The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-02-09
Then, before he has time to speak

| linen, before lie mas time 10 speak
she has opened the gate and is gone.
els your cousin indisposed, that she
did not accompany you to-day, Mis-:
Ednap" he asks, a short while later
whens their incognito dropped, the
room.
''Oh no; she's quite well," Edna an.
swers carelessly. ''But mamma thinks
her too young TO go into society as yet
and the child herself is very ditfident." p"
DR.. Graham is satisfied. He has put
two and two together, and, through
| Nina's words and terrified manner, to-
| gether with Edna's answer to his query,
he has arrived pretty closely ut the
| truth.
'"Too young! Why, she's more a wo-
man now than her frivolous cousin will
ever be! l fear that poor little Nina's
lot ut her aunt's is something akin to
the Cinderella of the fairy tale. l WON
der what Mrs. EltinG will say when tell
her what is in my mind concerning her
niece-if she will say she is too youngP"
The day after the party, and again
the following week, DR. Graham calls
ut the Eltiugs' home. but he sees every
one save the one lie wishes most to
meet.
Poor Nina's escapade has been dis
covered, and she is in digrace. The
Dolly Warden dress. spied by Edna's
prying eyes, has convicted her.
But, his mind once made up. Launt
Graham is not one to be thwarted, and
he has determined to wait no longer to
learn the answer to a question he has
longed had in his heart.
SO, taking his pen, he writes to Nina
IL t,ll
her of the love, strong and tender, he
cherishes for her, and asking her to
make his happiness by becoming his
wife.
Days 90 by and merge into weeks, un-
til three have flown, but no answer from
Nina does her waiting lover receive.
At last his hope fails.
$50 it is mo, and have deceived my
self. She dosen't care for me, and
what l read in her sweet brown eyes
was merely friendship, and nothing
more. Well, little Cinderella, must
be brave, and give you up, for it is
evident that, after all, l am not the
prince who is to release you from your
uncongenial home.''
But, though his thoughts are braYe,
Launt's disappointment is none the less
keen, and he avoids as long as he can
the pain that seeing his loves dear face
and knowing she is not to be his would
cause him.
At length there comes time when
Nina falls ill for the first time in her
healthy young life. To tell the truth, it
Is sickness-than which none are more
battling and tenacious-more of the
mind than the body.
Bravely Nina struggles against the
lassitude that is gaining each day
stronger hold upon her, refusing to give
up, until at last she can resist no longer,
and becoming for the first time thor
oughly> alarmed, Mrs. Elting calls in
medical aid.
''You do not think that it is serious,
doctor-that she will not recover?''
Pale and anxious, Mrs. Elting bends
over her niece. In her heart she knows
that only outwardly has she done her
duty by the motherless girl left in her
charge, and a remorseful compunction
is visible upon every feature.
DR.. Graham's voice is very cold as he
answers her gravely: It cannot tell.
She is very i'll. l should have been call
ell sooner.
1t is hard fight, but youth wins, and
out of the shadow of death comes Nina
sadly changed from the radiant maid
en- of a few months before. though in
Launt's eyes she seems, with her frail
spiritual beauty, more than ever lovely.
At last convalescence sets in, and his
services are no longer needed. 1t is his
last call. He finds Nina alone, Mrs.
Elting and Edna having gone to the
village to make some necessary pur-
chases.
He stays but short while, and then
rises to go; but Nina's slender fingers
upon his coat sleeve detain him. Surpris-
ed, he looks down Mt her, to find her
face covered with All embarrassed flush,
and that she is trembling.
CDR, Graham" she says, 81 hate to
speak and bring back to your mind what
perhaps time has already begun to ef-
face; but i must. l have = favor to
ask of you-it is that you will try and
on account of my youth, my
unladylike behavior in coming unin-
Vited to your sisters party-forcing my
self where l was not wanted. l knew it
was not right. but nv cousin had made
me vexed, and went-I am ashamed to
say it-just to spite her. 1t has troubled
me great deal to think that through
foolish childish freak, have lost the re-
spect of you and your sister,"
s'You have troubled yourself needless
ly," Launt answers; 'for you did not
come unlimited. Your card must have
been kept from you, for l myself enclOs- |
ed it with those for your aunt and cousin.
And now /, in my turn, have question
to ask of you. Why did you not answer |
my letter? Was it because you deemed |
an honest love of so triiling an account |
or because you were so utterly indiff-
erent to me that YOU cared not what |
pain 1 suff'eredp''
Nina looked wonderingly up.
"What letter do you mean, DIR. Gra-
ham?''
1.-The one in which I told you of my
love and asked you to be my wife,"
Launt answers.
Il never received itr'
As she speaks and looks up to meet |
his gaze, her soft eyes droop swiftly to
hide the telltale light that has sprung |
into their brown depths. But not before
Launt has seen.
Nina" he cries, sit must be that my
letter met the same fate as your card of
invitation. What was done once may
have been repeated, though, of course,
we will never know. But it will matter
not, if only you will assure me that my
hopes arc not destined to disappoint-
you Will let Ine Tell you HOW
what l endeavored to set forth so
clearly upon paper few months ago"
Nina's face is pale no longer, as her |
lover taking silence as consent, draws
her closely to him, while in impassioned
words he tells that old story which yet |
is ever new.
Nina" Launt says after while, "in
my thoughts have always called you
nv little Cinderella. L saw just how
cold and unloving your home was, and
l flattered myself that 1 would be the
prince who should carry you away to
the sunshiny palace of his love. You see
1 was right. Darling, do you know what
l have neglected till now?'
Then, despite Nina's vivid blush and
startled eyes, Launt stoops his handsome
head to hers. And Mrs. Elting and her
daughter, coming in, See and under