The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-09

| but be satlsned, papa; Will not deserve
the reproach. Till Nell herself can be
found, and exonerate me from thi. crue
charge, | shall decline to see Sir Will
loughby."
"Humph! then shall have him glover
Ing at Inc as well as you, and accusing me
OF using him badlyP'
| you can avoid that, papa, by going with
me to London. Need you ask what fori
| TO find Nell. She has been absent from Us
too long She may be III, or in greater
peril than we are aware Of"
:" l am willing to commence the search a:
soon as you like" cried the old squire
eagerly. :" l should have proposed 1t sooner,
but that 1t looks absurd for man of my
years to be trotting about the country,
hunting for pert little mink, who deserves
to bel don't know what she doesn't de-
serve. But how are We to leave your
mother? She Is not equal to the fatigue oil
going with us, but neither is she fit to stay
| heIe by herself"
"Old nurse would come to her." sug-
gested En-. let us walk across the rark
| to he cottage and make the arrangement
| then We can start tomorrow"
Mr.. Carfrae was nothing 10th. His con-
| science was reproachtng him as often as his
wife's eyes for having driven his merry
| little granddaughter away.
BY what right had he striven to urge her
| into a union she had declared to be dis
| tasteful? She had been very happy in the
| home of which his tyranny had deprived
her, and he should be miserable old man
| till she came back to it.
Old nurse, ever since her infrmIties rem
| deTed her unfit for service, had lived with q
| deaf daughter in one of the park lodges. ii
was very secluded one, but she liked II
| for that reason, and could never be per
suaded to exchange it for a more cheerful
! dwelling.
When the squire pushed open the cottage
| door the old woman was knitting in her ac-
custOmed seat by sunny window. Hell
| daughter was bustling about the kitchen,
and on stool at nurses knee, learning q
new stitch. sat the lost Nell.
In an instant Aunt Em's arms were clasped
| around her, and it was over aunt Ems
shoulder that Mistress Nell peeped at the
| astounded squire.
"a very good day to you. grandpapa. Do
| you know you owe me seven night and
morning kisses, besides a weeks pocket
money? Hadn't you better pay your de BITS
| at once?"
Where have you been?" demanded Mr..
| Carfrae endeavOTing to look stern.
Here. In hiding. Don't you think it's
| high time you asked me TO make it up?
! You know that wedding can never go oil
| properly without me.
at was only guess of NINE" she wills
| pered to her aunt. "but your bushes have
confirmed it. always knew you were made
for each other Wasn't my running away,
| and leaving you TO drift from liking into
But nave you really been here all the
! while?" Mr.. CRrfrae demanded.
Really and truly. And have employed
! myself in making catalogue Of all the
! draughts there are, besides the ill-iittiug
! windows and smoking chlmneyS, ard | nave
a long list for you of repairs and improve
menis that this dear funny place requires
| before the winter fairly sets in. So you see
l am growing quite thoughtful and business
| like"
- How dared you play off this trick on me
| you-yOu baggage! the squire exclaimed,
| threatening her with his walking-stick.
Halle lal Ground arms" cried Nell.
q" 1t was not q strntagem. mon Colonel, but
| a retreat conducted in most mastery
manner. Unless you acknowledge this, |
| am AFRAID we cannot come to terms"
Terms indeed. Mistress Peril \ gu
ought to be on your knees begging 10 be for
| given"
Dear papa" began Miss Carfrae, but
! was promptly checked.
"PIl not have you plead for me- Aunt
| EN-. as if l were Culprit. l should not
! have eft my grandfatheI's house If he had
| not forgotten that have rights which ought
| TO be respected"
| "Hoty toity, what next!" demanded the
squire, with appraised hands. but eyes
twinkling with admiration OF his saucv
| grandchIld's courage. What next, | say 2"
This" and Nell clasped her arms around
| his neck so closely that lie could net have
| released himself If he wished to do so. IT'S
no use struggling, sir, nor trying to wear a
| feTOcl0uS air. How can YOU do without me
| if you are going to lose En-? It's my opn-
| ion that both Of US will be all the better
| for this brief separation; isn't it yours?"
| AS the squire did not choose to say yes,
! he heartily returned Nells embrace, then
mutteTed something in condemnation Of his
| own weakness.
But it's for your grandmother's sake"
| he added. Il can't have her worried and
| VeXed any more, so come home to her d-
Tectly. By GeOrgel I'm half inclined to
think she has been in your secret.
No, mol! he was vehemently assured.
| 'She only knew that was safe, and simply
waiting till l could conclude peace with
honor"
And have it all your own way, Ell? I
| shall be the laughing stock Of my servants,
| if | am not that already. l suppose they
| knew you were here?"
They may have guessed it; but my
! spending a week with my nurse will not at
! ford materials for very exciting story, SO
/ what sig ifes? They will forget this seven
| days wonder in the more important tidings
of Aunt Ems wedding"
And Nell predicted truly. For several
| succeeding weeks she and her caprices we're
| Of secondary Importance, for Sir Willoughby
| was in haste to be wed, and there was an
! extensive trousseau to be selected. More
| over Mr.. and Mrs. CarGrae would not have
| the nuptialS of their only surviving child
! celebrated without calling together all their
| friends and tenants to witness the rite and
| on Nell, who had both taste and tact, de-
VOWED the preparations for the subsequent
| festivities.
| 1t was not till the eve Of the bridal, that.
| as she was crossing the hall 10 give some
! orders. she came in contact with Lance
| LOring.
AT his cousin the Baronet's request he had
| deferred his departure to Australia, and
| hest hut lpOEai
| graye-nay, so depressed-thst, after one
shy glance at him. Nell held out her hand
1t was full of myrtle, TO be used in the
| bridal wreath.
will you have a spray? 1t signifies
| hope and happiness"
And is, therefore, knocking gift when
! offered by you who have deprived me of
| both"
Why do you say that?" querled Nell,
softly.
atlDg MYSELF"
Consider the question asked aud give me
the answer"
did you not go into hiding because your
| Kind grandmother had tried to teach you to
love meP Have you not been doing your
| best to avoid ME ever since you came home
| again?"
Nell laughed saucily. then brushed away
tear.
81 wonder II men ever composed nd
| Glc, guessing one is quite beyond them.
Dld 1t ever enter your wise head, Mr.. Lance
Loring, that when fed to avoid the sutton
my grandsire favored l might have acted
differently if yOu-but no, l will be honest
at the expense of pOliteness. l never knew
how well liked you till, IN your pride and
resentment Of nv cOQuetry, you resolved to
bid Inc sOod-by foreverI'
And SO the. said pride and resentment
were appeased, and Aunt Ems wedding
will soon be followed by another.
"IF | HAD TIME"
| Let No Man Cry for Leisure in Order to