Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-11-23
SW EEI NELLY 81
q HUNTINGDON.
CHAPTER. Iv-(Continued.,

SbAi lElt
"You go in first, before he comes
out Of the library, and I'll be
be won't ask no questions
Nelly limped into the dining room,
and took her seat at the table before
the next bell rang.
What, you first, Nelly!" said her
father, coming in just as the clock
struck.
He was a tall, spare man, with fine
features that would rave made hiin
handsome but for the air of gloomy
severity that frowned from his thought
ful brovs. This severity was a charac-
teristic Of the men of the Huntingdon
race. They were kind and generous
enough in the main, but stern, implac-
able, and utterly unyielding: a race to
be stanch friends and bitter foes
better framed, indeed, for good hatcrs
than good lovers. No wonder al their
womenkind stood in awe of them.
Nally's father had for some years
past devoted himself entirely TO literary
pursuits. so that she had enjoyed very
little of his society and companionship.
They met at meal-times, when he would
ask her a few Indifferent questions,
and she would answer them, and sfe
was too much afraid of him TO show
him any particular affection.
"Mayn't / read for you, or write,
papa?" she had asked, timidly, some
times; but the response was always:
mo, thank you, my dear; seclusion
would not be good for you. Run about
and breathe the fresh air, and ride
your horse. l shall do very Well"
But on this evening, when she would
fain have been silent, her father was
unusually laxative. @
Where have You been to-day, NellyT'
he asked, us soon as he had taken his
seat.
Why should he have asked that ques-
ton to-day, of all others, the first time
it had ever been announcement to re-
ply?
"Out In the woods, papa, and II
strained my foot a little"
How did you manage that?"
"Put my foot in a hole and twisted
the ankle"
That of your romping ways.
[ suppose. You really are too old to go
racing about now, Nelly. And. Nelly,
[ have something to say to you"
Yes. papa" and her heart beat thick
and fast with n great dread.
II don't wish you to go anywhere
near the lower part of the wood for
the next month. / hear Lord Lang
holme is coming to the Court with a
, party of men. and l don't choose you
to be seen by them"
Nelly stopped her head over her plate
In an agony. Could her father know
anything?
lord Langholme is not a desirable
acquaintance for young ladies'" pro-
ceeded Mr.. Huntingdon, with the frown
deepening on his brow; land as he runs
after every petticoat he sees, he might
wish to force the honor Of his acquaint-
ance upon you, and I'd sooner see you
dead than have anything to do with
him"
You need not be afraid, papa" said
Nelly, raising her head with spirit.
Il would not speak to Lord Lang
holme. / detest him without ever hav-
ing seen him."
Now, it was very odd that such a
conversation should have taken place
on this particular day, when the name
even Of Langfolme lad never been
mentioned between the father and
daughter before. But on that very
I&orniIg Mr.. Huntingdon bad received
n letter from his brother in town, and
the postscript contained these lines:
Town is getting quite empty. I
hear your neighbor, Lord Langholme,
Is going down to the Court with a
party. He's a terrible fellow after
pretty faces, and Nelly must be getting
Il great girl now"
The bare suggestion had been enough
to stir up all Mr.. Huntingdon's latent
hatred of the rival house, and caused
him TO bestow the caution just uttered.
What shall ] do" thought Nelly,
piteously, now papa has forbidden me
TO go TO the brook? | dare not disobcy
him; but surely there il no harm i'm
my speaking a few words 10 CAPTAIN
WELLESLEY, even IL he is Lord Lang.
holmes friend. / would sooner have
died than speak to him."
So for three days, during which Nelly
was confined to the house by her foot.
she was in a perfect agony between the
fear of displeasing her father and the
misery of not seeing the handsome
stranger again. But on the fourth day.
with a sorely guilty conscience. the dis
obedient child limped toward the brook
to keep her tryst with Captain Welles-
ly. The blue eyes were looking keenly
for Ter as their owner stood leaning
against a tree on Lord Langholme's
side Of the brook. There had been no
rain. the water ran shallower than be-
fore, and the young athlete cleared II
at a bound. Nelly put her slim fingers
quite naturally into his outstretcici
hand.
How is you foot to-day, he asked
tenderly.
oh! very nearly well, thanks: but
/ lost my shoe the ether day"
Captain Wellcsly took the missing mr.
ticle fIom his pocket, and held it re-
gretfully toward her.
IF You would crly let me keep IT,,
he pleaded.
Il don't think 1t would L. much ,Ce
to you" laughed Nelly, archly, looking
down at his feet, Which, by the way.
were particularly well shaped.
NO, not in that way" he answered.
smiling. But do, won't your
Why Miss Huntingdon should have
consented to such a ridiculous request
l am not prepared TO say; but that
she did is m indisputabla fact, since
Wilson a day or two later nut away
one little bronze shoe by itself as being
useless without its fellow.
And did Mr.. Huntingdon eyipco any