The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-29
his dim eyes were drowned in unshed

hates her, it seems to me. Now she's
good enough to me. But 'lovc me; love
my dog is my motto, young misses, and
atwcen you an me, I've got nice little
secret. My neighbors-and Mrs. Smith,
too, as to that-thinks me a compare
lively young man. I own this house,
and land adjoining, and ten thousand in
the bank. But here comes in my little
secret. NUNS tae word young misses,
for Nina's sake, till I'm anchored safe
t'other SIDE"
Here the Captain put his forefnger to
his lips, and motioned us to do the same,
as a silent contract that we would "keep
num-"
The act was scarcely accomplished
when the back door opened, and in
walked Mrs. Smith, shutting the door be-
hind her with bang.
We were duly introduced to tall, thin,
keen-eyed woman, dressed in sober gray,
and with her hair drawn tightly and
knotted at the back of her neck IN the
smallest and severest possible shape.
"We came to call on Nina" I an
swered, in reply to her interrogation,
"and are sorry that she is not here"
Mrs. Smith eyed US searchingly, as she
hung her quilted hood on the nail in the
corner.
"Well, for my part, I'm glad she's got
some friends, for she's the biggest tor
ment ever undertook to govern, and
take it I've brought up few children in
my day, besides managing my first hus-
bands prentice boys so that they darsn't
say their souls were their own"
"We always thought her very sweet
tempered," said Mary, land her teachers
loved her and felt bad at parting with
her."
''I'm glad to hear it," said the irate
Mrs. Smith; "but I'd as lief have brace
of wild cats in my house as to have
Nine Smith. The parlor and spare
bedrooms must be opened at any time, or
all times, for compeny-my rose bushes
stripped for the vases-the best china
displayed, and l can't tell you what all.
cit was her mothers way" the old
man ventured to remark, deprecatingly.
'Her mothers way! I'd like to know
who her mother was, that her ways
should be set up above the ways of
Patience Smith, formerly Patience Hig-
ginbotham, formerly Patience Brown,
known as the best housekeeper the coun-
try round;" and Mrs. Smiths eyes shot
fire.
Not caring to be witnesses of this
scene any longer, we rose to go, taking
leave of Mrs. Smith at the door, while
the old man walked with us to the gate.
As we parted with him, he slipped
morocco case into Mary's hand.
''It is Nina's picture" he said; "keep
it. I have another, and anyhow shall
be gone soon. Only promise me that the
day after my funeral you will carefully
take it out OF its case and have it newly
framed.
Mary promised, and we went our way.
Mary Foster was my cousin, and the next
six months spent with her at her faith
er's house in New York city.
So pleasantly did the time pass, that
at the end of that time he had nearly
forgotten Nina and her troubles, when
one morning, at the breakfast table, we
received one of her well-known epistles.
1t was addressed to Mary:
DEAR MARY-Come to ME, my darling.
/ am at home, and in sorrow. My dear father
died to-day, at two o'clock in the afternoon,
while the church bells were ringing. His
last request was that | should send for you
that you should attend his funeral and spend
as much time with me afterward as you pos
sibly could. Bring Jane, if she is with you.
My poor father, whom I loved so, is safely
anchored in heavens mnd-locked harbor,' as
he used so often to express his idea Of eternal
rest. His life for the last two years. harassed
as he was BY that woman has not been
pleasant. / trust he is now united to his be-
loved wife, my angel mother, in brighter
sphere. Come to me, Mary! Your loving
Nina"
Mary and myself started for Lenox the
other day, and only arrived there in time
for the funeral.
After the services were over, and the
good old sea-captain had been laid to rest
beside his wife in the little churchyard,
the will was read in the parlor, where
were congregated the immediate friends
and relatives.
There was the hush of surprise, and al
most horror, when the will had been read
and it was found that the widow had
come in for the Lenox homestead and
money IN bank, and that the poor orphan
had been left penniless.
1t was hard blow for Nina.
.sShe can live with me-" said Mrs.
Smith, "that is, if she will conform to
my ways"
Nina refused to be slave where she
had once been mistress; so, with our help,
she packed her trunks, ready to start
home with US, to recruit her shattered
health, and determe OF her future.
As we three girls sat around the fire in
our cozy chamber that night, Mary be-
thought her Of the miniature the Captain
had given to her on the occasion of her
visit to his house.
She took it from her bureau, and we
mournfully compared the rosy, laughing
face with that of the pale and sorrowful
one of the original.
"I'll take it out of this numbering
morocco case," said Mary, "for I prom
ised the Captain to have it newly framed
the Gay after his funeral"
Dear father" said Nina, thought
he loved me too we'll to leave me a ber-
gar" and she laid her head down on the
table, and cried as if her heart would
break.
"What is this2" said Mary, as she un-