St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-15

myself"
But you will need help"
"Well, Pm going to help her," said
Elson.
But" said Nellie, ''you have to re-
turn TO the city tomorrow.
Il beg your pardon" said the lawyer,
with some dig nity; II have to stay
here"
Have you ever had any experience
in nursing?" asked the doctor.
YES" said Elson; 81 know how to
obey a physicians orders"
Good. Then we shall do very well.
| I'll be here about o'clock again."
When the physician had gone, Elson.
whose manner toward Nellie had un-
| consciously become deferential. said:
Your mother needs some attention. !"
The girl nodded, and called in one of
the servants. Mrs. Breeze was removed
| to her daughters room, and the maid
left with her.
ElsOT went and stood by the window
a moment. He did not look out, how
ever. His eyes were fixed on the face
| of the girl, who was bending over her
| father. The incidents of the night
seemed to have brought out the latent
force of her character. She was 10
longer volatile. etfervescent girl, but
serious, tender woman, with mar
velOuS Self-cOmmand and an acute per-
ception.
But Elson saw that the strain had
told on her. Her face was very white,
and there were dark rings under her
eyes. He walked over to her.
You must remember that this will be
long spell of nursing. You must hus-
band your strength"
She reflected Il moment and then said:
II think you are right"
She went and lay down on the sofa
Elson turned down the gas and seated
himself beside the wounded man.
Il have induced Miss Nellie to lie
down." lie said; "she must not oyerwOrk
herself"
The girls father gave him grateful
look.
For Il few minutes all was silence.
Then ElsOn fancied he heard a sound as
of suppressed sobbing. He went over
to the sofa The girl was lying quite
still. with her eyes closed, but her
cheeks were wet with tears. When Ell
son stopped. undecided, she opaned her
eyes and whispered:
Did you hear me?"
Yes"
"Do you think he did?'
mo"
Very well. then. Go back to him,
and don't mind me-"
ElSOn had choking sensation i'll his
throat, and great feeling of reverence
for The girl swept through him. He re
| turned to his seat by the bedside and
| bowed his head on his hands.
| A week later the young lawyer re-
turned to the city. Mr.. Breeze had i'm
proved so much that the young man
was 10 longer needed as a nurse, and
| he felt that his presence IN the house
was something of an intrusion now.
The summer waned and the glory of
| September came. Mr.. Breeze had quite
recovered, and was anxious to return to
| a consideration of his legal affairs, so
he sent for Elson to come out TO his
| house once more.
AS he drove through the gates he
heard the sounds of laughter ringing
under the tr5os, and moment later he
saw Nellie playing tennis with the three
Young men who were with her at the
opening of this tale. For a moment
something OF the old diStrust of the girl
came to him. but then he smiled and
said to himself:
"She can't fool me now. I've seen
what lies beneath the surface"
And as he diSm0untcd from the trap
he saluted her with the most grave
courtesy. Mr.. Breeze appeared at the
door. greeted the young lawyer warmly
and led him into the house. Nellie bit
her lip and gaZed after them with fam
ing cheeks. The next moment she
served the ball angrIly.
The lawyer and his client were clos
eted for nearly two hours after dinner.
Then Mr.. Breeze, who had not regained
the full measure OF his strength, owing
to confinement in the warm weather, re-
tired, leaving Elson in the dining room
with q cigar, 4 bottle of sherry and
some law papers.
The young man read the papers
through and smoked thoughtfully.
Presently light step sounded behind
him, and lie turned to see Nellie enter
ing the room. She stopped short on
seeing him.
Il did not know you were here" she
said in constrained tone.
Am | i'll the way?" he asked
gravely.
"Oh, no. 1 thought 1 might annoy
you.
Annoy met What makes you think
that?"
You look so dreadiully serious
whenever you see me laugh, as if you
ulull dDpIONe.
Didn't approve? Why, what right
would | have"
PPM sure | don't know, but you don't
approve. | suppose il | were to look
like a carved tombstone all the time, or
set my face like plaster cast, it would
suit you; but that's not my nature"
And she turned to the buffet, bent
down, opened one of the doors and be-
gan to search among the bottles.
IFS any one sick?" exclaimed Elson.
"Can | help you?"
She sprang up and said sharply:
Mamma has slight headache, and l
don't need"
She stopped, trembled and looked
down. In another moment she spoke
again in an altered voice.
You were good and kind then, Mr.
ElsOn, and am speaking so harshly.
What will you think of me"
She looked up into his face and there
were tears in her eyes. The young man
was silent for an instant as he gaZed at
her. Then he said:
Il shall always think of you as |
thought then, and as | think cow, as the
loveliest, the sweetest, the tenderest of
women"
81 think l hear mamma-let me CO."
said the girl.
Not yet-not ever, if can keep you.
Nellie. love YOU. Is there any answer
to that?"
"Oh, MIR. Elson-I-cannot think you
mean that. liam sure you always
looked down on me-"
mo. Nellie. | tried to argue myself
into belief when first saw you that
you were shallow: but my heart knew
better and hungered for YOU"
"When you first saw me?"
Eyes; have loved you from the
first, Nellie. Answer me at once, Mel
lie. is there any love for me in your
hearth"
She looked up and smiled with Won
derful sweetness.
~ think" she said, sit came there
about the same time as yours for me-"
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