The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-09-13
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER ".
Alasl what had she donel She had
driven away her best, her dearest friend,
and perhaps he would never come again,
1t was seldom that Mr., Werner became
angry, but when his temper was thor
oughly reused, it could not be easily
subdued. Oh, she could almost hate
Charlie Wlllisl 1t was he that had
caused all this troubled But no, she
reflected more calmly, that would be
wrong. Charlie had always been kind
to her, she would not requite his kind
ness by unjust reproaches. lie was
sincere, too; and that was a virtue
which Mr.. Werner certainly did not
possess. No, she continued, growing
more cheerful with this self-commun-
ion, she did not regret speaking as she
did. A ''lecture" doubtless was an
unusual occurrence to Mr.. Werner, and
for that reason it might be beneficial.
He did not care for her, he was only
trying to deceive her as he had deceived
others, and if she had disappointed him
in the execution Of his designs, was not
that consoling thought Certainly it
was, and at this mental conclusion, she
rose from her chair, determined to think
no more of Mr.. Werner. But to effect
this determination was harder than she
had anticipated, and despite her reso
lutions to forget, his image haunted
her continually, but if she wavered IN
thought this weakness did not manifest
itself IN her behavior. Whenever she
spoke of him, which she rarely did,
save to avoid suspicion, she did not
speak disparagingly or in the tone of
injured friendship. Whenever she met
him, as frequently happened in public,
she never failed to recognize him polite
ly, and an observer could not detect
any coldness existing between them.
And so time rolled on, the days grew
into weeks, and the weeks into months.
Nina was apparently happy. She at
tended, as heretofore, all the social
gatherings in the village, and to these
places of amusement Charlie Willis was
her faithful attendant. Mr.. Werner
left suddenly for California, no one
knew for what cause, or when he would
return, and since he had gone, and
Charlie had no rival to dispute his
claims, Stanley was positive that Mr..
Willis would be the accepted suitor.
"How do you do, Mr.. Werner, how
do you do, glad to see you," said far
mer jenkins as he saw Mr.. Werner on
the country road, ''how is CalifOrny?
L s'pose you didn't care to come back
to these poor parts after visitin' the
gold regions" !"
"Stanley is my home, and 1 shall
never be Indifferent to its charms even
though it has no gold mines connected
with it,"
"That's right, Mr.. Werner, like to
hear you talk so sensible. So many
folks when they've been travellin' think
everything too common at home, and
they're always talkin'about their travels
too. OF course" " he added APOLOGIZE
cally, fearing Mr., Werner might have
tendency in the same direction. Il
like to hear bout foreign parts, and | d
like to go travelin' myself, Specially
when things go wrong on the farm, but
then mean don't like to hear people
braggin' about everything they've seen
and heard"
Eyes, understand you," said Mr..
Werner with an amused smile at the
good farmers confusion.
'Dld you see any nice gals out there,
ell, Mr.. Werner? l s'posed you come
home with pretty Wife"
81 don't think it is necessary to leave
Stanley to seek "A pretty wife,"
swell, yes, that's so. got my wife
in Stanley, and never had any fault
to find with her good looks" "
SHOW do you do, Miss Nina" said
Mr.. Werner some moments afterward,
as he met Nina Linden with big bas-
ket on her arm, "are you going in my
directionP"
''That depends upon which direction
you are going"
Across the fields to Stanley"
"That is precisely my intention.
''Very well, then shall go with you,
and relieve you of that basket. Is it
heavy?n he asked smiling.
''The basket is heavier than its con-
tents"
"Perhaps there is nothing in It,"
''You have guessed rightly, it is emp
ty now, but it was full of things when
left home. When did you return2"
~ came home on Tuesday"
''Were you pleased with your visit?'
$50 much 50 that intend to repeat
it. How are the people of Stanley pro-
gresslng?"
"Quite well. those that remain, but