Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-11
do not love, and am sure Chris will find
wife and return"

BuG Nell grew WnlGer, anu WoH1 Sio"iy
to her own room. After that in all the
family lamentations for Chris, so many
years sort of adopted brother in our
midst, Nell never spoke of him.
The next winter Meg, our eldest, was
married; and, as if matrimony was con-
tagion, Janey followed her example; then
Maud, Lizzie, and even Kate, our baby.
Nell, the prettiest, smartest, sweetest OF
all, had offers in abundance, spent two
winters in London visiting Meg, and, by
all accounts, captivating hearts by the
scores, but coming back to be the life and
brightness of our home.
'sThere must be one old maid in every
family" she said; and when suggested
my eminent fitness for the position, she
smiled loftily and said:
sNIr. Brooks says you are the household
angel, SO pleaae let us hear no more nom
sense"
'There is Aunt Jane, too," said mild
ly.
"Belle," she said severely, twill you
stop talking nonsense? Aunt Jane, in
deedp'
1t really did seem to us as if Nell was in
earnest about single life, but, after all,
she was only twenty -four and looked sew
enteen.
But, one day, who should walk into the
parsonage parlor, as coolly as if he had
left the day before, but Chris. We were
all there as he came in, but before he had
spoken to Aunt Jane 1 saw that Nell had
vanished.
Did Chris see her run out of the front
door as he entered the front window? l
think he dll. There was subdued
twinkle in his eyes as he inquired for my
infrmities, not at al consistent with his
words Of sympathy. Presently Nell came
in, with a quiet smile of greeting and a
perfect composure of manner, but Chris
was match for her.
1t was as good as a play to watch those
two, so completely did they ignore that he
was discarded lover who had been sent
away by her cruelty. They conversed
easily and gracefully -Christopher's Afri-
can experiences, varied by descriptions of
the family weddings, the new homes, the
brothers-in-law, the children, and q thou
sand other Details in which our caller ex-
pressed the greatest interest.
After that he dropped in as of old, max
ing himself agreeable and useful to every
one in the house, especially tender, as he
ever had been, to me. Indeed, l found
myself wondering sometimes if he was go.
to take Nell's advice, and, all the others
being appropriated, offer himself to the
poor cripple.
He took me for long drives in his moth
er's pony carriage, and was always ready
to hear of Nell's conquests, showing no
jealousy, but great deal of amusement,
over her coquetries.
s'She was coquette!" he said once,
sfand yet nobody can call Nell vain. 1t
admired ever since she could run alone"
''She is our beauty now, as of DID,"
answered: and Chris assented cordially.
81 have seen no face so winsome since
left home," he said, but he spoke with the
frank admiration of brother, and gave no
token of love-sic,1 swain.
Had he eutlived his love, I wondered,
and come home to prove to Nell that her
days of tyranny were over? I think Nell
suspected that he had.
Always even-tempered, Nell became fit
full and capricious; bright and laughing
| when Chris was with us, often silent, and
sometimes gloomy when she thought her
self unnoticed. She lost her color, and I
caught her more than once rubbing her
cheeks when going down stairs to see
Chris; and she was snappish and deeply
repentant therefor dozen times day.
seWhat ails Nell?'' Aunt Jane asked me,
anxious for her darling. 'She eats moth
ing, Belle, and l am sure does not sleep
well. I wonder if it would do her any
good to spend e. few weeks with our Kate?"
Nell, on being consulted, caught eagerly
at the suggestion, and hurried her ward
robe into trunk, as if answering sud-
den life or death summons. She made no
farewells, but fitted off SO abruptly that it
made us all stare with surprise.
"Ellnor was always impulsive,' papa
said.
And Aunt Jane only answered.
''But bless me, I didn't mean to drive
the child out of the house!'
Chris said nothing, but was certainly
convinced of the reality of his whiskers,
SO ferociously were they pulled all the
evening But the next day Mrs. Gilmore
sent over wee note of dire Distress
Chris has been thrown from his horse, and
the doctors feared spinal injury. And
Jane went over at once, and came back
with an exceedingly grave face.
''He is badly hurt-entirely uncon-
scious," she said.
If Nell's departure was sudden, her re-
turn was no less so.
'sDid you take off your hat at Kate's?''
inquired, with smile of sarcasm.
But regretted it when Nell's arm stole
around my neck, and a face wet with tears
was pressed against my own.
ssWill he die?" she whispered "Oh,
Belle, what shall do if he dies?"
Then, as if ashamed Of letting even my
loving eyes read her secret, she rushed
away and locked herself in her room. Such
restless misery followed that my heart
ached for her. She made Aunt Jane spend
nearly all her time at Mrs. Gilmore's, and
undertook the housekeeping herself, letting
papa miss nothing of his sisters care.
But she seemed to live in sort of breath
less expectation of the news from Chris.
| Worse! worse! very low! Such were the
disheartening tidings day after day, until
there came one dreadful night of agonized
watching, and Chris changed for the bet
| ter.
| Convalescence was slow and tedious; but
| =.