Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-01-21
II think 1t is making too much Of

81 think 1t is making too much OF
a little thing, Ella. You will sign it.
Of course?"
mo. dear; do it for me. Only ini-
tials. How singular that they should
be alike, is it not? Ella Stanton.
Elinor Saville. There, now, dear, just
run upstairs and see if Louise has
mended that lace I tore last night"
A moment more, and Ralph STAN
toms simple, honest letter lay open be-
fore her. Jealousy had quickened her
memory. She knew it by heart.
Refolding it, she inclosed it with
that other in an envelope addressed
In Nellie's pretty, graceful, caligraphy
to Ralph Stanton, Esq.," and sealed it
carefully.
1t was necessary to destroy the mis-
sive originally intended for Ralph,
and to indite another one to Mr.. Ora
ham if discovery was to be avoided.
Two years later DR.. Stanton was
journeying northward. The London
season was over, and the famous ply
stefan had been on the point of start
ing for his holiday, when he was sum-
moned by telegram to Sir Christopher
Knott, a wealthy patient trimming
over with govt and crotchets.
Thinking! 1t was dreaming!
Dreaming of slim, petite figure and
fluffy golden hair, and glorious blue
eyes. Yes, though she had refused
him, he loved her still. Her home was
at Grimstone.
Would he see her? What folly!
Doubtless she was married, and, if not,
had she not told him in the cruel lit
tie letter, which was even now in his
breast pocket of his coat, that it could
never be?
"Grimstone! Grimstone" shouted a
porter, and so his reflections came to
an end. But only to awaken into
lively interest. From second-class
carriage a girl alighted-a girl in a
neat little hat and gray dust cloak.
Underneath that hat was a piquant
little face and clustering fringe of
fluffy golden curls.
Nellie was alone in the drawing
room. Suitors had wooed in vain.
She was the orthodox clergyman's
daughter, with her duties to perform
as they rose fresh each day, and in
the past namefess disappointment.
Her thoughts had turned on that
visit to Oakbrook two years ago, when
the waiting maid brought in a card,
CDR. Stanton"
"This is, indeed, pleasant sur
prise" she said, with rosy flush that
told its own story. II ain sorry man.
ma is not at home'
II am staying in the neighborhood,
professionally and could not leave
without calling on you. It is the priv
llege of friendship, and you desired
that we continue friends"
Nellie looked puzzled. IT do not un-
derstand you. What do you mean?"
Il beg your pardon for the allusion,
Miss Saville, but you cannot have for
gotten? The words were in your let
ter-a letter have kept because you
wrote it, in spite of it's contents"
Indeed you are under a mistake. I
never wrote to you in my life"
Then you never wrote this or re-
ceived this?'
And he placed in her hand the two
unfortunate letters.
When the primroses looked like
stars in the grass and the air was
filled with the odor of violets, a we'd
ding took place at birthstone church.
And three months later society jour-
nal announced that Mrs. Stanton,
widow of the late George Stanton,
Esq, of Melton Willows, Berks, had
bestowed heart and hand upon Count
Horrenza, an impecunious Italian no.
bleman.-Odds and Ends.