Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-07-11
NELLIE'S MISTAKE.

Nellie Green had caught him There was
no doubt whatever, in her mind, that she
had him and his millions rs 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,
ono by no means a catch in any sense OF
the word, and Miss Ncllic had no idea Of
passing her life, or even u part of 1t, in
economizing small salary.
However, she could not resist the temp
tation of robbing Ruth Hazard of her one
teau-the only one plain. pale little Ruth
had ever had.
Oliver Lynn was Just the man TO admire
n beautiful face and hers ContraStcd to
such advantage with Ruths Ruth, more
over, had no pretty clothes and was on.y
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 cglcd 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 q pretty second floor and socks in
basket ready TO darn figured Conspicuously.
But she was u very sensible little crea.
ture, and after the first pang she said TO
herself, Better to know that he is tickle
now than to have married him and then
discovered ii. -
Ruth did not fight" for her beau at all.
She was vunluShcd ut once. One day she
came quietly to Nellie Green and badc her
goodby.
ma wants mo homo again." she said
"And l am not fond of the city, as you
know"
at is all over now" said little Ruth,
gazing wearily at the flying landscape from
the window of the train Il am SO glad
that don't caro- any moro for him, but
wish that had never met him"
And just then gentleman, carrying u
bag in his hand, brushed past her ovcrsct
n parcel on the seat, paused to apologize
and so brought on II mutual recognition.
MISS Hazard! Crlcu nc.
"Mr. Walton!"
"You are not going homer"
eyes " said Ruth; "mother wants NC"
Mr. Walton looked convinced. To him
self he said:
"That rascal Lynn has Tilted her. Mel
lie is beautiful but no excuse for dcscrting
such sweet little creature. There's
something in her besides sweetness, too,
fancy"
He told her that ho 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 tho peaks, and of the way the
moon rose round and golden above them
in the winter nights.
Then he opened certain window In his
soul, usually closed tight, and talked to
Ruth Hazard us he had never talked to
Nellie Green.
Suddenly in the midst OF this talk came
a fierce whistle scream, u backing of the
engine, crash and the sound of horror
stricken voices.
A few moments aftcrward Ruth came
to consciousness to find herself among tho
NCDTIS VI lIC ltlI' SitSlNA tiSiit III Nl'hO
seemed death grip 1t was Mr. Walton
who held her, but he knew nothing of the
holding; he neither spoke nor stirred.
When they unclaspcd his fingers they
fell down upon his breast like those Of
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 IA 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 cold douchc OF re-
fusal.
At last one day Mr.. Oliver, with many
bushes and much confusion. informed
Miss Nellie that re adored her, and offered
her his hand and heart
On the steps he met another gentleman
MIR Walton They bowed. but did not
speak. And IN amomcnt more Miss Nellie
gave both hands to her returned captive.
You naughty man, she said What
while you have been away
\ very short time. considering tho cx-
percnce IL has given me, said Mr. Wal
ton "You'v We had no news of the smash.
see
THE what" cried Nellie
The railroad accident, said Mr. Wal
ton Your cousin Ruth was on the
train. "
mot hurt, hope'' cried Nellie.
"No" said Mr.. Walton. but I had
rib or two broken, and my brains very
nearly knocked out, believe. I've been
at your uncle's house, and tell you its
worth being i'll to recover in such hands, "
ITO think that should not have known
of all this" cried Nellie pathetically.
Yes, " said Mr. Walton coolly, it was
odd By the way, how is Mr.. Lynn All
settled between you two, suppose, by
this timeE"
YES, it is settled, " she said THE fool.
ish fellow really asked me to have him to.
day, but l told him that-that-l liked
some one better.
That was very cruel Of you, Miss Mel
lie, said Mr.. Walton carelessly. Bat
the other man is very happy fellow |
u. ~