Telegram-herald., 1889-11-01

sounds strange,
don't itl Nevertheless, II ls a fact.
Oh. know perfectly well what / am
saying. The doctor asked you this
II ! wandered any through the day.
heard him, though he spoke so low, and
you nodded your head-iust little, but
/ saw you. IL was my mind he meant.
couldn't speak just then. l was 50 weak
from that long fit Of coughing; but / am
stronger now, and can tell you IL was all
e mistake. He will see in a few days
how shall improve. l feel better to-
night than / have for months.
want 10 talk 10 you. IL Is three weeks
since you came, and / have not ielt
strong enough TO say much until today.
There are many things i want you TO
know. am going 10 tell you all about
that dreadful night.
Don't start so, Nellie. You've heard
peoples stories about tho affair you
must hear mine now. l am going 10 tell
you how dreadfully wicked was, though
didn't mean to be; you know that.
don't your / grow so frightened, think
ing about II all night long Sometimes
j think they will never forgive me. That
Is what makes me cry out SO.
You asked me last night II wanted
anything, but | could only shake my
head. II | could have spoken, l should
have asked you then: "Do you think
they will. Nellie? do you think they
willf'
Please raise the pillows a little; there
thank you.
never meant It, Nellie, never l
didn't think-that was all. But / have
had time enough for that since; and
when 1 get we'll, how l will try to mako
up for 1t 1t won't be too late, will it,
Nellief Say it won't be too late You
don't really believe Arthur Richmond is
dead, do your Not really dead Why,
the last time / saw him, he was
No, no; l am not firing mysels. L
breathe easier than I've done for weeks !;
and just notice how clear my voice
sounds
II had meant to make trouble be-
tween them 1t would have been different;
but | didn't. Oh / never dreamed OF
such thing-hOw could people say SO?
Mrs. Avery was too sick TO leave her
room; it was for her health they came
to the Springs; and, of course, it was
tedious for him. He was fond Of sOci-
ETY., and l tried to make it pleasant for
him-that was all.
Yes, yes, that's true-that he liked
me, and l knew it but, of course, l cup
posed 1t was in an innocent way. l
walked with him a good deal. He was
the finest dancer in the hotel, and | en-
joyed waltzing with him go much You
see, it was only pleasant Irritation. l
knew they talked about us. but l don't
mind that. Women always hate me
somehow. I've got used to it.
Don't look so shocked, Nell. 1 don't
mean all women, OF course but those
whose brothers or lovers ever speak to
ne. Nothing but flirt that's what
I've heard so many times. I've thought
about it good deal lately.
Perhaps they were right. Nothing
but fiirtp That's pretty hard, isn't it,
Nell? When | saw they were silly
enough to be jealous, | liked to expert
ment little-it amused me; but now,
lying here and thinking it over, it doesn {
seem very funny. You will see how diff
ferent l shall be when l get well.
am glad my hair is cut of, my beau
tiful hair used 10 be so proud of it !
They hated that, too, and ever since
John Avery said No matter; | will
tell you that by-and-by. Do you remem-
Der that old fortune-teller we met wnen
We went to the fort last YEAR, "Too
much gold hair, too little good heart. A
life too short-too long" How laughed
a. her? II made her so angry Then
she wound a curl round her finger and
pulled IL hard.
Better do THAR she growled, touch
ing her throat and scowling at me.
Mercy am shuddering now 10 think
OF it, but that Is because l am weak.
suppose 1t was only coincidence, but
thought Of it on that dreadful night
am going 20 tell you about, when
Please open the other window, Nell.
II grows go close in the room. No. no,
won't get excited / must talk, and
think OF 50 many things a. once-sO.
Il was the last hop Of the season.
had danced four times with John Avery.
That was bad enough, but l did it moro
90 tease Arthur Richmond, and his
sister than anything else. He had
hardly spoken 10 me for two weeks, and
meant he should see how little / cared.
She mad ssid o good many things that
well. think now they werc all true. He
was her only brother. and she idolized
him. But. walking up and down with
John Avery. We caughta few words:
"Avery's going it blind. easy enough
20 see how it will end, but Col Mssury
ought to know that She
He only heard the first part Of the SON
tsnce-T was thankful the rest escaped
him-aBd his eyes Dlazed.
80" be muttered, they pretend 20
cit in Judgment on me. do they Fools :
let us show them" and at the very first
notes os the band we were whiriing
down the room.
Y hat a waltz that was Ny very last,
Nellie. only think ] shall never want
TO dance again when I get well
Ny comb had loosened. aad the heavy
curs eeTe falling o<er my face. We stop
ped dancing 70 cross over - one Of tho
little rooms opposite I gave him my fan
and gloves 70 hold. while turned - tho
giass 20 arrange my hair. / was out 4
brsath-nervous. too. a litt.e-and
could not fasten it up easily Their I
cauCht sight Of him = the mirror. He
was looking az me over mv shoulder his
breath comine hard. and . scovi on as
fushed face.