Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-13
NETTIE'S TRIAL.
BY MARY PRESTON.

lovers quarrell lhey are not un-
common, they do not always bring life
suffering or even remorse; but Nettic
Ray, standing in the summer-house at
Alton Hill, and hearing the first harsh
words that had ever greeted her from
Stephen Rockhill's lips, felt as if all
her life's happiness was gone.
For the words were
''Unless you can tell me why you
were at the quarry on Wednesday even
ing, and who it was you met there,
you and | must part"
And in reply she could only say:
81 cannot tell you. If you will not
trust me, we must part"
"Trust ~ you was the furious answer.
"Trust girl who has assured me
again and again she loved me, who has
no male relative, father or brother, and
yet meets a man, in a mysterious place
after dark! How can | trust you, when you
refuse all eXplanationW
81 know appearances are against me,
but l do not deserve a reproach."
But Stephen would not believe this,
and so they parted; he to stride down
the road, boiling with rage, she to sink
down upon the rustic chair in the sum
hiSi iiNN9N, ASuA pun VIZ lttDiI, anu weep
bitterly.
Grief would have its way at first. but,
after fit of sobbing, little Nettie lifted
her pretty face, and took herself to task
"This is my gratitude she thought,
"that at the first sacrifice l make | cry
like baby and am heart-brollcn. But
Oh, stephen! if you only trusted me-"
She thought over one by one the benc-
fits she owed to Marion Alton Raymond,
her cousin. Five years before, when
Nettie was only fifteen, she had been left
orphaned and penuless, and Marion Ray
mond was keeping little trimming
store, earning a bare living for herself
and her thrce-year old boy. She was a
widow, with a living husband-a woman
who had given her heart to a man who
had left her side for the gambling table,
and lost heavily night after night had
finally comitted forgery, been discovered,
and fled
Marion had borne her heavy cross pa
tiently, had worked faithfully to support
her boy, and been kind friend to Net
tie. When Nettie lad shared the hard
earned home for year, Marion's uncle
died, and left her Alton Hill and large
fortune. Then Nettie became petted
darling. The best teachers. the pretti-
est costumes, the choice OF pleasures
were all hers, and Marion's friends knew
they could not better please her than by
showing kindness to Nettie.
Marion's wealth had proved truly a
friend in need, for one year after her
uncle's death she became confirmed in
valid. An incurable disease of the spine
held her helpless and suffering and it
was only her unselfsh persistence that
prevented Nettie from devoting her
whole life to nursing duty.
But Marion would not have it so. She
had large circle of friends, who did not
hold her responsible for her husbands
crime, and she insisted upon Netties ac-
ceptance of all their invitations and civil
tiles.
Even when love came and Nettie
would have sacrificed Stephen, if Marion
asked it, she had smiled upon the wooing,
knowing him to be true, good man,
worthy even of Nettic. The engage.
ment was not generally known, but the
two we're betrothed when Stephen, with
his own eyes saw his darling, his dainty,
refined, little .faRcee, under circumstan-
ces that appalled, him.
Nearly two miles from Alton Hill was
huge deserted quarry, a place known as
a rendezvous for the loafers of the vii
lage in the day time but usually deserted
and desOlate after night fall 1t stood
back from the direct road leading to AL
ton Hill from Bayswater, the nearest
town, but was often crossed, as a short
cut between the two places. Still after
dark, 1t was place safe enough usually
for those who wished to meet secretly.
Stephen having called at Alton Hill,
was utterly amazed to find Nettie absent
after eight o'clock Mrs. Raymond had
received him, and explained that Nettie
had gone to neighbor's, but had refused
TO send stephen to escort her home, as
he asked and expected. She had been
agtated and was deadly pale and unlike
her usually calm serene self, and Stephen
was puzzled when he left the house.
But his perpleXity changed to deep
wrath when, in crossing the quarry. he
saw Nettie-his Nette-standing in
earnest conversation with tall man
whose heavy beard and broad white fore
head were plainly visible in the moon
hight, as he took off his hat, lifted
. Nettles hand to his lips, and then strobe
away toward Bayswater
100 lar away to speak, Stephen had
recognized Nettie as she sped away to-
ward the road, rather than cross the
quarry to reach home, and he had stood
stunned by the thought of her presence
there under such circumstances Uc
was actually afraid to trust himself to
face his bctrothed at once, and spent
nearly half the night wandering about