Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-02-24
TWO ENGAGEMENTS.

grass among the apple blossoms. Not
unlike an apple blossom herself, in her
pink and white dress of clear muslin,
is the bright girl with the fiower-like
face. Nina is not beauty by any
means; but nineteen healthful, happy
years have given her the charms and
graces of a pure, contented maiden
hood-gentle eyes, a smile like sun
shine. crowded braids of light-brown
hair, and strong, quiet heart.
She has also pretty, dimpled hands,
which are at present making fine tat
ting and weaving, all unconsciOusly, a
web of quite another sort.
The young man whose length Of sup
pie limb lies stretched beside her,
among the devastating clovers, is de-
cidedly handsome. He has light curl
ing hair, almost golden in its bright
ness, and dark eyebrows, arching over
lovely, melancholy dark eyes.
There has been quite long silence
between these two, who are here alone
in this blossOming orchard with the
soft, fragrant petals showering down
around them, and no other company
but vagrant butterflies and hard
working bees to share their solitude.
When the young man SPEAKS at
last, it is in very discOntented voice.
You know very well l want to
speak to you, Nina. You know sent
the children away for no other pur-
pose; must speak to you. But you
sit there counting your stitches and
looking so COOL"
al don't count them," she an
swered, good-humoredly, and letting
her eyes rest on his an instant. Dear
me! what frowning forehead
Well. then, why don't you speakp 1
shall be delighted to hear anything
you may have"
''I don't want you to be delighted"
he interrupts her, shortly. "And do.
for mercy sake, put that eternal work
awayl would like your undivided
attention for once"
The tatting is instantly disposed of
in a convenient apron-pocket, and the
nimble white hands clasp each other,
at rest.
"Say am not good and obedientp
Now for the wonderful story. If you
really are coming to confession, Star,
why, that is just splendid r
"For the listener9 See here, Nina,
you have heard me speak of-of Laura
Dalton, haven't your
"Never. You have never men,
toned her name until this moment,
Star, and you know it I''
"Of course / know it. Who said
didn't? Well, I'm going to mention
her now. Imet her at my aunt's when
they lived in Washington three win
tiers ago. She is an orphan-a sort OF
ward of Aunt Maggie's-and when 1
had known her two months we were
engaged"
every rational on both sides. You
were then nineteen. At what period
of her infancy was Miss Dalton?"
"Wel, sixteen, perhaps. She has
been at school in Germany ever since,
until a month ago. But the worst of
it is, Nina "-stretching out his hand
and laying it on hers" we are en-
gagged at this present moment"
If he had expected to meet any
stormy demonstration of surprise, or
grief, or anger, he finds himself Won
derfully mistaken. The tranquil blue
eyes widen little, and the color
deepens slightly in the rounded
cheeks, but the sweet voice replies, in
its usual clear tone:
"How strange of you, Star. not to
speak of this before? And why should
it be the worst of it. that you are
still engaged?"
Because l am very unhappy, and
because do not love poor Laura. She
is such a foolish, frivolous creature
Just big, warm-hearted child, that is
all. Tell me Nina, dearest" strength
ening his pressure on the passive fin
gers, ''haven't you known AN along
ever since that first night when we
walked home through the beech woods
from Aunt Maggie's-haven't you
known that loved you9"
YES" she says, in almost whisper,
81 have known it, Starwood."
"And you wondered that 1 could
keep silenceY.
Yes" she says again, very softly.
But then you knew of my engage
ment."
"Your engagement? Nina, please
don't begin about that. A wretched
arrangement between fathers and
mothers. I've no patience to speak of
It. You know very well you will never
marry Doctor Leslie"
"Of course / will marry him." open
ing still wider the soft blue eyes. Il
wonder at you, Star"