Middletown transcript., 1892-10-06


stances. He was actually afraid to
trust himself to face his bethrothed at
once, and spent nearly half the night
wandering about, striving to calm his
excitement and anger. But it was
only held down by strong effort OF
will when the day following, Nettie
quietly but firmly refused all explana-
ton. She denied nothing.
81 am very sorry you saw me-" she
said, "but since you did, | can only
say that you will mistake my motives
and errand.
"You acknowledge. then, that you
wished this to be a secret meeting?'
Stephen said.
ri did not wish it known, certain
ly."
"And you did not intend to tell me
of it p
"No. You should never have
known if you had not seen him."
"And you will not tell me who this
man wasf'
IL cannot"
"Nor why you met himf"
81 cannot"
Words failed to move her from his
position of resolute defiance; though
her face was pale, and she evidently
suffered deeply from her lovers anger.
Still she said nothing after her return
to the house, and Marion was too ill
to question her. For two days Mar
ion had been fighting symptoms that
were dangerous in their character,
and when Nettie, pale but fearless,
came to her side, she found her writh-
ing in pain.
"Poor Marion (! Oh! if I could
have spared you !" she cried. "Dr.
Nelson so warned US against all ex-
citement, and you have had a shock
that was terrible. Ifonly I had known
what that letter contained !"
"Eyen if you had. I must have seen
it," whispered the invalid. "Send
for DR.. Nelson! This pain is unen-
durable !"
Days of agony, followed by utter
prostration ensued, and Nettie was an
untiring, faithful nurse. But neither
skill nor love could overcome the fatal
symptoms developed by the shock of
some dreadful tidings. Only few
weeks before Nettie's betrothal Marion
had followed her only child to the
grave. She had wearied herself with
nursing; she had left the house for
the only time in years to attend the
and had so added to her al
ready heavy illness that the doctor
had warned Nettie that any further
strain, mental or bodily, would be
fatal. Tenderly, Nettie had endeavor.
ed to spare her all care or agitation,
but her love had been powerless
against the shock that had reached
her cousin through the post-ofice.
Absorbed in Marion's danger,
watchful of every symptom, Nettie
had thrust her own heartache into the
background, though some silent tears
would fall when she thought ofStephen.
And Stephen, in his hotel room at
where he had come for
vacation, to be near Nettie,
raved about woman's per6dy, judged
harshly and spoke cruelty, and yet
alternated these bitter hours by softer
when he longed unutterably
for touch of Nettie's hand and
word of love from her lips. Every
lay he resolved to leave Bayswater,
every night he determined to wait
'ne more day, with the faint hope of
Iome explanation to reconcile him to
Nettie.
Two weary weeks had passed, when
| note was handed him:
81 need true friend who will per-
iorm a service for me without question,
and who will keep secret. Will you
come p
"No, he would not, he resolved.
He had been deceived, and would not
play cats paw for any woman. And
yet
A fair, pure face. eyes, innocent,
shy, love-lighted lips that spoke only
lender maidenly words-these rose to
confront him, and still reluctant, he
took his hat, and went to Alton Hill.
Il knew you would come" Nettie
'aid, springing gladly to meet him as
9f old; not lifting her shy, blushing
face for his caress, but pallid, care
worn and sad, very gray shadow of
her bright little SELF.
"Will you go for me, without ques-