Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-06-19
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER II.
Nellie Amidon became aware at last
that the young man had gone, &nd that
she had made no acknowled gemcnt of
his services. She did not rcgart him as
hero at all. She did not, OF course,
know what he had done. She had in
truth scarcely noticed him. Still she
cou not be a woman without taking
noe, by some instantaneous process, of
the details of his dress and general ap-
pearance. The photograph WIS not I'M
pleasing. A young man of two or three
and twenty, fairly good looking and
fairly dressed.
When she found he was e me, her i'm
pulse was to run to the window and speak
to him, bat he was already a half-block
away.
"Who was that young man?" she
asked, coming back to her father.
"What, has he gomez" said the old gen.
tlcman. 81 meant to inquire his name
and resi- ,ence"
"Well, he must think VIC are curious
barbarians," said Nellie, and straightway
began to distress herself over her lack of
courtesy. Whatever other otfenscs mi ht
be condoncd, however high crimes and
m;sdemcanors might be palliatcd, for i'm
politcness there was no forgiveness, either
IN this life or the life to come. "But
you will see him when you are well
again, and tell him how very much
obliged we are, won't you, papa?'
Certainly, my dear" said the old
gentleman; but as he languidly specu-
lated on the matter it had rather diff
cult look. To find man whose name,
residence and occupation were unknown
was a good deal like finding needle in
down, however. The usages of society.
with him, were not matter of life aud
death.
The young man, on his part, had felt
no surprise, and perceived no lack of
courtesy. He quite appreciated Nelie's
preoccupation. Certainly he would have
enjoyed a word OF recognition from such
very pretty girl 1t would have been
great pleasure to tell her that it was a
satisfaction to he of any service. But
had she not run against him on the step2
Had her arm not rested for several
seconds against his? All, reader, he was
young. Alas! that we cannot always be
eighteen and twenty-thrce; that it can
not always be June; and that there is
other work for young men and maidens
beside helping elderly gentlemen up the
steps.
In the unexpected leisure that fol-
lowed, he had chance to go over the
matter again and again. The doorstep
scene to which he succeeded in adding
many romantic little details, occupied
nearly the whole field of vision. Still,
he was a sensible fellow on the whole.
He knew that no significance was to be
attached to the little episode. He did
not so much as walk by the house in the
daytime. He expected no recognition.
1t was not certain that he wished for an
&C luaintance with the subject of his
fancies. His Judgment was in no way
influenced by his visions. He knew that
the DAUGHTERS of wealthy men in Wash
ington did not, as rule, marry Treasury
clerks-discharged clerks at that 1t was
horribly unjust, he thought, that he
should have lost his place through an act
of humanity. And yet in spite of the
consequences he could not think that he
would do differently if placed again in
like circumstances. He decided to make
q full statement, in writing, of the case,
and ask to be reinstatcd. This he did,
and submitted to the slow grst of the
gols.
While he waited, his health demanded
q good deal of exercise. He found none
so healthful as walking, and no street so
Wholesome as that on which Nellie lived
1t was only in the evening that he walked
there. He always felt his pulses quicken
as he looked up at the window, but he
never saw her. What difference does it
make, he thought, since nothing could
come of it! He had not so much as
thought of inluiring who lived in the
house.
Mr.. Amidon was not dangerously i'll.
But for that ullucky fall, the attack
would have passed Off in moment. He
had been considerably shaken, and what
with the heat and Nelie's fears, stayed at
home for several days; then, feeling
quite restored, he started down town one
morning. lie looked curiously at the
place where the accident occurred, as if
he expected to see dent in the pave
ment. He stopped moment at the
drug store, drank glass of soda. water,
and chatted little with the proprietor,
with whom he was well acquainted.
"By-the way" said the latter, after
remarkng upon his apparent health,
''you had a rather close call"
Mr.. Amidon opened his eyes. He
didn't like the ,.llusion to his apoplcctic
tendency, which he was quite aware of.
and to which his physician, indeed, had
called his attention, but which it suited
him to ignore.
ooh, no." he said, carclessly; cit was
just little rush of blood to the head"
81 did not mean that, but the car
riage," said the druggist
Mr.. Amidon opened his eyes still
wider. Somebody was evidently quite
off the track.
"lhe carriage? What do you mean?n
"Didn't yoar friend tell you how
nearly you were run over?'
Run over! My friend? The young
man who walked home with me, you
mcan?"
"He seemed to taEs matters quite into
his own hands. l thought he was a
personal friend"
II never saw him before" said Mr..
AmiQoQ, s'Tell me about it,,