Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-20
mot to me-" observed Nina decis-

i Not " 'LiS. opsSINeu NINA QeClS-
! lively.
@You chaffed him, / expect. He
stands a b,s on his dignity All, well,
he syoung, you see"
mo, he chaffcd me- o, think L
left off even, you know
/ They get bit spolt" he seemed
to be referring to the aristoeracy.
But there's plenty of stuff in him. or
il m much mistaken He's horn
1 fighter, | think
Il WONDER said Nina, her eyes
twinkling again.
walked home with-not a youthful
triumphant major, but a rather care
worn, undisguisedly irritated one. If
Nina wanted somebody to agree with
her present mood about Harry Iris
tram her longing was abundantly graf
flied. The major roundly termed
him an overbearing young cub. and
protested a desire-almost an inten-
uon-to teach him better manners.
This coincidence of views was a sore
temptation to the Imp; to resist it al
together would seem superhuman.
Il should like to cut his comb for
him. growled Duplay.
Whatever the metaphor adopted,
Nina was in essential agreement. She
launched on an account of how Harry
had treated her; they famed one an
others fires and the flames burned
merrily.
Il Mina's stock of discretion was
threatened with complete consump.
ton. From open denunciations she
turned to mysterious hintings.
Il could bring him to reason if |
liked she said.
What make him fall in love with
you?" cried Duplay, with a surprise
not very complimentary.
o, no. she laughed; better than
that-by a great deal"
He eyed her closely; probably this
was only another of her whimsical
tricks with which he was very famil.
lar; if he showed too much interest
she would laugh at him for being ia,
ken In But she had limited before
today's annoyances; she was limiting
again. He had yawned at her hints
TIL he became Harry Tristram's ri
val; he was ready TO be eager now il
only he could be sure that they point
ed to anything more than folly CT de
fusion.
20, my dear child" he exclaimed
you mustn't talk nonsense. We
mayn't like him, but what in the world
could you do to him."
Il don't want to hurt him, but
should like to make him sing small
; They had just reached the foot Of
the hill. Duplay waved his arm across
the river toward the hall. Blent look
. ed strong and stately.
That's a big task, my DEAR" he
said, recovering some of his good hu
NOR at the sight of Minas' wapish lit
tie face. II fancy it'll need a bigger
man than you to make Tristram o
!. Blent sing small. Or me, either, Tn
afraid. We must fight him with {
fair fight, that's all"
He doesn't fight fair" she CRIED
) angrily. The next instant she broke
! into her most malicious SMILE Iris
tram of Blent!" she repeated. 80
j we'll"
} Nina, DEAR" do you know you rath
er bore me? If you mean anythin.
at all"
> 81 mean what l like without tellin,
r you, | suppose?"
"Certainly-But don't ask me to lis
+ ten"
. You think it's all nonsense?"
jor. No, he doesn't fight fair" sh,
|. repeated, as though to herself. sh,
glanced at her uncle in a hesitatins
undecided way. "And he's abdomi
nably rude" she went on with a sud
}, den return of pettishness.
: The majors shrug expressed an ut
ter exhaustion of patience, scornfu
t irritation, almostea contempt for her
She could not endure it; she mus
Justify herself, revenge herself at
l blow on Harry for his rudeness ant
+ on her uncle for his skepticism. Some
i, body else now must look on at Harry
q humiliation, at least must see tina
!. the height of malicious exultatiol
! she looked up at Duplay and said:
a Suppose he wasn't Tristram o
Blent at all?"
Duplay stopped short where h,
: stood-on the slope of the hill abov,
Blent itself.
:. What? Is there more nonsense :?
. mo, it isn't nonsense
: He looked at her steadily, almos
: severely. Under his regard he
smile disappeared and she grew I'm
comfortable.
> Then | must know more about ii
), Come, Nina, this is no trifle, 70,
: know"
q shan't tell you any more" sh
flashed out in her last effort of petul
S ance.
}. you must" he said calmly. "Al
}. you know; all you think Come, vel
have it out now at once"
l She followed like a naughty child
She could have bitten her tongue out
t as the old phrase goes. Her feeling
r Went round like weather cock; sh
t was ashamed of herself sorry TO
Harry-yes; and afraid of Harry. An,
t she was afraid Of Duplay, too. Sh
a had run herself into something SER
| ous-that she saw; something serj
j. Gus in which two resolute men wer
+ involved.
n And when at last he let her 60 will
r her secret told, she ran up to he
room and threw herself on the bed
e sobbing. She had let herself in TO
i something dreadful 1t was all he
/ own falkland she was very
J. Her whole behavior was probab!
d just what the gentleman to whom
s she owed her nickname would hav
ny n}cI "a of,se