The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-11-08

Il
-proofsr
swell. wen. my dear" returned the
elder lady. composedly. ~ she put hes
little brown teapot tenderly on ;he
stove to draw. "whut II he did? My
own idea IS that Stickels made mp 9
story In order to get you to talk to
him: for it's evident the poor lad ID
crazy about you"
Nell made a gesture OF disgust.
"Ah. but you shouldn't treat him 80
hardly; 1t makes him desperate"
| Nell rose from her chair. and came
close to the lady's side.
"Niss Theodore" she whispered.
| with a face full Of fear. ''it was not
to get an excuse to talk to me that
Jem sald-what he did. He told me-
he advised me to confide In you-to tel
you what he told me. and-every.
thingr'
-Well. my dear, tell me IL you like
said Miss Bostal putting q kind hand
on the girls shoulder
"Shall ~
Nel's face was deaihllke I'm It's ash /,
Wilderness.
"Why. my child. yes. tell me. OF
course. Come. come. what is there Ia
get 20 miserable about? II you really
think Jem stiekels did see the thief.
and can prove who II Is. you ought to
be glad. and certainly not let your
Kindness Of heart prevent you froE,
telling him to speak out"
But. you don't know who-who-
Jem thinks It wasr'
"Ah, you mustn't trouble your head
about that. A thief II . thief, and
should be punished. And IL Ii Is a per-
son you know. you may be sorry: hut
you must not shrink from your duty,
which 10 to bring the criminal to jus.
fice."
Nell withdrew herself with a sad
smile from the lady's caressing hand.
and shuddered.
"Supposing II were-it were some
one you knew-and loved. What would
you say?"
Miss Bostal shook her head deprecat.
ingly.
my dear" she said. II can see what
II is: Stickels has been threatening to
tell the detective that he can prove
you to be the thief. And You let your.
self be frightened like that. Why,
child. you forget that everybody in
the place knows he would give the
world for kind word from you: and
they will know that he has made mp
this tale out OF revenge for your tax
ing no notice OF him. Yol are goose.
child. little goose. 10 let yourself be
worried by such thing as thats.'
Nell drew long breath OF relief.
Then she stood up.
"You have taken Srea. load OF NY
mind" said she. in 4 low. thankful
voice. IT shall tell him when 1 see
him. What shall tell him." she
asked. with n sudden change TO a little
fear again.
II should tell him. IL were you. that
II he has seen-if he has seen anything
1T is not your affair. but that of the
police. But at the same time, Nell, I
wouldn't be so unkind to the poor
young fellow. II were you. I was
quite touched this evening by the way
he spoke of you. I believe he would
give his right hand for you. do real
~. And although 1t Is no business of
mine. dear. l really think you are ne
glecting your opportunities of doing
good In true sense by not urging him
to better things. Your influence might
turn him into q good man, my dear, I
do. indeed. believe"
But Nell frowned haughtily.
you are SO good yourself. Miss
Theodora. that you don't know any
thing about people who are not like
you. Jem has had plenty Of opportuni-
ties to reform. Ii Is by his own choice
that he idles about instead Of going to
sea-"
But 1t is to be near ron, dear" sug-
gested the sentimental cid maid. II
don't mean to say tie young man is,
In any sense. your equal. But 1 think
II you really cared for him"
But I don't" protested Nell. in
dignantiy. II have never thought
about the creature. FOR moment, ex-
sept to wish that he would 90 away
from the place altogether. And II he
has dared to say that ever gave him
the slightest ncouragement--"
He has not. he has not" said the |
DID maid, hastily. He has never been |
ANYTHING but most humble and sub
misyive."
I'm your presence" added Nell. sig
nincantly. But when he isn't with |
roc. he presumes to be rude. and even |
Jealous An IL he had the slightest
light to be Jealous" she added. angri-
y.
Miss Bostal's lips tishtened with dis
approval.
II see how It f." she said. "Poo1
lem ID right He complains that you
nave had your head turned by the
Toung men who were here in the au-
:umn. He says you have never had
good word for him since the coming /