The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-01-22

start and sudden paleness on Nellie''
part, and sudden dark upleaping o.
color and feeling to his face, Is he NUT.
tered something about . previous &C.
Quaintance.
think no one else observed this, OF
the fact that this lndolent Irritation with
Boil glowed with sudden and unac.
countable ardor since ,Nellie's arrival
Perhaps, also, no ono else remarked
that he certainly treated Miss Middle
ton with downright rudeness and ne.
glect, or thought to ask themselves If &
man was apt to be rude and neglectful
towards . sweet and winning girl t<
whom he was perfectly Indifferent.
But be that as it might two slow weeks
went, and saw no more clearly into
tho mystery than I had done at first
But one evening came Nellie, and sal
down beside me in the twilight.
She sat very still, looking even palel
than usual, and I caught myself plying
her, but ct . loss how to manifest it,
renamed silent.
Presently she heaved q little sigh
which gave me an excuse for asking
what was the matter.
"Oh. nothing; onlyI am tired
physically. but mentally. This is .
very unsatisfactory life. Don't yo1
think SOP"
"That depends"
"Well, 1 have found it So" The only
things worth having are out of onei
reach. Walls of paper, barriers of air
separate more indissolubly than bras
and adamant. Energy can conquer
matter, but what human will is stronl
enough to do battle with pride ant
prejudice?"
"You are right in general, but
don't know how you would apply Al
this"
II believe I have not applied it."
II beg your pardonw
After that We were silent, till Otts
strolled in, and giving me q brie
nod, sat down and began play
ing with Jup the terrier. Hav
ing vague idea that Nellie
might be in clined to be more specific
with him than me, I made Mrs. Poll,
do someone good turn, for one of tn,
few times in her life, and getting up {
fiction about being wanted, left then
alone. What afterwards occurred
have from the best authority Nellie
herself.
They sat in the fast growing twilight
memories busy at the heart of each
pride struggling with a feeling that
during those weeks, had fast been grow.
ing too strong for it. Nellie, with
bowed head and swimming eyes; Otto
watching her, with face softening in
spite of himself.
Suddenly Nellie rose, with an air oi
desperation; and brushing past Otto
went over to the piano.
As she reached it something rang ont
sharply-a click, as of something metal.
ic that had struck on the marble hearth
Nellie exclaimed. Otto stopped tt
pick up something that shown in til,
red freight just at his feet. Sh.
moved forward as if to prevent him
stood then, as if paralyzed; as he helt
up ring-a simple little thing only
plain gold tirclet, bearing some word
engraved on it. hanging from a ohai,
attached to a hook, like watch-guard
Otto looked alternately at it and Mel
lie, who stood by him, crimson an,
speechless.
you have kept this all the time
Nellie?"
Nellie was silent.
"Why did you keep it?"
II wanted something to wear on thu
chain, and I don't carry my watch"
"Oh! thought perhaps you care6
something for it, after ALL"
"You thought differently when w
were last together"
II had reason"
"That is your assertion"
"Answer, then. I ask you to Judge
yourself. Had not reason? Would
not any man have been justified in being
incensed and outraged at your con-
duct?"
Il was very young, very thoughtless
1 never dreamed that you really cared
It was pleasant to talk and fret, and ]
liked to vex you, for the pleasure of the
reconcilement."
"A strange pleasure, that was pleased
with the pain it inflicted on what il
loved best. A strange thoughtlessness,
that permitted me no freedom, but
claimed an unbounded liberty for your
SELF"
"You have said all those things once "
returned Nellie, with some dignity
And it was painful enough to hear them
once"
II had no intention of reproachine
vou," answered Otto; "for out of the
bitterness of the heart, my mouth
spoke. It is so miserable to look
at you, and think what might have
been, and how now We are hopelessly
separated"
lotto" said Nellie, timidly. "don't
you think we might be friends? You
need not treat me quite as an enemy,
If you have suffered, so do I; and Won
cannot think what q pain it is to see the
eyes that once were my light look SO
cold on me. It makes me wretched. Let
us, at least, be friends"
Otto looked at her earnestly, took
her hand, and drew her toward him.
Half unconsciously she sank down OF
the stool at his feet, her head close tc
his hand, that, following its old habi.
tude, began to stroke the soft bright
hair. Presently
"No" said Otto, firmly. We car
never be friends"
"You are unforgiving."
Every. I will not abate an atom o,
my just rights. Unjust and will have
you for my wife, as you once promised
me to be, or nothing. Mere cool friend
ship will not satisfy me-"
"And was not very obstinate" con.
cluded Nellie, arclly, "as that was pre-.
cisely why I came, knowing that he was
here"
I have their wedding cards before me
now. And now am going to whisper
in the ear of the public what I then
thought
Nellie dropped the ring on purpose.
a Knowing Cat
From the Hartford TimeaL
Having noticed in the Times an &C.
count of cat having liking for musk
melon, and of another that admired it.
self in q mirror do not doubt the truth
of both narratives for T onco ownod q