The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-07-21

iort ufuWh UP ike kTeuhuieT.
"How do you doY" she continued
sweetly; "and where are you going,
nv dear?"
Nellie thought of the wolf in Little
Red Riding Hood as she paused to
answer the questions.
"Quite we'll, I thank you, auntie, )"
she stammered; "and | am going TO
Mrs. Hursfs on little business"
Now it happened, unfortunately for
Nellie Walsingham, that the husband of
the lady mentioned was possessed of a
brother-Lionel Hurst, by name-a tall
handsome young man, who had once
simply adored Nellie, and Aunt Marsh
lands knew it. She bowed stiffiy and
passed on, leaving Nellie to proceed to
Mrs. HursPs.
"Curious," mused the spinster, who
had never Lad q ol9lKf fiffiSsutiifeh wi where
II did not exist. "What in the world
can Nellie be visiting at Mrs. Hurst's
for, and that Lionel there 90? never
did believe in Nellie. She is too vain |;
and then she married that John Wal
singham, as poor as Jobs turkey Now
what can she be going to Mrs. Hurst's
for, if 1t is not TO SEQ Lionel? l declare
| believe its my duty to tell John! Not
that | care anything in particular for
him, but duty is duty, and | never
shrink from mine."
So the scandalized spinster proceeded
straight to John Walsingham's office
and to the mysterious privacy of the
consulting ROOM"
"John," began the old mischief.
maker at once, "I have called on little
matter which feel il my duty to attend
to-"
Ill sorts of possibilities flashed into
Johns mind. Had she come 10 preach
him a sermon and present him with
tract, as she had done once before?
"What is it, Miss Aarshlands?" he
asked, courteously.
"Well?"
Tha ladp dnnneisna L-- r-..s upon
an adjacent desk, and sat down, bolt
upright in chair.
81 thought" she went on" "that il
was no more than right to ask you a
question. ''Do you know where Nellie
is this morning?"
John smiled.
A vision of slim little figure in a
neat linen Gabrielle, with spotless COL
lars and cuffs, with curls tucked up
Into rebelliOus mass behind the little
ears, busily engaged in her usual voca.
tions, confronted him.
"Why, yes" he responded smiling
in spite of himself. "NelIfe is home,
Miss Marshlands. l left her washing
breakfast Dishes"
Little you know about it." cried
the spinster, with disdainful sniff,
I'll just met her going into Mrs. Hurst's
to see Lionel. saw him waiting at
the gate for her, and thought"-6ere
she hesitated, awed by the expression
OF Johns face-''that it was my duty
to inform YOU"
"iour duty"-the young mans voice
was Sleaf y apd ddpissisa, sic,ali i. :o attend Il
your own affairsl My wife is beyond !!
suspicion; although to save nv life / |
cannot Imagine at what you are limiting.
AND in the future, madam, advise Won
10 attend to your own business-to the
exclusion of mine."
The spinster arose to her feet. her
angular form drawn up to it's full pro-
portions.
just as you choose, John Walsing-
man," she said. "Just as you choose,
sir. Perhaps it is none of my business
Dut II You do not find her at Mrs,
Hnrsts this very moment am much
mistaken"
"Say no MORE" returned John, striy-
ing hard to be calm. "Surely my wife
mas right to go where she pleases.
You must be out of your senses, Miss
Marshlands."
mot at all, sir. But everybody
Knows how Intimate she and Lionel
Hurst were before she married you for
love in COTTAGE and all that sort of
nonsense Well, when met her this
morning l saw her 20 straight to Mrs.
l1ursps, and Lionel himself was at the
gate waiting for her. So determined
TO tell yon all had seen. never shirk
my duty"
"lt is hardly appreciated in this case )"
returned the irale lawyer. "My wife
and are quite capable OF taking care
OF ourselves. Good morning, Miss
And the discounted scandal -monger
was bowed out OF the door.
"Old mischief.maker!" cried John.
indign antly "How dare she!'
But perverse voice kept crying in
ms heart, "perhaps-perhaps;" aud at
last John threw down his law books,
and putting OH his hat, was ON the street
and on his way TO Mrs. Hurst's before
he could hardly realize it. Aud once
arrived there, " hat did he behold?
lie saw Nellie coming down the gar.
den walk from Mrs. Hurst's cottage
by handsome Lionel.
John watched them for few mo-
nents, a strange feeling swelling in his
neart; and then he turned away and
went back to the office.
When ha cama hnma IN d;nua. h.,l
lsked no questions, but, for the first
lime dnring his married life, was
moody and silent. J
Nellie saw it all with wondering
,ain, but still made no CONNIE
And SO the days went by. John still
lursing the hidden fire which was con- ,
uming him, while Nellie continued
Ter secret lessons, aud dreamed not of
he truth. {
And at last the long looked for birth
lay arrived, and Nellie had in her pos
ession her simple earnings one hum
lred crisp dollars. She came to
|ohn's side when break fast was over
nd laid the money in his hand. ,
"My birthday gift, John," she said
imply.
He glanced at her and then at tho
ills in bewi.derment.
"why, Nellie," he faltered, "what .
oes this meaap 1
"It MEANS" she said, her sweet face
j aglow with pleasure, uplifted to
is, "that could not allow you to do
u the work, dear, while l am content
nth doing nothing. IL wanted to
lrprise you, JohI, and l have been !
Iorking as well as you. l have been :
living music lessons to Mrs. Hursts '
title girls, and the children of the lady
Tho lives next door to her the sister
{ Mr.. Lionel Hurst's wife. n
The cloud vanished from John Wal 4