Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-01-12


Miriam said to let me-Jlm was COO
tired to hurt anybody"
Here she paused for breath.
"Well?" ne asked.
We'll. NV big straw hat flew of and
frightened him, and he threw me oil,
mn against the iron fence before John
could DO anything"
"By Jove!'' cried the young man,
"did it hurt you much, little one?'
"Oh. no-that's all remember; but
I was sick for days and days, and !
lust thought I'd been asleep, l had
con-con2con what. Miriam?"
"Concussion," said Miss Wiling
ri had conclusion OF the BRAIN"
Nelly went on: "and mamma and
papa and the doctor were leaning
over me, and Miriam was kneeling
down by the bed, crying just awfully,
and saving he had nearly killed me-
Mr.. Bradley examined the toe of his
tennis shoe attentively, but it seemed
to him he felt how pale Miriam had
grown.
Nelly regarded him solemnly during
the somewhat psinfu. pause that en-
sued, and then she said suddenly:
"Billy, where have you been?"
"Ihave been way over across the
waters since saw you last, Nelly"
81 wanted you, Billy wanted you
to tell me stories and make pictures
on the wall with your fingers"
elf you had sent for me l would
have come from the ends of the earth"
said the young man fervently.
III wanted to, but they wouldn't do
it. asked Miriam where you were,
and she Just shook her head, and
said weren't you ever coming back,
and she just cried and said she didn't
know, and then l said who were you
going to marry then, and she said Miss
Barnes, she guessed. You aren't, are
you, Billy"
"No, am not" he replied.
"There, Miriam! didn't I tell your"
By this time the situation was be-
coming very intense, but the dreadful
child went on:
"Then l asked mamma where you
were, and she just looked sad and
said she didn't know; and then l cried
cause I wanted you for my truly
brother, and said was Miriam going
to be an old maid, and mamma said,
no, she guessed she'd marry DR..
Graham
Miss Willing moved uneasily, Mr..
Bradley frowned.
81 don't like him one bit," said
Nelly.
"Neither do I" said the young man.
with emphasis.
"Neither does Miriam, cause he
called just lots of times before we
came away, and she wouldn't even
see him.
This was too much. With an air
OF desperation Miriam rose, and ex-
claiming. go, Nelly" in a tone OF
mingled Indignation and reproach,
she walked rapidly away from them.
"You ought not to have talked in
such a way before your sister," said
the young man, reprovingy. "Iou
have hurt her feelings"
"Oh, my! Oh, my'' said the child,
tearfully, what's the matter with
everybody? Idon't see how you can
be so mean to her"
81 mean your sister he exclaimed.
"Why, my dear little girl, she sent me
away
"Dd she? Well. I know she's sor.
~. Tell her you're sorry, Billy. Tell
her anything"
at wouldn't do any good" was the
mournful reply.
eyes, it would" she said, eagerly.
"Just you try!'
In the meantime Miriam had gone
but short distance when she con.
Guided that the most sensible
solution OF the difficulty was
to return to her charge and
take her home-thus effectually put.
ting an end to the embarrassing stu.
alton. Bracing herself for the ordeal,
she retraced her steps, and certainly,
in her proud self-possession, there was
no sign OF the fires OF anger, humilia.
ton and wounded self-esteem raging
within.
She was scarcelyprepared tofnd that
Mr.. Bradley had arisen, and was
awaiting her, with outstretched hand
"Miram,' he said softly, "perhaps
have been wrong in this unhappy
affair. Will you forgive me?''
"lou are forgiven" she said, ignor-
ing his hand.
'But Nelly wants us to be friends"
81 am your FRIEND" she replied, with
a little break in her voice.
"And is that all?" he asked visit
fully.
She bowed coldly. How was he to
know that her heart was beating so
fast and there was such lump in he1
throat she could not trust herself to
speak?
He drew himself up, lifted his hat
and turned away. He had not pro
ceeded more than half dozen steps.
however, when a horror-stricken
Shrek rent the air. AS Miriam. he1
eyes swimming in tears, sank up.
on the bench she forgot, in her
agitation the presence of the
wretched crab, and allowed her bare
hand to drop upon it. The crab, thus
rudely awakened from it's siesta to a
realization OF its many wrongs, caught
hold of one of the pretty white fingers
with grip that refused to be shaken
off.
Poor Miriam's face was drow, with