Passaic City record., 1893-01-07

dows robbed of their harshness. They
did not seem to wreck the stiffness which
wrapped the man and girl in magic
mantel.
Vincent Dilkley felt the perilous
sweetness OF this nearness falling over
him like spell. He moved angrily.
Be cold and rough to her, indeed
Hcavensl How else was he to keep his
own control?
Suddenly, as he bent forward to make
correction, he saw the little hand hold
ing the pencil stop unsteadily. The next
instant Nina Wilton had turned her head
away and he was aware that she was
crying.
ssMiss Wiltonl" he exclaimed, started
out of bis own reserve.
The girl had started to her feet and
stood facing him with flashing eyes, IN
burst of childish passion.
ssHow dare you treat me so?" she cried,
in a trembling voice. "What are you
afraid off, You act as though you were
afraid of somethingl Haven't | always
been nice to youg Haven't papa and
mamma always been friendly? We've all
liked you SO much-you and your sister.
And YOU take it upon yourself to treat
me as Thoughts though What have
l done to you2" she broke off, all her
girlish young beauty shaken by this
storm of words. 81 sent Miss Hersy
away to-day particularly that | might
ask you. And now suppose you think
I don't know what you think because
you are good looking and girls have
fallen in love with you, perhaps you
think the same thing of mep She was
insulting him ruthlessly in her passion,
that confessed SO infinitely more than she
herself was conscious of. ssBut you need
have no such fear" she cried contempt
uously. Then, at the door, turning
once more, she added, with the sudden
pitifulness of scolded child, 81 liked
you so much, and I thought we would
be such good friendsl"
Vincent Dilkley had not spoken a
word. He had controlled himself thus
far. And now, somehow, he got out
into the street. That evening when he
reached home, there was such look
upon his face that Barbara, with ire
pressible nervousness, said:
ssVincent, are you sure you are wella"
..Yes," he replied. And for the first
time in his life he spoke to his sister
sharply.
A few days later at the breakfast table
Barbara said:
1.-THE Wiltons got to their place last
night, it seems. That will make it more
convenient for you, Vincent, giving
Nina her lessons. You won't have to go
into town. l suppose she will go on
taking the lessons just the same this
Vincent Dilkley pushed his chair back
and rose.
ssI don't think can quite manage the
time for those lessons, Bah. 1--we
made other arrangements. wrote to
Mrs. Wilton yesterday"
He came slowly round to his sisters
side and laid his hand gently on his
shoulder.
ssI'm afraid, too, Bah, as-that source
of income will have to stop that-unless
1 can find something to take its place,
you will have to give up that little trip
of yours this summer. lam very sorry"
he added. He said it as simply as
boy. But when Barbara looked into his
face it was worn and gray and almost
old.
ssOh, Vincent!' It was E mothers
yearning crying. HDon't think of mel"
Not think of her? He had thought
of her always. 1t was to obtain for her
the comforts of an income which, how
ever meagre and poor, was yet. at least
comparatively secure, that he gave these
lessons which his soul loathed, spending
his talent and his vitality in a hated
drudgery of every day. If it had not
been for her, he would have lived the
artists free life and painted pictures and
won fame perhaps, and been at liberty
to WOO the girl he loved.
For no need to try and conceal the
secret longer, Barbara knew it and when
her brother had gone, burst into tears.
She was still sitting in the little homely
parlor, her busy hands for once idle,
when light step upon the porch reached
her ear.
1t was Nina Wilton.
The young girl came straight in, took
off her broad shade hat and tossed it
upon chair.
"Miss Barbara" she said, ssyour
brother won't give me any more drawing
lessons. Why won't he?"
Miss Dilkley was not astonished at the
visit or the question or the manner of
either. Nina was-Mina. Petted, idol
lzed, as utterly ignorant of the world as
a flower raised in hothouse, as lawless
as she was beautiful, the only daughter
of otherwise childless parents, Nina, at
eighteen, was no older than the little girl
she had been at eight.
II am sure don't know. DEAR" stam-
mered poor Miss Barbara.
s'That is not possible-you must
know insisted the girl mercilessly. sTt