Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-25
THATLOW CREATURE


"Oh, mean it. am not one who does
not know when she has been insulted."
Nina, you do not know anything yet"
aaid Ashton. when have told you
''Told mei" 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"
II left you to save 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 / was until you
came for me and stay all this while-why,
as said, it Is an. offense beyond forgive
ness.
"Oh, I've been nearly wild with NORTH
cation, and that good old lady-ignorant,
of course, but SO sympathetic-hows she
has pitied me!
".You don't seem the sort to be used
&c. 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 EN- and he's been with
her Oh the grand stand all this time while
you've been cooling your heels here, my
dear. "
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
happcned--to listen to some story which
might give her chance to forgive him.
At best 1t 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 a
dignified part.
Now she felt that she had neither spoken
nor behaved as a lady should-no, not
kindly, as one should even to a friend.
She should have listened to him before
she burst out into that TRADE, and she en-
tered her aunt's house with such a face
that that lady cried:
why, what Is the matter? Where Is
Mr.. Craig? Why didn't he come in? I've
lovely high tea ready. Why, Nina, be-
lieve you have quarreled with him."
And then she burst into tears and was
forced to tell her story-her version of it,
of course
1--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,
/ cannot tell how, stopped the horses.
"Tho girl was not thrown, and l saw
AnIt tn IL,
her up CO. steps Of an elegant hotel not far
away. latrr he sent me a note, telling me
not to como over on any account, but to
stay whCrI was until he came for me. He
came nftcr the races were over, and made
neither q plauation nor apology"
''Why that seems impossible, Nina"
said her aunt What did you say?"
"Wcil, / was not very amiable, said
Nina. But could you expect that2"
'Ho should have explained, she said.
And Nina went to her room in tears,
and during the wakcful night resolved to
return Ashton's ring on tho morrow,
which she did by express, with a scornful
word or two written upon the most ele
giant note paper in her possession.
After this she told her aunt that she
would 60 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 hearth She began to realize what
the old minister and her grandmother
meant by saying ''all 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, q kissing and embracing and in
coherent cries of:
"Oh, she's ever so much better! There's
not the least reason to BIO anxious. We
knew you'd come at once. But, oh, how
pale you arei 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." said the
eldest sister.
And he didn't understand the horses, I"
said the middle sister. 1T was a new
team
And they ran away"
"Oh, good heavensl Was that mother?
Was Rodney driving herr" painted Nina.
"How noble! He never told-he kept
his promise, d" said the elder sister.
And ma tainted away, and the doctor
thought her dead
when Ashton brought her home, we
oil shrioked, said the youngest. But
she is quite well-only we make her lie
down, you know, and she IL be so glad you
are not frightened"
But just then, looking up, whom did
they see entering at the gate but Ashton
Craigl
Indeed when poor Nina turned her tear
filled eyes toward him and held out her
trembling hands it was impossible for him
not TO mott 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.
His Purpose.
'Do you believe in the novel with a pur-
a 80 tl<r