St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-05
Her PENALTY.

New York Advertiser.
Let me tell you, once for all, that l
shall 90 when and where L please"
II do not doubt it,
Two voices; one, young, hot and pas
siODate; the other low and firm, with a
touch of panied sorrow.
The speakers we're standing in a
quiet, narrow street of Rouen, that
strange old Norman city, and under
meath the famous belfry tower whose
clock and curfew is its pride; standing
facing the dial, and gazing up at 1t
from the archway: and yet Nina Suth-
erland had neither thoughts nor eyes
for anything except the quiet, rather
prOud-lOuking man beside her.
The rest OF the party had gone on,
leaving Nina and Hugh LoriHg to fol-
low them. Mrs. CARLYLE, Nina's aunt,
had, in a weak moment, taken that
young woman under her wing Tor a
years trip to Europe, but had long
since given up the problem OF how Nina
was to be managed"
Loring was an old friend of Nina'S,
who had followed her TO Europe. Now,
before he had been near her for week,
it was all over with him. Not that Nina
wOull allow to her aunt or cousins that
they were engaged. ''Oh, no! Hugh
and she were dear friends; yes, very
dear friends" admitted the young lady,
with fiickering color, to Clarke Lindsay,
one CAV; but as for being engaEed-l
forbid the subject" And Lindsay
shrug" his shoulders, but retained his
conYit ii n; for all that.
But 1. was rot because Of LindSay's S
attentions. persiS. ent as they were, that
the present state of things had come to
pass. The party had recent addition
TO its numbers in the shape OF young
French count, whom Nina had known
in Italy that winter. and whose beautl-
full old chateau stood not far from
ROueR. And Nina. being a born CO.
ouette, and full of the folly Of her nine
Teen years. was flirting with him IN a
way that would have been perfectly un-
derstood by her Cwn countrymen, but
which the Frenchman took to mean
that the girl would marry him when
ever he made up his mind to offer her
his hand, which, as he wanted money,
he intended to do.
Loring had been absent on an exeur-
sion of ten days in Brittany. and had
returned to find De BreZe monopoIlzIng
Nina in a way that offended his good
tast,. He bore it without remOnstrance
for several days. But that morning
there had been talk OF an excursion to
the village. with breakfast at the cha
teau. Unluckily. Mrs. Carlyle had one
of her headaches; these headaches In
VarIably lasted for three days, and she
Was totally unfit for any eXertlon Tor at
least two more after the pain itself sub
sided; and the girls. were in despair at
the idea of giving up the frolle. For De
20 fO DurIc hnCI-
ness. and this was the only day left him
in which to open his doors TO the tair
American. Ard so Nina, not to be
balked IN her whim of seeing the lnte-
TiOr of the old chateau, had calmly an
nOunced her intention of going with the
two girls-her cousins, and both
Younger than herSelf-and Clarke Lind
say; Loring, if he chose.
1t was, of course. according to foreign
ideas. an utterly improper and unheard
of caprice, only INDUCED in by those
.'craZy Americans" But Mrs. Carlyle
was really too i'll to understand what
her madcap niece and daughters pro-
posed doing, or even her languld indif-
ference would have been reused to re-
mOnStrance; so IOrlDg, to his amaze
ment, was informed by Nina that her
aunt had consented to their going, in
the same breath in which the young
lady desired his attendance. He had all
important engagement to keep that day
at Dieppp. and it was absolutely out Of
the question that he should break it,
and it was equally impossible for him
to take return train from Dieppe .un-
til o'clock III the day, which would be
100 late to visit the chateau. Under
these circumstances he had thought it
but reasonable TO request that Nina give
I'D the visit, and his remon-
STRANGE might have succeeded but
for chance miSchievOus remark
of Emily Carlyle, who. without the least
intention of making serious trouble be
tween the pair, but who was possessed
with an eager desire TO see the chateau
BreZe, had gOaded Nina into rebellion
by asking whether :" Sir Hugo would
give his permission" After that, Nina
would have dared almost anything
rather than fail in her plan of day:
frolic. So she turned pair OF dehan
eyes on Hugh, and answered: 81 an
glad to find you know me 80 welll DON
TOu think, after this, you Will see an
not TO be cOntrOlled?"
The blood rushed into his face. Fo
half an instant he was tempted to reply
as holly as the girl had spoken, but hi:
calm Judgment came to his aid, and thu
love that spoke in his eyes had shade
of pity with it.
s:MY dear, he said gently, Il am olde
than you-perhapS some would sa.
there is too much difference in our age
for perfect love to exist; that the ting
Of gray in my hair speaks too plainl.
Ot The years that lie between us; but
do rot think SO. You know that, Nina
And | tell You that yOu will deeply re
gret your folly if you do it-which
trust YOU will not when add that thl
is nv first and last request"
Nina felt as if a cold hand had clutche
her heartstrings; but reckless passlo
nossessed her soul, and SO she hurrle
On nutting her good angel aside.
II am tired of hearing you quotin
vonr age" she said cOldly. IF yo
are to be lecturing me perpetually, W
had better put an end to all thls-a
Had the sun gone under a cloud? Ha
4ba dav grown hOpeleSsly dark? A mis-
seemed to rise before Hugh, shuttln
ont the quaint gray tower and tn
GLIMPSE of the sky above The narro'
Street. For moment he made no al
Sver. and Nina took advantage OF hl
Silence to dash down the hill: But bt
fore she reached the rest OF the party
hand touched her arm: :,
.s0oe moment" The girl hardl
recognized the voice, it was so oddl
husky. 'Do not be afraid of anothe
lecture. OF course, | can now have n
right to Interfere. But, Nina. befor
tbe beIfrey yonder sounds curfew Il
night [ feel that you viii he saGEY fo