The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-07-27
THAT LOW CREATURE

Ashton Craig, came up the steps OF the
low veranda of the Farmers Rest.
"Oh, mean it. l am not one who does
not know when she has been insulted."
Nina, you do not know anything yet,
said Ashton. when have told you''-
Told me?" said Nina. "Well, scarce
ly need telling. You invite me to the races,
and when we are almost there leave me
alone here until they are OVER
Il left you to save a life, " said Ashton.
1.-The girl was not thrown out" said
Nina 1T was well enough for you to
stop the horses and carry her in when she
pretended to faint, but to send me note
telling me to stop where I was until you
came for me and stay all this while-why,
as I said, it is an offense beyond forgive
ness.
oh, I've been nearly wild with mortifi-
cation, and that good old lady-ignorant,
of course, but so sympathetic-how she
has pitied me!
You don't seem the sort to be used
So, miss, she said. You don't know men
folks yet, my dear, she said. When you
are my age, you will to your cost. That
gal that was run away with is one of the
sort that come to the races in crowds. She
came too quick enough once she got things
the way she liked 'em, and he's been with
her on the grand stand all this time while
you've been cooling your heels here my
dear Z"
Blessed old lady," said Ashton, land
you accept her views"
Nina was visiting an aunt, and at the
door of this lady's residence he paused as
sisted her to alight and drove away with
a very polite bow, never once looking
back, as she saw plainly.
By this time she, being a woman, was
nearly mad to hear from his lips what had
happened-to listen to some story which
might give her a chance to forgive him.
AT best it was very wrong of him-very
unkind, but if he had only confessed the
truth, and pleaded and offered excuses at
least she would have been able to play Q
dignified part.
Now she felt that she had neither spoken
nor behaved as lady should-no, not
kindly, as one should even to friend.
She should have listened to him before
she burst out into that TRADE, and she en-
tered hor aunt's house with such face
that that lady cried:
why, what is the matter? Where is
Mr.. Craig? Why didn't he come ins I've
a lovely high tea ready. Why, Nina, be-
lieve you have quarreled with him."
forced to tell her story-her version of it,
of course.
''We were very near the race course"
she said, when carriage dashed past us
the gentleman was thrown, and the lady
was in danger. Ashton made me alight
and go into little country hotel by the
roadside-then dashed on, and somehow,
l cannot tell how, stopped the horses.
Dir ri thrown 7
Ashton take her in his arms, and carry
her up the steps of an elegant hotel not far
away. Later he sent me 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 you say?"
We'll, I was not very amiable," said
Nina But could you expect that5"
HE should have explained, she said
And Nina went to her room in tears,
and during the wakeful night resolved to
return Ashton's ring on the morrow,
which she did by express, with scornful
word or two written upon the most ele-
CANT note paper in her possession.
After this she told her aunt that she
would go home at once.
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 grandmother
meant by saying AL is vanity"
Now that there was no going back she
felt that she could forgive him almost
anything. And just as she came to this
there was sudden rush of sisters down
the path, a kissing and embracing and in
coherent cries of:
''Oh, she's ever SO much better! There's
not the least reason to be anxious We
knew you'd come at once. But, oh, how
pale you arel And don't you feel proud
of AshtonP'
Nina simply stared at them.
"What has happened?" she cried.
"She doesn't KNOW" cried the youngest
sister.
Ma made Ashton promise not to tell
her until this morning." said the eldest.
but what did he say to make you
Gomez" said the third sister.
You know Cousin Rodney came to ask
ma to go to the races with him, B" said the
eldest sister.
And he didn't understand the horses"
said the middle sister. 1T was a new
team
And they ran away"
"Oh, good heavens Was that mother?
Was Rodney driving herr" painted Nina.
How noble! He never told-he kept
his promise, " said the elder sister.
And ma tainted away, and the doctor
thought her dead
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 you
are not frightened.
But just then, looking up, whom did
they see entering at the gate but Ashton
Craig!
Indeed when poor Nina turned her tear
filed eyes toward him and held out her
trembling hands it was impossible 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 Ashton and Nina
knelt beside the mothers couch, hand in
hand, and on Nina's finger shone once
more her engagement ring.-Exchange.