
hopes of Hildegard. Yet, when mother
died. she asked my promise mover to
leave father. and gave it."
After grandma died. went to New
York TO teach. and there met a Young
journalist. and married him. We were
not burdened with untold wealth, but
we loved each other dearly, and con-
cluded to take the chances about get
ting along. which childlike simplicity
we have never had cause to regret. His
business led him hither and thither, and
IN every move l have accompanied him.
Last summer we went to San Fran