The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1884-05-23

remembered that Chris had not
been in the house for twenty four
hours.
Valnly tried to recall a similar
interval when he was in Wryburn.
School, college, business had
called him out of the village, but
his home hours were always fairly
divided between his mothers house
and ours.
Something must be tue matter.
| thought of all possible and im.
possible catastrophes till was not
surprised to see Nell coming in at
the gate in Il subdued frame of
mind, apparent on her pretty face.
She came directly 10 me, as they
all do, even Aunt Jane aud papa,
in emergencies.
''Belle,' she said, in low, grave
tone, "Chris has gone TO Cape
Town.
Goue~ | cried, "why, he was
here yesterday
ale has gone to visit his uncle,
the one who offered him n business
opening some time ago. Chris did
not want u business opening, as he
had plenty of money; and, Belle,
Mrs. Gilmore says il IS all my fault
that she is left alone aud childless.n
Scarcely your fault my dear,'
| said, my heart aching for the
piteous STRAIN h the sweet voice,
the pain in the bright eyes. "lou
were right to refuse To marry Il man
you do not love.p
But Nell ouly grew wlfter and
went slowly TO her own room.
After that In all the family lam.
entations for Chris, Nell never
spoke Of him.
The next winter Meg, our eldest,
was married /; and, as il matrimony
was u contug on, Janey followed
her example; then Mau,le, Lizzie,
aud even Kate, our baby.
Nell, the prettiest, smartst,
sweetest OF us all, hal offers il,
abundance, spent two winters visit.
ing Meg, and, by all accounts, cap
tiyating hearts by scores, but
coming back to be the lite and the
brightness of our home.
.There must he one old maid IN
every family" she sail, and when
| suggested my eminent dtness fol
the position she smiled loftily aud
said, "Mr Brooks says you are the
household angel, so please let u'
hear no more nOnsense."
"fhere is Aunt Jane, too" | said
mildly.
"Belle,r she said, severely, evil
you stop taking nonsencei Aunt
Janc, indeed "
IL really did seem as IL Nell was
in earnest about single life, but
after all she was only twenty four
aud looked about seventeen, when,
one day, who should walk into the
parlor as cody MS If lie had left IL
the day before. but Chris.
We were all there AS he came in,
but before had spoken to Aunt
Jane | saw that Nell had vanished
Did Chris see her run out of the
door MS he entered the front win.
dowq
think he did.
There was a subdued twinkle in
his eyes as he inquired after my
infirmiIies, but not at all consis.
tent with his words of sympathy.
Presently Nell came in with a
quiet smile of greeting, and n per
| feet composure OF manner, but Chris
was a match for her.
Ii was as good play to watch
those two, so completely did they
| ignore the TACT that be was a dis
carded lover who had been sent
away by her cruelty.
They conversed easily and grace
fully of Cbristophers African ex
periences, varied by descriptions
of the family weddings, the new
homes, the brotbers.in law, the
children, aud a thousand other de
tails, in which our caller expressed
the greatest interest.
After that he dropped IN as o
lold, making himself agreeable ant
useful to every one in the house
especially tender, as he eyer hat
been, to me.
Indeed, | found myself wonder
ling sometimes IL he was going e
take Nel's mocklns advice, and
all the others being appropriated
offer himself to me.
II lie took me for loug drives in hi'
mothers pony carriage, aud wa
always ready to hear OF Nelps con
quests, showing no jealously, but
sreat deal of amusement over he
. eoquetries.
ssShe was born o coquette u h
said, once; 'and yet nobody cal
call Nell vain. 1t has been q mat
ter of course with.her to be admir-
ell ever since she could run alone.
"She is our beauty now as o
, old" | answered, aud Chris as
seuted cordially.
IL have seen no face so winsom
since | lett home,n he said, but b
spoke with the frank admiration 0
: a brother, and gave no tokens OF
love sick swain.
Had be outlived bis love, | won
dered, aud come home to prove 7
r Nell that her days OF tyranny wer
overt