Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-07
s:'GaIes ann Skfttbes.
NISA's TRIAL.
By FRANCES c. sPARHAwK.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

and when he staid away longer than usual
she said that it was from desire to escape
seeing this mill girl with whom he had
danced. Sometimes, however. she grew
sensible and said that he was merely going
about his business without any reference
to her. This thought made her most
angry of all. and the strange thing about 1t
was that when sensible she was farthest
from the truth. For Longley was think
irp of her and watching her. lie could
not quite understand her. but he was not
less interested on that account. One day
he stopped beside her. and asked sudden
ly:
You do not remember me, Miss
Nichols p
Nna's beautiful eyes looked up at him,
too startled TO Danish the tears in them
directly, for everything had gone wrong
that morning.
"Yes." she said family. Then she re-
covered herself That place was rather
different from this" she added with a
smile; "ihese aisles would be a little mar
row for dancing"
1--we not watzed SINCE" he returned.
"I-why wouldn't you speak to me the
other day?"
Nina glanced at him coquettishly. Yet
he saw a touch Of mournfulness under the
gayety.
"Perhaps it was because looked like
such guy" she said
He examined Ter critically as she stood
in her calico dress, with cheap ruche at
her throat fastened by her plainest brooch.
Her hands were somewhat soiled as she
held them out half in d fiance, and little
mark that had the effect of a beauty spot
was on one cheek. The young man
thought that if this was the way guys"
looked, he did not diSapprove of them.
He said nothing though, only "a he watched
her his face lighted until she turned away
suddenly. saying with Il little bitter laugh,
lin wasting your time. Mr. Longley,
the time you've hired, and you must be
busy yourself"
He came close up to her.
do YOU suppose I've not found out all
about why you are here Pr he said hastily
under his breath. don't you suppose
="
go, please" she interrupted. "they
are watching you"
He moved away directly.
That evening Nina made more elab-
crate toilet than she had done since her
fathers failure. When Harry with char
acterisiic directness asked why she had
dressed up so, she answered somewhat
tartlv that she was not Il factory girl in
her own home. Mr.. Longley called, and
they both had delightful time. Alice
was out. the younger children were alb
sorbed i'm n game, Mrs. Nichols nodded
over her embroidery. and Mira and her
visitor talking of music among other
things. found an opera air which was a
favorte with them both, and tried it to-
gether. Perceiving that their voices ac-
corded, they went on to another song.
talking between the pauses of the music,
and after it wandering off TO other pleas
ant subjects, until the whole evening
slipped away. and the young man made
the discovery that his first visit had been
inexcusably long. Miss Nichols though.
had not seemed to be bored.
A number of visits followed this one.
the intervals between them growing per-
ceplibly shorter Nna's evenings were
no longer dull. but life did not flow
smoothly with her yet. For the more she
liked Lonelev the harder 1t was to be one
of his operatives. He felt the situation.
too. but when in answer to a remark of
hers. he hinled at the unsuitableness of her
work. she answered.
THAT'S what all my friends say; my
rich relations consider that | disgrace
them, but I've been in the factory three
months and nobody finds me anything
else to do. They invite me to visit them.
but that wouldn't help mamma and the
rest. IL it would, I'd do it. Uncle Charles
might support us little while just as
well as not he's worth million or two.
but he would think it good deal to have
us all to dinner. I'm not one bit of a
heroine" she added. IL want papa to
come back dreadfnlly."
Longley felt no leaning toward differ
ent sort of heroine from the blue-eyed
little girl whose devotion to her home
made him the more determined to win that
loyalty for himself.
Winter came: still. there was no word
from Mr.. Nichols. His wife was despair
ing, Nina anxious. and Mr.. Longley Sc
cretly indignant.
One January morning a few flakes of
snow sailed through the air. BY noon a
severe storm had come on. Nina did not
go home. Harry would bring her lunch.
He came. full of the fun of fighting his
way through the drifts. But when the
short afternoon had grown into night the
prospect was appalling. men looked out
OF the windows trying to gauge the height
of the drifts, women looked at one an
other with that doubt of their own
strength. which is too deep to find ready
expression. Nina's lips frightened as she
listened t,the gusts that shook the win
dows and tried to rock the building it
self
When work was over and she came
down the long flight OF stairs to the outer
door. she found in waiting number of
gentlemen who had come out like true
knight To succor the distressed. They
had brought ox-sledges roped in and able
to hold. each of them, between twenty and
thirty women standing. For TO face on
foot in the darkness. this whirlwinJ of
snow might mean death in the drifts.
Some Of the teams had already started
Mr.. Longley was standing back a little
watching the women rs they filed down
the stairs and were marched off to the
different sledges. He had been out OF
town all day. having been on his return
blocked in the cars. away from u telegraph
station, or the mills would have been
closed hours ago. When Nina came
down his eyes met hers with look that
said:
..lt is of your danger that | am think