The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-28
NELLIE'S MISTAKE.


had him and his millions as fast as ever
fish was hooked by an angler.
So, being safe since no other girl in her
circle was so pretty, since her wardrobe
was perfect and her lover entirely subju-
gated, Miss Nellie had time to note the soft
expression that came into Ruth Hazards
eyes when Oliver Lynn's name was men
toned.
Now, Oliver Lynn was poor young
man, with no great personal attractions,
one by no means a catch in any sense of
the word, and Miss Nellie had no idea of
passing her life, or even q part of it, in
economizing small salary.
However, she could not resist the temp
tation of robbing Ruth Hazard of lHer one
beau-the only one plain, pale little Ruth
had ever had.
Oliver Lynn was just the man to admire
a beautiful face and hers contrasted to
such advantage with Ruth's. Ruth, more
over, had no pretty clothes and was only
her poor cousin.
And if Mr.. Walton grew angry she
could tell him how she had refused Mr..
Lynn, because she liked some one else
better" and win him back in an instant.
And Oliver Lynn, though he knew Ruth
to be so pure and good, was Ogled and
smiled away from her side to that of her
dazzling cousin, and soon seemed to for
get, when she was near, that Ruth existed.
Ruth was only Is and not in the least
vain. She had built castles in the air, in
which a pretty second floor and socks in
basket ready to darn figured conspicuously.
But she WAS a very sensible little crea-
ture, and after the first pang she said to
herself, Better to know that he is fiokle
now than to have married him and then
discovered it.
Ruth did not eight for her beau at ALL
She was vanquished at once. One day she
came quietly to Nellie Green and babe her
goodby.
''Ma wants me home again. she said.
t'And I ann not fond of the city, as you
/ know"
cit is all over now" said little Ruth,
gazing YEARLY at the flying landscape from
the window of the train. 81 am SO glad
that don't care any more for him, but 1
wish that had never met him."
And just then a gentleman, carrying
bag in his hand, brushed past her, overset
a parcel on the seat, paused to apologize
and SO brought on a mutual recognition.
'Miss Hazardl'' cried he.
'Mr. WaltOnr'
"You are not going homer
"Yes, " said Ruth; mother wants me-"
Mr.. Walton looked convinced. To him
self he said:
F'That rascal Lynn has Tilted her. Nell
lie is beautiful, but no excuse for deserving
something in her besides sweetness, too, I
fancy"
He told her that he was going to Water
ford on business, and Nellie lived Just
mile this side of Waterford. And she told
him of the woods, and the mountain
streams that grew so after one nights
rain, and of the beautiful rainbOws that
crowned the peaks, and of the way the
moon rose round and golden above them
in the winter nights.
Then he opened a certain window in his
soul, usually closed tight, and talked to
Ruth Hazard as he had never talked to
Nellie Green.
Suddenly in the midst of this talk came
fierce whistle scream, a backing of the
engine, a crash and the sound of horror
stricken voices.
A few moments afterward Ruth came
to consciousness to find herself among the
debris of the car, oIasped tight in what
seemed death grip. 1t was Mr.. Walton
who held her, but he knew nothing of the
holding; he neither spoke nor stirred.
When they unclasped his fingers, they
fell down upon his breast like those of a
dead man.
The verdict of the surgeon, Ruth's ia
ther, was that Mr.. Walton was neither
dead nor going to die but he took him to
his own house nevertheless and did his
best for him, and soon he had GONZALES
cent on his hands instead Of an apparently
dying patient.
Meanwhile in the city they knew moth
ing of the accident, and Miss Nellie, lit
tie weary OF Oliver Lynn and anxious for
Mr.. Walton's return, did her best to bring
her fiat fish to the point of hooking, that
she might give him a cold douche of re-
fusal.
At last one day Mr.. Oliver, with many
bushes and much confusion, informed
Miss Nellie that he adored her, and offered
her his hand and heart.
On the steps he met another gentleman
Mr.. Walton. They bowed, but did not
speak. And in moment more Miss Nellie
gave both hands to her returned captive.
'You naughty man. she said What
a while you have been awayi''
g very short time, considering the ex-
perience it has given me, - said Mr.. Wal
| ton. you've had no news of the smash,
1 see.'
1.-THE what?' cried Nellie
1.-THE railroad accident, - said Mr. Wal
ton. Your cousin Ruth was on the
train
''Not hurt, hopei'' cried Nellie.
"No,' said Mr.. Walton, but 1 had a
rib two broken, and my brains very
nearly knocked out, believe. I've been
at your uncle's house, and tell you it's
worth being i'll to recover in such hands"
To think that should not have known
of all this!'' cried Nellie pathetically
'EYes,' said Mr.. Walton cool1y, sit was
odd. By the way, how is Mr. Lynn? All
settled between you two, 1 suppose, by
this time?''
Eyes; it is settled, - she said "The fool
ish fellow really asked me to have him to-
day, but 1 told him that-that-I liked
some one better.
''That was very cruel of you, Miss Mel
1ie,'' said Dir. Walton carelessly. "But
the other man is very happy fellow. I
know that by experience. She's little
angel, that cousin Ruth of yours, and
she's to be my Ruth very soon now. She
promised me that last night, and told me
might tell you
And Nellie had just self con troll enough
to murmur that she was delighted.-Ex-
change.