Daily Republican., 1883-05-04

too lovcly!"
And little Mrs. Leslie clasped he
white hands lin childish ecstacy. He
husband gazed into her sunny face. an
his own clol ded He bent his hant
some head and kissed her fondly,
"Nellie," he began, slowly, " al
sorry to disappoint you, dear, but
cannot attend Mrs. Marchmont's bal
| am obliged to run up to Painvillt
Old Uncle Stephen is very i'll, and wishe
es me to draw up his will at once.
! The blue eyes flew open in grievc
surprise.
"Not 60? Oh, Horace, and ha
set my heart upon it. Oh, well, cousil
Charlie can escort me, if you are will
ing, dear"
Horace Leslie lcokel annoyed an'
troubled.
"Why, Nellie" he returned, sadly
81 did not think that you wonld car,
to attend the ball without your husband
| hardly fancy a gay, young fellow lik'
Charlie escorting You and ! know that
you would sooner die than become the
jest Of insidious remark. Don't 90
Nellie, dear Give up the ball tonight
for my sake"
But the blue eyes of the young wife
We're swimming with unshed tears, her
fair tlcellad gro WI pale, and there was
a grieved expression about the rosy
mouth.
1t was hard trial to Nellie, who
loved gayrty so, and she did attend a
ball very often.
"Can't somebody elso 90 to Plainville
in your place." she equrrie,l, petul4ntly.
"Why must that horrid will be drawn
w Tonight, of all nights? Don't 60,
Horace"
must" he answered, firmly. "You
see, Nellie, Uncle Stephen has tele-
yraphed to me. must go; cannot
avoid or neglect tho summons. The
train leaves 1T five. lido not See how
can return before midnight, and, dear,
the old man is dying"
It's always the way" pouted the
girl-witr moodily. "This comes Of
lnarryinga IL lawyer. can never be
sure of your society"
"But darling" persisted her hus-
band, " | am with you all that is possi-
hle, Cheer mp, little girl believe me,
am acting for the best. This is not
the only ball that will ever take place,
Nellie; no doubt we will be invited to a
score Of them this winter"
"But none like this" sobbed Nellie
breaking down and crying like child,
and had thought SO much about it,
Horace, you are awfllly provoking
Let old Uncle Stephen wait, or he can
find IA lawyer in Plainvlle Give it up,
dear, do -
81 would do anything for you, Mel
lie he replied gravely, "hut duty is
duty, and | must 60 to Plainville to-
night"
"Well, 60, then, and don't care III
you never come back so there y
And Nellie tlounced ont of the room,
up stairs to her own chamber, where,
tiinging herself upon the bed, she in
dulged in good, olh-fashioned cry.
But the tears were as much for the l
hasty words just uttered, as aught else.
What would she not have given could |
She have recalled them? But alas,
words once spoken can never be re-
called.
She sobbed herself to sleep at last.
When she awoke it was quite dark.
She arose, bathed her eyes and brushed
her hair.
Suddenly her gaze fell upon the
pretty ball dress, p robe Of pale-grcen
satin and white lace, looped with water
lilies.
She caught her breath with n
'ang of disappointment Then,
inging the bell, she summoned her
maid.
marie" she said, "lasMr. Leslie
"No, ma'am. He told me to tell you
hat he would leave on the five O'Clock
rain on business. Such IA pity, too,
na'an. pve been longing to dress
on i'll that pretty dress, and now you
re not to wear it,"
Just at that moment the dOOr-bcll
ang, and Nellie was summoned down ,
tairs. She found "Cousin Charlie "
waiting her. A tall, handsome fellow,
of tiirt, was Charlie Leslie,
OF Ncllies own cousin, you see
Most time to dress, Nell" he cried.
W here is Horace 90
And then, between sobs and teas, ,thcI
hole story came ont. Charlie looked
q" 'pon my word, it's too bad - he I
rird, good.naturedly. " ha, given
, the idea Of going myself, but if it's g
u III" same to you and Horace, I'll rs- |
'rt you. What do you say, Nellie ." t
And forgetting all about her husbands :
hjrctions, Nellie said yes. She wasin
le carriage on the way to Mrs March.
FONTS before she did remember, and
lei, it was too late to retract.
The ball was II grand success. II was
Ike tairy-land, the flowers, and lights,
ld music, lovely faces and beautifu,
Isiumrs.
Nellie was soon surrounded by eager
lmirers, but Charlie was the favored
lvalier. Somehow it seemed more pro-
Pr, to Nellie, and it was not until after
idnight that the truth came home to
,r, and her eyes We're opened.
She was sitting in curtained bay
in'ow. Charlie had gone to get her an
e, when the voice of agentleman, just +
ltslde the vrranda, fell ON her ears.
" Leslie is flirting reCklrsSly tonight s
ith his pretty cousin. by Jove, Carl
II, ! couldn't fancy my wife flirting
desperately, while was absent"
" Nor |, returned Il languid voice,
lich Nellie recognized rs belonging
Il young physl"ian, a friend of he.
islands; bur flirting seems t'r
Of married women nova.
N. Why ~ with Il start Of cviden
rpris', Where did You hail from,
NnoIAS ."
' Doctor Carton,' replied the new
m"r, Eve been sent here post haste tn
t SOu. There has been n irightiul en-
"id"nt Just outside the city the mid nr NJ.
ght train from Plainvillc, and nearly ed
on board wcr" killed or wounded. tn
lcy want you to do what there is to rev