Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-10

That's no business Of mine that ]
know Of"
NIFTY looked at me. looked at Nit
ty. Our eyes both sparkled mute tele
graphic messages to each other-and ]
rose up and spoke, our of the choking
Indignant fullness Of my heart.
Mrs. Hail." cried /. "Mr. VALE,
may come here, whoever he is. A sick
man, friendless and alone, should be
able to claim brotherhood with all
the world. NIFTY and will 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-lookinp
creature, babbling idly of people and
places on the Continent that we neye,
had heard of. DIR. Millett shook his
head gravely.
"He is a very sick man." was his
verdict.
"Kate.r 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.'
'In that case, NIFTY, I 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 wellSand, Of course, according to
all the rules of true love. he lost his
heart to Mitty's porcelain. blue ewes and
pretty face.
you'll never allow your sister ia
marry a painter!v 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 I, laughing.
"Well, really" said Mrs. Hall. "if ii
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 l, for one. am entirely salts
fed"
Well, they were married in u,,iet
sort of way. 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 a glorious winter day
we drove into the gates of a spacious
old place. where the octagonal towers
and ivy-mnntled walls cleaned white.
ly through the twilight.
ooh, what fine old placew said Nit.
l.ty. "Ah, look at that lovely, glitteriug
fountain and the beds of scarlet gera.
mum. and the pretty. timid deer eyeine
us from beneath the dropping boughs
of elm and beech. Bernard, are YOU
going to sketch this place?n
II may, in time" said nv sisters
husband. composedly, as he spranp ont
and opened the carriage door.
Are we going to get ont here Ber.
nard? DO you know the people?"
But before he could answer the great
carved oak doors few open. revealing
stately entrance hall, with n wood
fire burning at the further end and a
moss-colored Garnet ON the floor. 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, Bernardo. still per.
sisted NIFTY, as she advanced timidly
up the broad marble steps.
81 do. Welcome home, sweet wife;
welcome home, sister"
stared blankly at his bright face.
but, Bernard, we thought Won were
poor"
Did ever say was? When came
to Berwickville to sketch the Berwick
Falls certainly saw no occasion ia
proclaim my private affairs to the good
people there. engaged room at
Mrs. Halls because it was convenient