The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-07-11

l place this, perhaps low-born girl,
in my honored mothers home as its
mistress?
As if divining my thoughts, she
o a seat at some distance from
me, and taking up a book, asked
softly:
shall l rcad to you? My father
used to enjoy having me, and it has
been the dream of my life TO become a
fine elocutionist. Papa was so fond of
T%ennyson; but oh. how | did dread
reading Shakespeare to him."
Her father, then, was an educated
man of refined tastes. | was glad to
learn it. / requested her to make her
own selection.
~ feel rather sober tonight apd
shall enjoy it." added more kindly.
Her selection was "Morte d'Arthur;
and. as she read. every word fell cleaI
and pure like the soft chime of silve'
bells.
4 long silence fell on us as the last
words of the poem fell from her lips:
not broken until she arose an d glided
across the Don with her peculiar, I'M
dulating motion, to adjust ~.auntic's'
cap. Aunty, who, as usual, was asleep
in her armchair; as she bent over her
the coarscncss of the elder lady's dress
contrastcd sharply with Ncllie's silken
/ robe.
She came back and sank down on a
low divan near me.
! passed my hand over her bright
head, the nearest approach to a lovers
carcss that | had eve made.
Tell me, Nellie. how is it that you
can wear such-toilets? This" feeling
the stuff, lis like one my mother useG
to wear"
\ passionate burst of tears was hcl
answer. I could not check her.
"Iou know it is youT mothers. |
thought to show you how well such
costly robes become me, a poor girl. l
know you despise me; you always did.
1t is no use for me to try to ~pleasc-you
-l-wish-I had never-seen-you."
Sob, sob, sob.
What could | do but dry those dark
eyes with my own hands and silence
her words with kisses, she was such a
lpbllSh CllIIt, ptCluSC llipiSh Dtiul-
ance she disclosed a strong desire to
please me.
Mans heart is wicked, dcccitful. but
desperately fond of grafton. Yet
did not speak of my love, some unseen
power held me back.
was shocked at her for wearing my
dead mothers garments, so sacred to
me.
l must have been in love or bereft of
my senses, for / was seriously meditat-
ing offering my heart and hand to this
girl of whom | knew positively moth
ing, when an unforeseen meeting pre-
vented this lifelong mistake.
1t always took me a long time to
make up my mind TO do anything Of
was quick to act.
One hazy evening I started to go
over to See Nellie and decide my fate.
Mr.. Lee had just returned from A
with the startling news hat the bank
had been operated on by burglars and
they had got off safely with their
spoilS.
The only store in Farleigh was
broken into the previous night and
some money besides many articles of
value were taken.
took my revolver in my pocket and
was calculating the proTricty of Nellie
and her aunt's remaining in that house
alone nights any longer, fool that l
was
Went across the fields intending to
go into the ground by a little gateway,
at the end of a path running up from
the river. This path was now hidden
by a tangle of bushes: and, as | APP
preached. I saw a woman leaning on
the gate. 1t was Nellie.
She saw me before | could speak.
''Slim Jim. is it you?" she asked.
"Ycs," my voice WAS husky with
emotion. the lie rose almost uncon-
s~ciously TO my lips.
drew near to be certain it was my
darling speaking. and she threw her
soft arms round my neck, pressing
warm kisses on my cheek.
Il heard you cracked the crib last
night. and got away with the doodle,
but I've beer SO worried all day for
fear the nibs would get you"
thanked God, in that brief moment,
that | rcscmblcd Slim Jim as much in
a foggy, moonless night asanyonc else,
aud vaultcd lightly over the gate.
Tell me about yourself. my daisy"
| said with an encouraging pat on her
plump check, for | can't stay only a
moment
Cant! I'll hide you where no one
can find you. Pop is here: he broke
into a store the other night. | helpel
him. Where are the rest of the boys?"
''All safe. Ia. ta.' and | retrcatcd
at a brcakneck speed. ] heard her en-
claim:
Il believe .Jim's been drinking too
much, or the cops are after him."
Now that | knew that Nellie Blaine
belonged to a gang of burglars longed
to arrest them, although dreading the
publicity. If Slim Jim was expected,
| would he there to receive him with a
warrant.
At midnight the officers of the law.
accompanied by myself, entered my
house, and soon had Slim Jim and
Pop" who was no less a parsonage
Mrs. Blaine, in irons. That lady
was a bald-headed, sm~ooth-faced man
of fifty, who had masqueraded in wom-
ans attire all summer for my benefit
Nellie, aroused by the uProar, came
out on the landing of the first flight in
her night-robes, looking like n little
angel, but fighting like a young tigress.
Il could choke you. you dumb-hcad-
ed old william" was one of her most
complimentary remarks to me. I've
made a nice fool of you, Sir Timber
toes, anyhow"
Her allusion to my feet cut me to the
quick for / am sensitive about them.
But | kept silent, feeling sure that her
punishment would come by other
hands than mine.
She and the pseudo Mrs Blaine were
handcuffed together and taken away.
Pop" swore %furiously, while Nellie
shook her fist at me.
"Of all the idiots | ever met" she
ont. you are the biggest"
l rather thought so myself, and it
was some time before | cOuld think of