Daily Republican., 1884-06-12
AN UNFORTUNATE GIRL.

"I am 30 glad that sister Sophy mar
ried rich city man and 1t is no nice
of her to invite us over there SO often p
Miss Natalie said, as she carefully ad
justed the crimps Of her pale brown
hair. "And l anticipate great deal
from this visit, Jennie" she averred,
confidentially. "You know that An
drew Gresham Is stopping with them
now. He is quite nabob, and have
a notion he will make just the sort OF
husband should fancy, though Sophy
assured me that he Is rather plain and
unsociable sort of person. dare say
he will be sufficiently impressionable
and then if one can really secure a
nabob, one can afford to tolerate mod
crate amount Of ugliness. And 1 am so
tired Of this humdrum place-the pond,
and the old mill, and the big farm, and
all the rest"
"My own home Is the plsasan,est
place in the world to me-" Jennie re-
turned, quietly, never looking up from
her sewing. Though 1 like to visit
Sophy occasionally.
swell, I h-nr % make my visit
profitable thu sin~" Natalie returned,
turning inquirisYy from the square
swinging mirror az heavy footsteps
sounded on the threshold Of the sunny
sitting room.
"And I reckon you must stay at
home, after all, Natalie" Farmer Lins-
ley remarked, pausing at the door, his
rubicund visage ruddier still with
exertion and anxiety. "There has been
an accident up tho road, and the man
who was coming to take the mill was
nearly killed outright. The stage was
overturned into the turnpike ditch, and
the horses trampled upon the poor fell
low, who had been thrown from his
seat beside the driver. He is being
brought here, of course, and one of you
girls must stay at home to tend
him mother has too much to do in the
busy seaeon to nurse him without your
help"
"But why cannot Jennie stay instead
OF me?" Natalie asked pettishly.
"She does net care so much about
going as do: and she is ever so much
handler with sick people. lam sure, pa
pa, ! should be i'll myself if | should be
obliged to stay here, tending coarse,
surly old mill man." she added, with a
plaintive and fretful sort of contempt.
Whether cross or surly, and as yet
it hasn't been proven, you are the one as
ought to stay. Jennie let you 90 before
in her stead" Farmer Linsley an
swered, rebukingly; "and seems to
mo, Natalie, you oughtn't to expect all
the play and pleasure yourself, and her
to have all the work and incommodity.
And If our Jennie is willing to stay,
she is willing to oblige you more than
you deserve" he concluded grutfly, rs
he turned and strobe down tho broad /,
wooden walk to the little farm house
gate, through which group of men
were Just bringing their still senseless
burden.
81 always was such an unfortunate
GIRL" Natalie complained te,rfully, as
she petulantly flung her pretty idle
self down upon the sitting room settee.
Papa is always 40 severe and un-
reasonable with me, and he always
expects me to do just what l most
dislike. | am sure, Jennie, if | were
strong and handy like you, | should be
quite willing to remain and help
mamma. But | can be of no use at
all; never could endure these petty
and vulgar hardships; and / declare,
the very sight of that poor man who is
so dreadfully hurt makes me ill al
ready"
81 am afraid you would not be OF
much use to the poor fellow, nor to
mamma either" Jennie admitted
with q half plying and half scornful
glance at the fair, weak countenance
before her. "And after all, shall be
happier to remain where l feel l shall
be so much needed"
Il X Il Il n
And 80 the pretty, indolent Miss
Naralie went to the city and she was
much too eager for the conquest OF
the nabob to feel any compunc.
ton for the sacrifices she had imposed
upon her patient young sister, whose
duties in the busy old farmhouse were
many and unceasing.
With her judicious and untiring
the injured man began
soon to struggle toward convalescence.
And after time he regsined sufficient
to realize that his womanly
little nurse was q bonny creature,
whose voice was sweeter than the carol
Of tho summer birds which sung among
the trees before his window, whose
presence filled the big house with
. gladness like that of the summer sun
shine.
"She is a gem among womankind,' II
he thought, as with admiring eyes he
would watch her going about in her
trim pink calico frOck, her dark hair
Drawn tidily away from her delicate
brows-a simple, graceful and winsome
spirit, who beautified each homely task
and dignified even the trivial. "My
gentle and wise little nurse" he
thought, sis a jewel who would adorn
A grander home than this. Such as she
.re they whom the great rise up .toI
honor and the lowly kneel to Bless
DAYS and weeks rolled on he had
regained his vigor and strength and
1t length he had reluctantly decided
10 leave the Linsley farmhouse.
"But shall not remain away from
you long" he said to Jennie, as they |
stood together in the quaint, breezy
porch where spicy honeysuckles and
musky roses were swaying In the cool
perfumed morning wind. The girl
looked like rose herself-a dainty
human rose, with her modest eyes, her
lender red lips, and the shy bushes
on her soft cheeks. II leave
INV heart behind me-" he said lovingly
TO her, "and l shall soon return; and
then | shall have come to claim alto |
rether my darling and my BRIDE.
And then he bent his fine manly