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

NINA, I'm afraid you did not have
pleasant time,'' said her mother. not
needing her daughters compassionate
remark, 'you look flushed and excited,
as though displeased."
l enjoyed the drive intensely, but
Mr.. Werner annoyed me little"
''In what way?"
"He attempted to talk love to me,
and you know his perfdious character"
"What did he say?"
81 would feel foolish to repeat it,"
she replied, buttering her bread thought
fully.
II would forbid you gong out with
him at all, SAID Mrs. Linden somewhat
anxiously, "but he has done so much
financially for your father that my in
reference might lead to more harm
than good"
"Oh, indeed it would, mamma, /
hope you do not mediate such step.
1t would be ruinous to all of us. You
need feel no apprehensions for my safe
ty, there is no necessity. l do not love
him, and as long as my heart is my own
am perfectly able to guard against his
lntrigues.
The modest meal being concluded,
Nina rose and left the room. She was
singing softly and contentedly to her
self as she wandered through the gar
den and culled the sweet, fragrant how-
ers, and evidently she had forgotten all
about Mr.. Werner and his whole Evil
famous SEX" as she sometimes spite
fully termed 1t.
You seem to be very happy, Nina" "
''rhere is no law prohibiting my hap
piness, / hope?"
None whatever" replied the young
man wholly unabashed, las if accustomed
to such curt answers, your flowers are
growing beautifully"
AREN'T they" she said delightedly,
"come IN, III give you some."
"Mr. Werner might not approve your
generosity" he observed, as she arran-
ged the gathered flowers into a neat
| UuIJOn nOle bouquet.
''Ie has no right to dictate to me"
''But he may consider himself enti-
tied to that right"
"Then he is vastly mistaken" she
reioined, fastening the flowers to his
coat.
II do believe that you are as heart
less flirt as Mr.. Werner"
''You are complimentary to think so,
but l shall not attempt to vindicate
myself"
because evidences are too strong
against you."
''YOu are really too provoking, Char
lie; if you continue to tease me, L shall
regret having given you that button-hole
bouquet"
'SIhat IS in my possession now, and
your regret cannot alter the fact"
81 might endeavor to reclaim it.
"Your efforts would be fruitless.
There, " he continued in guilty whis-
per, "there goes Mr.. Werner, and look
ing very stern"
"Perhaps he was thinking of some
thing Serious
mo doubt he was thinking of you"
''He has as much right, suppose. to
think of me as of anybody else.'
Chas. Wllliswas a warm friend of Nj
mas. Trey played together as children,
they had pursued the same studies, and
together they had shared the closing
honors Of school life. Charlie was
frequent visitor of the Lindens, ,and if he
failed to pay his accustomed daily visit,
his absence was a question of much
wonder. There was vast difference
between the intimacy Of Nina and
Charlie, and that of Nina and Mr.. Wer-
ner. In the former, there was no fear,
no restraint; it was an intercourse
smooth, tranquil and happy as that of
sister and brother. In the latter,
though far from feeling that painful
reserve, so often felt toward superiors,
Nina was still conscious of the existence
of wide barrier.
Several weeks passed away, but Mr..
Werner never came. Where was he,
why did he not Gomez These and other
questions puzzled Nina considerably.
(but she would not worry, was her pri-
vate resolution.) If he cared to stay
away, it mattered little to her, yet it
was lonesome without him. Accus-
toned to accompany hun in nearly all
of his drives, she felt it keenly when
the pleasure was denied her. At last
he came, and oh, how glad she was. If
he had been dlspleased, his displeasure
was not apparent in his conduct. He
treated her with his usual kindly famIl-
iarity. They laughed and chatted gaily.
The interview was very agreeable, and
would have ended agTeeably, had it not
been for an unfortunate incident. A
bunch of freshly gathered flowers at
tracted his attention. He admired
their beauty and complimented Nina
upon her successful cultivation.
81 am not worthy of such praise, "
she said Iaughingly, ''Mrs. Willis de-
serves the compliment.
"Do the flowe belong to her?"
"They did at one time, but they are
mine now. Charlie gave them to me
this morning"
"You and Charlie are particular
friends, " he remarked with shade of
sarcasm.
"We have always been very good
friends"
Sand more than friends, so rumor
says"
"Rumor is not strictly correct this
time. 1 love Charles as brother, but