Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-08-23

dark green. with wide hat, whose scar
let plumes dropped coquettishly over her
dusky hair, and CARED her gloves and
parasol.
II am ready" she said to Nella, smil-
ing. "Fll keep Mr.. Farley out Of mis-
chief until you return. It's q lovely
morning for drive"
Then she Joined Lynn in the hall be-
low, and the two went out on the piaz-
"a
Judge Farley went with them to the
station. He could not leave his busi-
ness in the city entirely, but promised
TO make flying trips to Beverly whenev-
er he could spare the time.
Miss Mortimer smiled regretfully at
parting and hoped he would not absent
himself long.
well be lonely without you," she
said, which remark Nella mentally pro-
nounced an untruth, and frowned under
her wide hat brim.
The ride to Brockport and back was
much pleasanter than Nella had antici-
pated. Miss Mortimer was in her best
| spirits, and uncOnciously Nella found
herself ENJOYING the bright speeches and
merry repartee.
She could not but admire the dark,
animated face, with its brilliant eyes
and pleasant smile. and wondered lit
tie when, in the course of conversation,
Miss Mortimer spoke of her twenty-sev-
enth birthday, already passed. The
lady caught her look of curious sur
prise.
Did YOU think was youngerP" she
asked. mo, am nine years your
senior. dear; twenty-seven last April,
Mr.. Farley knows" with an arch smile
at Lynn; "he gave me a little present
then that is my constant companion.
And she displayed gold pencil set
with pearl, and bearing the inscription
"L. F. to A. M"
Nella grew very quiet after that, and
spent her time in thought. Twenty
seven; two years older than Lynn, but
then she looked much younger. and the
face under the wide, dropping hat was
as fair and youthful as girls.
She wondered why Miss Mortimer
had shown her Lynn's gift; it must be
either through thoughtlessness or de-
sire to wound her, and Lynn did not
seem displeased; he was growing re-
gardless of her feelings, perhaps.
1t was noon when they arrived at the
hotel. After dinner, Nella went to her
room and did not come down again un-
til evening; but Lynn and Miss Nor
timer spent the afternoon together on
the beach and he did not even question
her absence.
Nella was very unhappy during the
days that followed. Lynn would have
been as attentive as ever, but she re-
pulsed him, and Miss Mortimer was al
ways ready to entertain him.
He wondered at the girls strange
manner, which he could not, and she
would not explain. Gradually cold
ness, imperceptible to others yet felt by
both, grew between them, and they
drifted slowly apart.
| If Miss Mortimer noticed it and made
comment, it was not to Nella. 1t seemed
to the girl that she was taking the place
that Nella was leaving, and Lynn was
almost unconscious of the change.
Judge Farley came down to Beverly
once in awhile, and if she had not been
so wrapt in her new grief, Nella would
have seen things that were quite appar-
ent to the rest of the party.
One August day Nella received an
invitation to visit friend several miles
distant. Glad to leave the place that
was fast growing uncomfortable to her,
she made hasty preparations and went
away without word to Lynn; but he
found little note lying on his room.-
He read it and went at once to Mrs.
Verne
HAS Nella really gomez" he ask
ed.
She looked at him with astonished
gaze.
Eyes; but is it possible that you
knew nothing about it? I thought
she had talked the matter over with
you"
II knew nothing" he said, and gave
her the note.
LYNN" she read; II shall not stand between
you and your happiness any longer. When we
meet again, it will be as strangers. Miss Nor.
timer will be glad to hear that | have left Bev.
sss ana sa hGps nct res will be sshRRY w
Mrs. Verne looked perplexed and then
laughed.
'Foolish girl" she said, with glance
at Lynn's mystified countenance. "She
is jealous of Miss Mortimer. Don't you
see, Lynn; she has set you free, and
you are at liberty now to pay that lady
as much attention as you like. Is il
possible she didn't understand?"
Gradually Lynn's face cleared, as
the truth dawned upon his mind.
"What shall 1 do?'' he asked, when
they had talked awhile together.
"Write to Nella and explain" she re.
piled. "She is visiting Miss Grayson,
at Campton."
So it happened that three days after
her arrival at Campton, Nella was on
her way back to Beverly. This is what
urged her speedy return:
"Dear, foolish little Nela:-Return at onct
to Beverly. Father is going to marry Mis-,
Mortimer: and you must offer your congratu
lations. You did not seem to regard her witt
favor as a friend, but how will you like hel
Ava ~ LYNN"
They are married now, Lynn and Mel
10, and her dearest friend is the Judges
beautiful, young wife.
But then she is Mrs. Farley, now.-
I'm quite certain they would still have
been enemies, had she remained as she
was when Nella first met her at Beverly,
Miss Adelaide Mortimer.
1t should be remembered daily thai
''life is made up, not of great sacrifice:
or duties, but of little things, in which