Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-08-16

~ iiiahe the cest story Tor themse ives,
IN very sclf-dsfcnse.
I'VE We're very near the race course. :,
/ she said. WIZ a carriage clashed ras,
us-tEe gentleman was thrown and
the lady was in danger. Ashton made
me alight and go into little country
motel by the roadside-then dashed on,
and. somehow, cannot tell how.
| stopped the horses. The girl was moi
thrown, and | saw 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 coma over on any account but To
stay where ! was until he came for me
! lie came, after the races were over, and
made neither explanation nor apology
! why that seems impossible. Nina
said her aunt What did you sayq'
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 ali
seemed so low and coarse, now that sha
thought it over.
II suppose he forgot me-" she said.
"In that case" said her aunt, never
4 forgive him; would not
/ And Nina went to her 70 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.
I ful word ar ttvo ,r-ritta, 49,, ~ ...-..
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 cheerful mood. had
an aversion TO tears and low spirits,
agreed that it 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 "al is
vanity"
She had been so proud Of Ashton aud
of her engagement to him, and she
was ashamed to tell her friends that
all was over, and then the heartbreak
of IL!
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 sudden rush of Sis
ters down the path, kissing and EN-
bracing and incoherent cries of: "Ohl
she's ever so much better; there's not
the least reason to be anxious We
knew you'd come at once But, OIL
how pale you are. And don't you feel
proud of AshtonP"
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" said the eldest
But what did he say to make you
Gomez" said the third sister.
"Oh! you ought to be proud OF HIN;
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 we made her 60" said the
youngest
"And he didn't understand the
horses" sad the middle sister. 1T was
q new team"
"We'n never speak TO him again"
said all three together
And they ran away.
"oh. good heavens. Was that mother?
Was Rodney driving her?" painted
Nina
How noble; he never told-he kept
his promise" said the elder sister Eyes,
dear. and'RodneN' S bead 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 shrielsed," 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 as she had been pale before,
burst into tears
and | am the meanest," she con-
fessed. II did not know whom he had
rescued, and quarreled with him for
staying away all day, and sent him
back his ring this morning
''Oh," groaned the chorus, Il don't
believe he will ever forgive you. and |
you 90 not deserve itf'
But Just then, looking mp, 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-flled eyes toward him and held |
ont her trembling hands it was impos-
sible for him not TO melt outright and /
the sisters knew that the best thing to /
he done was TO leave the two together. /
AID charity after /