The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-05-18
EBENSBURG, Pa. FRIDAY, MAY Is, IS9

hotel by the roadside-then dashed on
and. somehow, | cannot tell how,
stopped the horses The girl was moi
thrown, and L saw Ashton take
her in his arms and carry her up the.
steps of an elegant hotel not far away
Later he sent me a note. telling me not
to come over on any account. but to
stay where | was until he came for me
He came, after the races were over and
made neither explanation nor apology"
Why, that seems impossible Nina
said her aunt What did Won saw"
Well | was not very amiable," said
Nina But could you expect that?"
The aunt shook her head.
He should have explained" she said
Nina could not bring herself to tell
her aunt what the old landlady had
suggested, or that she had actually re
peated her words to Ashton. 1t all
seemed 50 low and coarse, now that she
thought it over.
Il suppose he forgot me- she said
"ln that case" said her aunt, never
forgive him; | would not"
And Nina went to her ro ON in tears
and, during the wakeful night. resolved
to return Ashton's ring on the morrow.
which she did by express with "A scorn-
ful word or two written upon the most
elegant note paper in her possession
After this she told her aunt that she
would 60 home at once: and that lady.
who, though delighted to entertain a
niece who was In Il cheerful mood had
an aversion to tears and low SPIRITS
agreed that 1t was perhaps the best
thing she could do under the circum-
stances to go home to her dear mamma,
who would give her the best advice pos
sible.
Poor Nina! As, her journey over. she
walked up the garden path leading to
the door of her suburban home, how
heavy was her heart she began to
realize what the old minister and her
grandfather meant by saying ''all is
vanity"
She had been SO proud of Ashton and
OF her engagement to him, and she
was ashamed to tell her friends that
all was over, and then the heartbreal,
of it.
Now that there was no going back.
she felt that she could forgive him al
most anything And just as she came
TO this there was a sudden rush of Sis
tiers down the path, a kissing and en-
bracing and incoherent cries of: OH
she's ever 50 much better; there's not
the least reason to be anxious. We
knew you'd come at once But. OH
how Pale you are. And don't YOU feel
proud of Ashton?''
Nina simply stared at them
What has happened?" she cried.
She doesn't | know cried the Younger
sister.
Ma made Ashton promise not TO tell
her until this morning" " sail the eldest
But wnaJ dld ne say TO make you
Gomez said the third sister.
OH You ought to be proud of him:
but for him it is terrible To think how
we might be grieving now" said the
middle sister.
You know Cousin Rodney came to
ask ma to go To the races with him."
said the eldest sister.
And made her CO. said the
youngest.
And he didn't understand the
horses, sad the middle sister. 1t was
new team"
Wen never speak to him again."
said all three together.
And they ran away.
''Oh, good heavens! Was that mother?
Was Rodney driving her?' painted
How noble; he never told he kept
bis promise, - said the elder sister. Yes,
dear, an;i'Iodney's head was cut open
Served him right, cried the chorus.
And ma tainted away, and the doc
tors thought her dead
They all began to cry.
When Ashton brought her home we
all shrieked," said the youngest. but
she is quite well-only we make her lie
down, you know, and she'll be so glad
we were not frightened"
Ashton is the noblest creature ="
chorused the sisters, and Nina, turning
as red she had been pale before
burst into tears.
And | am the meanest," she con-
fessei. Il did not know whom he had
rescued, and | quarrcled with him for
staying away all day, and sent him
back his ring this morning"
oh" groaned the chorus, II don't
believe he will ever forgive you. and
you do not deserve itr'
But just then, looking up, whom did
they see entering at the gate but Ash
ton Craig. And the look he gave them
convinced them that he was not in a
very angry mood
Indeed. when poor Nina turned her
tear filled eyes toward him and held
out her trembling hands it was impos-
sible for him not to melt outright, and
the sisters knew that the best thing to
be done was to leave the two together
which they did. And shortly after
Nina and Ashton knelt beside the
mothers couch, hand in hand, and on
Nina's finger shone once more her en-
gagement ring.
Don't cry; I'm perfectly well. and
only ashamed of having tainted from
fright" the mother said
But Nina could not have given a name
to all the emotions that mingled in her
bosom and sent such a shower OF shin
ing tears down her smooth cheeks.
Only she knew that she was at once
ashamed and cOmforted, and that for
the first time since their engagement
| she fully realized how well she loved
| her betrothcd husband and how glad
she was that she was soon to be his
wiie.-kansas City Times
The Way of the World.
See that man? He Is broke. He was