The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-04-23

nearly morning. This gave Nellie the
whole day to plot and plan while he
slept, which he usually did till the mid
die of the afternoon.
One day after lunch as she was sit
ting on his knee she asked him:
Ben, would you miss me much If l
were to die?" and then pensively
blinked at him. But the dimple quiv-
cred in her cheek in way that warned
Ben here was only new and wickeder
mischief brewing; for he had become
wise and knew the signs by this time
So he answered calmly:
full here. Nobody to fill my slippers
with water, or pin up my pockets. Yes,
should miss you good deal"
"You hateful thing" pouted Nellie,
and prepared to dismount from her
perch. But Ben was large and she
small and he held her firmly while she
squirmed and twisted vainly, and her
feet swung but could not touch the floor.
Every we'll! You don't care anything
for me, do you?"
Not a cents WORTH" he answered.
with an unmoved countenance.
Let me go, Ben Brayton," she cried,
petulantly. "You never did care for
me, and now know itr'
"You dear little goose! OF course
don't care that much for you; for my
love cannot be estimated by so poor a
thing as money, Helen!''
Nellie looked surprised at the fervor
of !, -,
est when he called her Helen, which he
seldom did. She stroked his cheek with
tender little hand and was silent for
moment.
But what would you do if you were
to come home some day and find me
gomez"
'Oh, I'd jump for joy, of course, at
the prospect of tranquil life once
more''
All Nellie's tender feelings reused by
the previous speech were dispelled, and
this time she did get down and said:
IF that's the case the sooner go the
BETTER
"You mean the sooner | go the bet
ter! l shall be late as it is. You are
such charmer with your delightfully."-
suggestive questions. SO good-by," and
he stopped down to give her his usual
parting kiss. But she sprang back and
said:
"Unappreciated good things should
not be bestowed" and she slipped into
the bedroom behind her and quickly
locked the door. Ben looked little
sold, and after futile turning of the
door-knob took his hat, and then his de-
parture.
This bedroom was coy little nest
furnished with all the taste of the
trained art critic, whose faculties were
further quickened by love. The dress
ing-case was supplied with a large mir
ror, and near it stood full length
cheval glass, by means of which Nellie
could survey her little person critically.
The room was also supplied with that
choicest of all conveniences to good
housewife-roomy closets. And one
was in such a position that if open it's
interior was reflected in the mirror,
and the neat rows of garments could be
scanned without the trouble of turning
around This one was sacred to Mel
lies own belongings.
When she darted into the room she
stood for moment listening to Ben's
retreating footsteps with mischievous
smile. Then she commenced series of
operations that were peculiar. She
went to her dressing case, took her
jewelry from it's casket, then emptied
the drawers of everything of hers, care
fully leaving the articles Ben had given
her. These she carried to small store
room and put them in an empty trunk.
She did the same by the contents of the
closet. When all this was done, she
took some of Ben's paper and sat at