The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-11-22
CHAPTER MI
Cont;uacd. ,

Now. there was no place to which
Nell would not ratherahave gone than
% Shinxle End. For was not scnti-
mental Miss Theod0rs the very cause
# the outrage which had put Cliff
lords life In danger7 If 1t had not
beep for Miss Rostars well meaning
but fil-judged encouragement. Jem
Stickc,s would never have dared to
khtnk he could have chance
with a girl who was SO FAR removed
from him in every way as Nell. Now.
with natural feminine obstinacy. Miss
Bostal would nc sure to take Jem's
part a:ainst Clifford. especially when
II cached her ears that the latter had
come down at Neli's OWN request. So
inst IL was with slow. unwilling feet
that Nell made her way to the colo
nel's house.
Everything turned out as she ex-
/, pe-tsd. with this exception. that Miss
B,S,al was so much more concerned
about Jcm than about Clifford that she
insisted on marching of that very mo-
inert 10 inquire as to Jem's condition.
and Insisted on dragging the unwilling
girl with ner on the expedition.
Al first Nell absolutely refused to
70. But she had to give way, being
touched by the self-rcproach Of the
prlm. little elderly lady. who blamed
herself as much for Jem's misfortune
as Neil blamed herself for Ciifford's.
~It was all my fault I feel that l
have brought it upon the poor fellow
myxlf." was the burden of Miss Bos-
tars lament. just as 1t had previously
been OF Nells.
She even shed tears at the thought
~ facing the young man upon whom
she had brought more than one mis-
fortune For she persisted in regard.
Ing bis assault upon Clifford as an
other grievance OF Jem's rather than
81 the hated rivals.
Nell said little as they went along.
She was on the one hand deeply aux.
ious about he- lover: while on the
other she hardly knew whether to
laugh at Miss Bastai's extrav:sances
or 10 cry sympatactically over her
grief.
The little cottage where Jem lodged
was soon reached. Miss Bostars
knock was answered. Unexpectedly
enough. by Jem In person. There
seemed to be little the matter with
him, except for a cut on his lower lip
the result Of the blow with which
clifford had felled him. II his bodily
etate was sound. however. this was all
that could he said Tor him. 4 more
forbidding expression Of sullen feroci.
b than that which hts face wore rs be
recognised his visitors 1t would be i'm
possible to imagine.
"Oh, 80 It's you. Is itg' was his surly
greeting. as with q scowi he made a
movement to shut the door In the
lady's face.
But his patroness was ready with
the soft answer that turned away
wrath. Pressing forward quickly and
keeping Nell's hand in hers with q
tight grip. she edged her way into the
cottage. and. regardless Of the fact
that the man and woman with whom
Jcm lodged were present. addressed
the young boor In the geutlest Of
voices:
4. ''Oh, dear! oh. dear! don't send rs
away like that! We are 50 very sorry
for what has happened to you. We
want 10 know II we. can do any
thing
Nell was frowning and trying to get
away. indignant at the iowly tone her
companion was taking. And 1t was
upon Nell that .Je0's eyes were fixed
Is he interrupted the other lady.
"Nor' reared he. you can't do
nothin'-as yet. Bat" and he raised
hiS voice and lifted his fist against m
imaginary Zoe. as he stared harder al
Nell than ever. I'm blest II you won't
flnd more'n eneugh to do to answer
the questions ~ n be put t0.you folks
some Of you-t0-snorrow morning.
Nell suddenly ceased struggling and
A1ed her eyes upon Jem's swollen and
excited face. In which the veins were
rising Ike knoticd cords.
~What do yoN mcan. any deer young
manT' piped Miss BoStai. in the gen
tlest accents. her mild c60rss 70 calm
the excited mopster appearing every
momenf more iutile and. inadequate.
s<Oh. you know very well what
mean, Of, ieastways. Miss Claris does.
pursued Jeua. il the same key. and
With Z swagecrias confidence. which
caused little Miss Bssta1 to recoil {
few steps, a. II before . physical at