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

~ - 49, S@-A'p ON0ACOle
cannot marry Laura Dalton when my
whole heart belongs to you, and
know, too, that you care for me dearly
dearly"
care for you too much to let yOI
act dishonOrably." she answers, stead
lily; but there are tears in her dropped
eyes, and she unclasps her hands Il
take his own into their gentle embrace
You should have spoken before. II
is all so strange to me. And the girl
StarwoOd. Does she love you?"
"That's the trouble. She loves me
to distraction, Her little letters break
my heart. She is so happy in the
thought of our marriage. 1t was ar
ranged to take place next m0nrh"-
discolsolately-''and she's eOmlng tC
Aunt Maggie's the day after to-mor-
row. Nina, l think will run away.
"You cOsld not be coward, Star. |"
"Come with me, Nina" a world OF
entreaty in his tone. mo. but am
in earnest. Why should we sacrifice
ourselves to lives of misery. DIR.
Leslie cannot feel for you as do. 1t
is almost year since he has seen you
even"
"He does love me. Oh, Star, if you
knew. 1 am all the world to him, and
he has waited and worked. 1 could
not be so wicked. He is coming
back soon. Hehas finished his course
in Paris, and--do you think we two
could ever be happy together if we
had male others wretched."
"But you love me, Nina? Tell me
truth, dearest; nothing will seem so
hard to bear after that. Only say it. /"
He has drawn so near that his cheek
rests against her slender shoulder.
Shy Nina does not answer. but her
arm slips timidly round his neck, and
she rests her cheek against his curling
golden hair. After the fashion of
maidens, she has answered her love in
silence.
This exquisite moment is suddenly
broken in upon by the sound of scam
pering feet and ringing voices, and the
children come rushing pell-mell
through the orchard gate.
But. after all, they are Nina's
brothers, and that thought recOnciIes
him to bear for whEe the noisy in
Fiction of their company.
,
A shadow darkens the morning SUM-
shine. Nina looks up from adding the
weekly household accounts, and sees in
the long, open window the loveliest
young woman she has ever beheld.
"Miss Marble, Nina"
Nina's heart quakes, but she goes
forward with a welcoming SMILE.
81 am Laura-I.auIa Dalton. You
have heard of me?" offering both
hands with impulsive grace.
"Oh, yes, yes p says Nina, blushing
slightly. but looking bravely into bril-
liant hazel eyes-lOvely, wonderful
eyes. so thickly tringed with fine black
lashes. 81 am so glad to see you, II
is so kind of you to Gomez
Star promised to bring me, but !
would not wait. You will think it
dreadful of me to rush in without
ringing the dOOr-bell; but l saw you
from the garden, and l knew you were
Nina. Star has written me SO much
about yonl / ought to be Jealous. but
l won't be. You're too sweet. Aunt
Maggie has told me lots about you. 1t
is so nice for her to have such pleasant
neighbOrs. What a lovely place they
havel You know they lived in Wash
ington when l went away, and the
idea of coming to New Jerseyl l
have been abroad three years"
"Mr. Burley told me" says Nina,
helping to divest her visitor of a Co
quettish hat and feather. and laying
bare her magnificent coils of shining
black hair.
"He has told you everything. ! sup
pose2 Dear fellowi L find him
changed-so dull and spiritless."
"He was not very WELL" Nina has
tens to say. with tell-tale flush on her
face. "At least, when he Grst came to
Mrs. Creigh's, he was recovering from
typhoid fever, and he-I suppose"
"That was nine months ago" is the
prompt rejoinder. He wrote me all
about the typhoid fever, and that he
had entirely recovered. But he seems
strangely altered. 1 think it is good
for a man to have enough money tC
live on without work. You have seen
good deal of Star. l suppose, Gince
you've been acquaintedT"
"Oh, yesi My brother Clarence and
he are quite intimate"
He did not tell me about Clarence.
He told me about yoU." says the young
Lady. 81 was anxious to see you'll Ol
course, you know that he-that L
You do know, Nina, don't yO1P"