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

arrived at Beverly one June afternoon
Judge Farley, his son Lynn, Mr.. and
Mrs. Verne, and Nella, their daughter,
Lynn Farley's betrothed.
Beverly was a pretty little place on
the coast, q favorite resort at one time
for those who desired to spend their
summer in an easy, comfortable way,
without being bound and restrained by
social laws and formalities.
Everyone was independent; they
spent their time as they chose and dress
ed without regard to fashion. 1t was
certainly the place for one to enjoy
themselves, if comfort and ease and in
dependence signify enjoyment.
This is delightful exclaimed Mel
la, when they stood on the hotel piazza,
surveying the scene. ''And what o
number of people for such a small
place. Only two hotels, aren't there,
Lynnp"
"Yes, but they are very roomy," he
answered, "and there are many cot
tAges."
Then, as his eyes wandered over the
moving throng on the avenue below, he
started and his face lit with a smile.
"Miss Mortimer, father" he said.-
''Do you see her?"
A handsome woman in white, with
clusters of deep-red roses at waist and
throat, was passing, accompanied by a
trio of friends. She looked up with a
bright smile, her eyes, dark and spark
ling, rest an instant on Nella's face,
and involuntarily the latter flushed
slightly and averted her eyes.
Lynn turned to her impulsively.
II am glad Miss Mortimer is here,"
he said. "You will meet her now, Nell
la, and | know you will be good friends.
She isvery pleasant"
II do not remember having heard of
her before. Is she an old friend?"
Nella spoke carelessly but with afeel-
ing akin to jealousy, reused by the
strangers winning beauty and Lynn's
unusual interest and delight.
"An old friendP Well scarcely; we
met her last year at Mrs. Vetnor's. She
is southern lady, but is visiting her
sister in the city; intends to remain un-
til fall, Ibelieve. Perhaps longer" he
added, with half-amused smile that
Nella could not understand.
Judge Farley shook his head depre-
catingly over Mrs. Verne's shoulder but
Lynn had already changed the subject,
and responded by mischievous glance
from his dark-blue eyes.
The windows of Nella's room at the
hotel faced the beach and wide prone
made, and looking out half hour later,
she saw Lynn strolling up and down with
the handsome stranger, for whom she
had already conceived a strange dislike.
She met her that evening in the par
lor. The white dress and roses had
been discarded, and a toilet of black
grenadine with vivid scarlet trimmings
and ornaments of etruscan gold lit up
her southern beauty.
Her hair, dark and waving, was coil
ed low in the neck and secured by a
jeweled arrow; few stray curls fell
over the low, white forehead, with its
arching, jetty brows beneath which
shone pair of radiant eyes.
She greeted Nella with winning
smile, but there was no response
Lynn was surprised at the girls cold
ness.
II do not like Miss Mortimer" she
said, in reply to his inquiries; Il am al
ways distrustful of those smooth suave-
hammered persons. - .
"You need not distrust her," he an
swered half Indignantly, and she could
not but notice how ready he was in her
defense; ''she is always as you see her
now. | mean by that, she is not deceit
ful. Her manners may be suave and
smooth but they are quite natural,
Nella shrugged her shoulders and
turned away. With her usual pervcrs-
ity, she determined then, that nothing
could ever place her on terms of friend
ship with Miss Mortimer, half ashamed
though she was of her suspicious.
Of one thing she was quite certain,
Miss Mortimer and Lynn mightnot have
been old friends, but they were appar-
emily very intimate ones.
He never spoke like that of casual
acquaintance, and she did not bestow on
her other friends the familiarity and at-
tentions he received.
once, when they stood together near
the low, open window, Nella passing
outside, heard him call her Adelaide,
without rebuke.
1t was a pretty name, but she did not
like to hear it from his lips; she thought
it should be with him as with others
Miss Mortimer.
Lynn met her in the hall early the
next morning, on her returnfrom break
fast.
"Shall we ride over to Brockport this
morningP" he asked.
Eyes, I will be ready in a little
WHILE"
Half way up the stairs he called to
her:
"Miss Mortimer is going with us. Tell
her we will start in half an hour.
The frown that would have darkened
Nella's face vanished at sight of the la
1 i 4 L.