The Delta independent., 1895-11-20
"What?" cried Oliver.

"What?" cried Oliver.
"It's her turn, Mr.. Oliver. She has
run away"
mot with youp You are not alone?"
"Why, of course. Who was there?
think it is mean of you to look cross,
when came to keep your name out of
my troubles, because the doctor wrote
it would ruin all your political pros
poets. You helped me once, and ! am
coming back to n man II hatc-ycs,
do-and am afraid of, SO no one will
say word about YOU" She looked at
him with triumphant virtue so salts
fed and sweet he hung his head, the
words of reproach dying on his lips.
"Wcll, there's the baby and nurse
girl" he said, hopefully.
"Why. no." she laughed. "Didn't I
tell you? Aunt Hannah stole the baby,
She ran away herself this time. Oh,
do hire one of those cunning cabs, and
we'll go for drive, and Ill tell you all
about it."
1.-THE hansoms would be too cold,
Mrs. Minny. We will take this car
riage," he said, calling one; and she,
very well pleased, got in with the dog
while he deposited her luggage on the
front seat.
"You see," she said, leaning back on
the cushioned seat as the carriage left
the noisy stone pavement and talking
was possible. "Aunt Hannah got it
into her head that l did not love
Francois = the baby - enough. He
really did seem to fuss the moment I
took him; and Aunt Hannah knows so
rnony ,,,loc for HWY m ob;lJra,
that was nowhere with my own child.
Old maids do, you know. Then he got
to look more like Hen-M. de Restaud
every day; and that was q trial.
Aunt Hannah said he was just frctty,
but thought him dc Restaudy. sup
pose am awfully wicked, but was
glad Aunt Hannah wanted him. Then
there was" Mrs. Minny hesitated
and looked away; faint blush colored
her round cheek-"a red-hcadcd young
man who took me riding-horseback
riding. ! am sure there is no harm in
that. A homely young man." she
added, seeing the shadow on divers
face, mot nice ut all; but one must
have some friends. And then one
morning when she was making the bed
Aunt Hannah found your letter under
the pillow--your first one, not the ugly
one telling me it was my duty to come
back to my husband. Funny business
letters those, not like you or that
lovely ride we had. 1 was desperate
at having to come back; SO maybe
was mean to Aunt Hannah. One day
she and the baby and its clothes disap-
peared, and she left a note telling me
that was not to search for her. for
She was going to put Frankie-that's
what she calls HMM safe keeping"
81 nm sure there was no harm in
that letter." he said, stifily.
"Oh, she wouldn't read it; couldn't
get her to; and, just to tease because
she said my behavior was scandalous,
/ kissed the letter and hid it away"
"Well, this is nice affair" said
Oliver, smiling little because Mrs.
Minny was SO gayly happy. 81 don't
see what we are going to do. i thought
your aunt would be with you, SO hur-
ried on to prevent your coming. 1t
would not be safe. Your-Mr. de
Restaud has grown worse-I think is
losing his mind. came to send you to
France, to the old general, where
probably Miss Patten has gone. Now
you are alone. De Restaud has spy
following me, / am sure; he had in
Denver, and" Oliver could not say
his worst suspicious
SIT will be brought out in the court,
this nice little ride and everything"
chirped Mrs. Minny, like the chops
and tomato sauce in Dickens, and
everybody will think me dreadful"
"You are very thoughtless," he said,
coldly.
Now, please don't be cross" her
pretty mouth quivered and her eyes
filled, "just as we were having such q
lovely time. can't help being jolly
because don't have to go back to him.
You know l thought how sorry you'd
be when died Of a broken heart and
his meanness and you'd come to see me
in my coffin. The Troublesome little
lady would be troublesome no more,
but still and quiet as you'd like her to
be, and old and sorrowful, for one day
of my old life with him would take all
the youngncss out of me. Perhaps
your conscience would hurt you n little
because you had driven me back, for l
would not have come but for you. The
thought that your kindness to me
"ohlu iHJuFe your Boou uaiiie inhue me
miserable. DIR. John wrote how your
political prospects would be ruined
political prospects is right, is it not?-
and you couldn't be governor OF any
thing"
"Minny, say no more" cried Oliver,
his voice trembling, my dear little
girl. II breaks my heart DR.. John
was cruel to write such nonsense; he
was too eager to serve rae. ] don't
want office; and would face the SIAN
der Of the world to spare you mo-
mept's pain"
She trembled so at his words he
stopped in the midst Of a sentence, re-
pronching himself for his lack of self
control. They were silent few mo
ments; then she said, with her old
smile: