The record-union., 1895-12-28

! glad you have come, Mr.. Haine," said
She I'VE are really lonely here, and have
been looking for you for the last four
days
How is it that you are lonely here"
said 1, right in the home of sunshine
and good nature?"
The sun cannot shine when OBJ
scured by Clouds said she, "and good
/ nature is result of peace of mind
Very true" said 1, but how does
| that apply in your case?"
Il will not answer that now" said
! she. You are tired after your long
! journey, besides. supper is waiting and
! you must be as hungry as one of your
mountain bears. Go to your old room
now and then come directly to the din
! ingroom.
| So 1 took up my valise and went
straight to my room overlooking the
| garden. 1 had passed many pleasant
hours there in times past, and it looked
as attractive as ever. / noticed a sweet
| little bouquet of flowers upon the bu-
| reau, and several beautiful little pieces
| of handiwork, pockets, watch-cases,
etc, which told me very plainly that
Nellies deft fingers had not been idle
uuIluS the past year.
Somehow, 1 felt wonderfully pleased
at this, and, although | would not for a
| moment own it, yet 1 secretly hoped
| that all this might have been done for
me. 'Bah!" saidI, as Ismoothed my hair
before the glass and adjusted my neck
| tie. I'll venture she never thought of
me once while all that fine work was in
| progress" But where was Lawrence?
My old chum had failed to welcome me
as usual Perhaps he was temporarily
absent, although Mrs. G. had not men
| toned the fact, as | certainly thought
| she would had he really been out of
town.
But there was no time for idle specu-
| lations; supper was awaiting me, so 1
repaired at once to the dining-room.
Mrs. G. and Nellie were already there.
Nellle's reception was SO cordial and
she seemed so happy to meet your
rough old mountaineer that I quite for
got TO ask for Lawrence until nearly
| through supper. Then l asked, WHAT
| have you done with 'Law'?" a nickname
! he had borne since his boyhuod. /
thought L detected a shade pass over
Nelly'S face as her mother answered,
Mr.. Hale has been absent from town
for quite a month"
I could not hide from them the sur
| prise 1 felt as 1 answered: ''Why. I
certainly thought he would be here: he
will be home during the holidays, most
| assuredly. Law was never away from
the inevitable Christmas tree and the
family circle at that time"
Time will tell" said Mrs. G.
saw at once this was M TINA +o
ask questions, and felt relieved when
Nelly said:
Mr.. Haines you have neither seen
| nor inquired for the children yet. 10
hasn't forgotten the boxes of candy you
gave him last year. and he looks for
your coming with more interest, 1
| fancy, than for Santa Claus himself"
Dear little Jo," l said. Il beg a
thousand pardons for the injustice done
| him, and 1 shall do my best to keep in
his good graces."
10 and Ettie are up stairs with
Jane said Nelly. and they will come
down to supper now, when you shall
see them BOTH
In moment more they burst into the
room.
I'VE knowed you was coming!" cried
both at once. Nelly told us so''
Did you bring me some candy?"
said 10.
40, Jo," said Nelly. you must not
ask in that way; that is bold
Il didn't ask you for any," said Ellie,
did I?''
No" said I, "but you shall have
some all the same"
| SO Nelly told them I was coming
| How kind she seemed to everyone; how
thoughtful of everyOne's welfare, l
| thought / wonder if she is really glad
1 have come? but what an old goose 1
am. why should 1 feel any interest in
| her, anyway? I never did in any
woman or, rather, feel the same inter-
est in all alike. But I could not ban
! ish the thought from my mind that she
| was somehow the sweetest girl / had
| ever met. I could not explain to
myself Just why or how / arrived at
truth of it, though 1 was half-ashamed
truth of it. though l am half-ashamed
! to acknowledge it to myself, as l hardly
knew what it meant
Why is il that old bachelors are so
| timid in thinking seriously of any par
ticular woman? To my certain knowl-
| edge, queer, nervous sensation seizes
! every confirmed old bachelor every time
| his more honest heart compels him to
| think more than once of some fair lady
| Perhaps he fears he might yet be caught
and that eternal vigilance is the price
| of liberty"
After pleasant evening, made up of
music by Nelly and conversation by all,
| in which there seemed a good degree of
cheerfulness on the part of the ladies, l
retired to my room. The moon was
shining brightly and as I looked across
the garden under the bare fruit trees to
the neat cottage beyond the fence, re-
membered the family of Easily where
had spent several very pleasant even
! ings during my visits in the past. And
| now I come to think Of it there was
pretty, straightforward Lucy Eastly's
| home.
! Lucy, with one exception. was in
every respect the most agreeable girl l
had ever met. Lively, frank. sensible.
with winning manners, beautiful form
and features, she was admired by both
sexes alike.
Why l should think so much about
her now l could hardly tell, and / act
uaIIy laughed aloud as l thought how
! susceptible / was becoming Between
! Nellie and Lucy | was in danger. How
ever, joking aside, I lit cigar and sat
| down awhile TO ponder on Hale's case.
1t was strange that they did not refer
to him at all, and / could not seem to
! find an opportunity TO ask any ques-
tions Perhaps he had proposed to
! Nellie and been rejected and feel
! ing so chagrined over his failure had
was satisfied that the mystery would all
/ he solved before / left for home again.