The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-09-25
THE BILLOP MYSTERY,
ny JULIAN HAWTHORNE,
(Ccpy,iGnt, 1851
CMAnTER LII.

CHAPTER lll'
It was al 0ctob,r evening nine years
latori tho woods had gloWed in their red
and yellow splendor all day long, tho
sun had set in Rrivary, OF glory. and
now it was getting so cool that few
logs we're pied on the wide hearth, and
lire kin1ISd. Tho pitch-pino slicI:s
began TO craOkle, and 60 ooE5 ut tho
ends, thu blue smoke whiTled upward
in tho hugo draught OF the chimney,
and Nancy and Nellie, having cleared
away the supper things, were seated in
Il small AID a big chair, side by side,
face to tho blaze, Nellie's head leaned
against NAncy's substantial knOs; her
silky hair, which allowed some OF tho
cOlors OF tho golden flame at which she
was gazing, or OF the maple leaves
which she nG5 Gathe,ed great bunch
al lhat afternoon, shone in tho Acker.
ing light with lovely radiance. Nancy
sat back in hOr chair with her stout
arms folded across her ample waist,
Never wai there an old maid that lo9Erd
the conventional typo loss than she. She
waA roSy, dimpIed, plump aud CHEEKY;
yet she YNs not only a Aplnsier OF near
ly fifty, but che had met with nothing
but misfortune all hsr life. 1t Is mar.
vel what aomeiolks can thrive on
But Nancy had in her bosom the in.
nocOnt and kindly child's heart which
Wai born with her; she was Rs much
child as tho little girl beside her.
Troubles could draw tearS from her
rerdily enough; but nothing could
make her bitter or sullen. Her nature
was OF tho summer quality sometimes
rsverting to April, but never contract.
ing into winter. Truly, she was not
armed 10 contend with the aFllQ! and
selfish world; yet the world could not
hurt her. Her vital spots were beyond
the worlds reach.
Being oil such q make, she and Nellie
were full companions for each other
They were a pair OF children. Things
which TO others would have been fool.
ish and trivial, interested them, and
made the subject Of their confidential
talks. Each loved tho sound OF the
Others voice, aud waR secure in tho
others sympathy. II is wonderful
what a mutual comprehension lovo
gives; the reason is perhaps because It
80 aimplihes and eliminates the ordi.
nary confusion and ob1curity OF ideas.
We are ourselves the nrtitiCera OF most
OF the riddles thatlperplex us.
"NelliO, you wouldn't have cared for
me to marry that old Lawyer Coryin,
would you, loveyY
"UghP said Nellie, prolonging gut.
teral Of disgust Hes horrid! You
don't hay9 to, do you?"
"No; out no asked me this a'ternoon;"
she xSvo chuckiing little laugh" l
declare, wonder what ailnd the man
Eeiused to b srooutu' around bout
tWGnts or thirty years ago; but was
youns and Smar. then, ana We was rich;
anG anyway, was iRncyiu' som'un else
myself. SO said to him to-day, says.
'WhaiovOr ail8 you. Mr.. Corvin?
guess may DO you usod to want mo for
tho sake oil my money, l says; but
now, snys, you've got tho money,
and Whit under the canopy would you
DO wanting Of meY So laughed. But
! thought to myself, thinks !, We'll,
GueSs | wouldn't marry man that was
:ho cause Of my dear boy Tom gettin'
LII aSon, me- roor %Sn,So, Va" Wa,, . .nn,
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