The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-12-28

mo matter what name they call 1t
by" said the landIady, waxing hotter
and hotter in the ardor Of discussion.
II don't keep a hospital here, and II
did l wouldn't harbor any such low
trash. SO the sooner he packs of the
better shall be pleased.''
"But where Is he to goYv asked young
Deiderman, who was balancing him
self on the balcony rails, Cigar IN
mouth. "He has no friends that any
body Knows of, and"
"All the more reason should get
him off my hands as quickly as posi-
ble," said Mrs Hall. 1.-THE idea of my
becoming responsible for the funeral
expenses Off,
"HusAs Waller will hear you," inter-
rti,sed Mr.. Birdsey. His window Is
wide open"
Il don't care If he does hear mew
snapped Mrs. Hail. HE ought to have
been ashamed of himself, coming here
under such circumstances as this. But
he clears, sick or well, before sunset
this very night. There are public hos
pitfalls enough, suppose"
Plenty of 'em," said Mr.. Birdsey,
dryly; "and while he is waiting for all
the red-tape rorms 10 Be gone through
with, III order to gain admission, he
viii most likely die in the street"
swell, let him die" said Mrs. Hall.
''That's no business Of mine that I
know off,
NIFTY looked at me. / looked DIT Nit
ty. Our eyes both sparkled mute tele-
graphic messages to each othef-and I
rose up and spoke, our of the choking,
indignant fullness Of my heart.
Mrs. Hail." cried 1, "Mr. Waller
may come here, whoever he is. A sick
man, friendless and alone, should be
able to claim brotherhood with all
the world. NIFTY and l viii take care
of him until he Is able to take care Of
himself"
Mrs. Hall took us at our word with
extreme promptitude, and before night.
fall poor Bernard Waller was snugly
ensconced in the little vacant room
over the wing-a pale, ghostly-looking
creature, babbling idly Of people and
places on the Continent that we never
had heard of. DR.. Millett shook his
head gfavely.
"He is very sick man." was his
verdict.
Kate whispered NIFTY, when the
doctor was gone and the sick man was
all still and settled for the night Sup
pose-suppose he should die!'
I'm that case NIFTY, don't think we
should ever repent that we had done
our duty"
81 am sure we should not" said Nit
ty, softly.
But Bernard Waller did not die. He
, got well-and, of course, according to
all the rules of true love, he lost his
heart to Mitty's porcelain-blue eyes and
pretty face.
youth never allow your sister to
marry painter" said Mrs. Hall, spite
fully.
I'm sure I've no objections to her
becoming an artists wife, as long as
they love each other" said /, laughing.
"Well, really said Mrs. Hall, "if 1t
were my Henrietta"
"But it isn't your Henrietta" in
terrupted a little sharply. ut is our
NIFTY. And she has chosen to suit her
self and /, for one, am entirely salts
fed
Well, they We're married in a quiet
sort of way. l am reaching the end
of my Story now-the romance that ir-
radiated our lives, when the cake was
cut and the simple natural rose buds
wilted, and NIFTY and Bernard had
gone on their tour, with humble little
me along In the capacity of bridesmaid.
We had travelled all day, and to-
ward night of glorious winter day
we drove into the gates of spacious
old place, where the octagonal towers
and ivy-mantled walls cleaned white
ly through the twilight.
'Oh, what fine old placed! said Nit
ty. ''Ah. look at that lovely, glittering
fountain and the beds of scarlet gera-
num- and the pretty, timid deer cycling
us from beneath the dropping boughs
Of elm and beech: Bernard, are you
going to sketch this placer
II may, in time" said my sisters
husband, composedly, as he sprang out
and opened the carriage door.
"Are we going to get out here, Ber-
nard? Do you know the people?"
But before he could answer the great
carved oak doors flew open, revealing
a stately entrance hall, with a wood
fire burning at the further end and a
oss-colored carpet on the door. Wax
lights glowed softly, pictures cleaned
down from the walls, chairs upholster-
ed in violet velvet stood around To
Nifty and me it was like a glimpse Of
fairy; land.
"Who lives here, Bernard ~ sun per-
sisted NIFTY. as she advanced tmidly
UP the broad marble steps
81 do. Welcome home, sweet wife;
welcome home, sister.
stared blankly at, his bright face.
but, Bernard, we thought you wcre
poor"