The daily gazette., 1883-11-17


l would sooner bite my tongue out than say
it-but he is playing d0uile part IN thie;
making up TO yOu for your fortune, while
his heart--whst heart he has 10 give--be-
lonRs 70 wies Elliott. / saw him by her
side last night watched tho looks and
signs that passed between them, and speak
solemn truth when say that | believe he
has won That poor girls affections, aud that
In sober earnest he cares Tor her. d now
that have said my say, and broughta cloud
over the face ] have always connect d with
heavens sunshine, Will 20 my way; only
asking that, as time sOftet your anger, you
will Try to think little kindly Of me. Here
Is your landing place"
b And 10 pulls ths bnat into the tiny ereeIs,
and, resting on his oars he waits or her 10
sDrtne ashore, and give him his flnal gee
ture OF dismirsal. But Nina does not move.
Her head Ia bent down, and 80 oveTshadowed
by her hat that ha -esnnot read the EXPIRES
sion of th- family flushed face.
II seems ages TO him bofora the silence ID
broken. AT last--"Did you always thin
me a dreadful fiirt 2"
He is etnftied and taken unawares by the
appealing tone. Fain would heanswer o re-
assuring negative but memories OF the old
tiay8 again rise before bis mind--visioDs OF
the sweet little playmate grown suddenly
of poor Jacks alternate rapture and dea-
pair in the days OF bis brief, ill-coneidered
courtship--and truth, tho guiding star OF
Leslie Grahsme's nature, compels him TO
answeF: t{8itt
81 don't think you could help it--some
women are formed to be the torment OF
every man who comes near them--it was
your nature to be sweet and lovable."
"And now am grown older and harder
land care only for admiration, so that
could stoop to pick up heart that belongs
ofright TO another woman, Oh, I4eslie you
thought this ~
IcBy' heaven, I did you injustice" crIeS
the Colonel, in burst OF seli-reproach.
I've been insulting you all this time, aud
you have borne 1t like an angel, Just as you
used in the old days, when l was big un-
mannerly boy, and tyranniEed over you like
the rutliAn was"
"And / liked you through 1t all" Thii
10 spoken very softly.
"Nina, Nina, do not drive me mad. You
can do it--you always eOuld--I went away
years ago becauso ] pew your aared for
JaclS.n
"You dIdP'
"Was l not rightI You would mover have
chosen me--the grave, stern Scotchman, II
years your senior, in preference to thai
bright, sunny-hearted lad. Aud now, don't
think, dear, that have come back to harasI
you. would not have seen you to-day
but that could not boar TO have you un
warned of the gossip aiioat. But now thai
you know, your woman's wit and your owl
brave little heart will prove your best dc
fense. Goodbye, Nina. Say once that yoI
forgive me, as you used to long ago."
"LeslieP'
1t is well that the dropping branches Of q
weeping willow have made little secluded
bower Of the landing place; we'll, too, tina
the gardener, coming down to moor the
boat, does not arrive minute sooner, or hi
astonisbed eyes might have sean wha
| Queenie afterward mysteriously reports
"My mammie crying, and Colonel Grabsm'
comforting her, as mammie does me wher
tumble down, holding her head on hi
shoulder and stroking her hair"
For Leslie Grahame's long-repressed tai
Of love has been spoken at last, and th
little playfellow of carly day-the priz
which he gave up In bitter self denial to hi
boy friend--hls whispered to him the Eyes
which, had hr been more tar-sighted, nigh
have beeA sirlh cn long ago, ana have sparet
| him years OF -,ii-inficted exile.
[THB END.]