The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-02-12
NELLIE BELTON'S RUSE.
She Cures Her Father Of His I'm
aginary Diseases,

Hush, hush, Ncllyw said Mrs Bel
ton, holding up warning finger, Us
her daughter sprang up the steps with
gay laugh. "Your father is suffering
very much this afternoon, and is trying
90 sleep lie is in the sit.ing-room on
the lounge, where / made him 90, as it
is much cooler there"
whats the matter now?" said Nell
~, with her pretty face curiously I'M
changed by the news of her fathers in
disposition.
'Oh, just one OF his nervous spells!
And | think he said he had head
ache, too. broiled him a bird, and he
seemed to relish that, and drank some
buttermillS of the mornings churning."
We'll. then, if he can eat and enjoy
buttermilk," remarked the girl. with a
short laugh, 'he is not so very bad off
Ec honest, now, mother; do you believe
muck in fathers ailments? No. no;
don't you frown, but tell me the truth.
Aren't his appetite and looks too good
for there to be much the matter with
. min! declare I have caught DR.. Les
vi VI O1uty oSNSid al W hSl
&c has been here to see father, and it
was all he could do to keep from laugh
ing right in his face"
Mrs. Belton's kindly face wore a
l.alf-amused, half-frightened express
sionas she listened to her daughter, but
she answered, demurely:
How can you talk so, Nelly? OF
course, your father is ill, or why should
he feign to be SOP"
He likes petting and coddling just
like baby; and, mother, really be-
iieve you know it is mainly his imagin-
alton that is at work, but you have got
in the habit of waiting on him aRd
humoring his fancies until you do it as
4 matter of course. Now own up. Do
you believe in his sickness to-day?"
The mother evaded the clear. truth
compelling eyes turned up to her own.
but she laughed and whispered back:
We'll. he did eat about six biscuits
with that bird and drink three glasses
of buttermilk and dispose of nearly a
third of glass of my strawberry pre-
serves"
Nelly caught her mother in her arms
with shout of delight Bravo!
bravo! You have owned it, and that is
half the battle. Mother, know in the
bottom of your heart, tender and kind
as it is, you are tired of fathers morbid
fancies, and of minstering to his i'm
aginary ailments. And it is time some
thing was done to arouse him or he will
become confirmed hypochondriac, for
l.. / .-1x q I II i
break him"
No, you couldn't, child used to
try and get him to shake off his des-
pondency and not to think SO much of
his little aches and pains, but l only
got called unfeeling for my exertions. :"
well, would approach him diff
ferently. Listen, mother, | have a
plan"
And the two heads, one still brown
and handsome in spite of the fine lines
of silver over the temples and the other
, bright chestnut, drew close together,
and in the golden sunshine of the beau
tiful September day dark plot was
formed. and when Rob Harper came
strolling in with the most purposeless
air that ever conceived purpose the
same was impaired to him under seal
of secresy. Then when Nelly CHANGED
10 walk as far as the turn of the road
as Rob took his way home, the doctor.
driving past, was halted and made a
partner likewise in the mysterious bus
mess.
The afternoon slipped away and the
day had given place to the purple twi-
light when Hiram Bolton awolle from
his pleasant nap and stretched out his
hand for the pitcher of ice water usu-
ally placed right by his side ON such
occasions by his devoted wife, but this
time he felt in vain. He pressed his
hand OBJ his forehead and groaned
twice, thrice, very heavily, but there
was no one who came tip-toeing into
the room to bend over him and beg to
know what could be done. His groans
grew louder and more alarming, and
still they produced no effect, so present.
ly the invalid raised himself slowly.
and, advancing to the door, called faint
ly: ''BarbarSr returning to his couch
at once. No Barbara answered, bat in
= few minutes Nelly came nonchalant-
~ singing into the room.
That you, father?" she said, care
lessly. Have you taken lazy spell,
too?'
n groan was the reply, which brought
fortl.: Drank too much buttermilk,
Ell? did myself, and | tell you it
gave me pain"
Where's your mother" put in the
'insulted invalid, glaring 1t his daugh-
ter
Gone to bed She mad headacne
and made her go. for there was really