Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-08-01
CHATTER XII.
Continued.

Nell would not rather have gone than
to Single End. For was not senti
mental Miss Theodore the very cause
of the outrage which had put Cliff
fOrd's life in danger? If it had not
been for Miss BostaPs well-meaning
but ill-iiGdged encouragement, Jem
Stickels would never have dared to
think he could have chance
with girl who was so far removed
from him in every way as Nell. Now,
with natural feminine obstinacy, Miss
Bostal would be sure to take Jems
part against Clifford. especially when
1t reached her ears that the latter had
that 1t was with slow, unwilling feet
that Nell made her way to the colo
ners house.
Everything turned out as she eX-
pected, with this exception, that Miss
Bostal was so much more concerned
about Jem than about Clifford that she
insisted on marching off that very mo-
ment to inquire as to Jem's condition,
and insisted on dragging the unwilling
girl with her on the expedition.
At first Nell absolutely refused to
go. But she had to give way. being
touched by the self-reproach of the
prim little elderly lady, who blamed
herself rs much for Jem's misfortune
as Nell blamed herself for Clifford's.
at was all my fault. I feel that l
have brought 1t upon the poor fellow
myself" was the burden of Miss Bos-
tails lament, just as 1t had previously
been of Nelfs.
She even shed tears at the thought
of facing the young man upon whom
she had brought more than one mis-
fortune. For she persisted in regard
ing his assault upon Clifford as an
other grievance of Jem's rather than
of the hated rivals.
Nell said little as they went along.
She was on the one hand deeply anx-
ions about her lover; while on the
other she hardly knew whether to
laugh at Miss Bostal's extravagances
or to cry sympathetically over her
grief.
The little cottage where Jem lodged
was soon reached. Miss BostaPs
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
n Clifford had felled him. If his bodily
State was sound, however. this was all
hat could be said for him. A more
forbidding expression Of sullen feroci-
ty than that which his face wore as he
recognized his visitors 1t would be I'M
possible to imagine.
ooh, so it's you, is it?' was his surly
greeting, as with a scowl 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 a
tight grip, she edged her way into the
cottage, and, regardless Of the fact
that the man and woman with whom
Jem lodged were present, addressed
the young boor in the gentlest of
voices:
ooh. dear! oh, dear! don't send us
away like that! We are so very sorry
for what has happened to you. We
want to know if we can do any
thing"
Nell was frowning and trying to get
away. indignant at the lowly tone her
companion was taking. And 1t was
upon Nell that Jem's eyes were fixed
as he interrupted the other lady.
"Now roared he. "You can't do
nothin'-as yet. But" and he raised
his voice and lifted his fist against an
imaginary foe, as he stared harder at
Nell than ever. 'I'm blest If you won't
find more'n enough to do to answer
the questions as IL be put to you folks
some of you-tO-morrow morning"
Nell suddenly ceased struggling and
fixed her eyes upon Jem's swollen and
excited face. in which the veins were
rising like knotted cords.
= "What do you mean, my dear young
tlest accents, her mild efforts to calm
the excited monster appearing every
moment more futile and inadequate.
ooh. you know very well what 1
mean, or, leastways, Miss Claris does"
pursued Jem, in the same key, and
with a staggering confidence, which
caused little Miss Bostal to recoil
few steps, as if before a physical at
tack. "And if you don't, why you'll
know soon enough. I'm just a-goin,"
proceeded Jem, with sullen emphasis,
"tO have my pipe and my 'alf pint"
and he took his beloved clay out of his
pocket as he spoke, land then I'm just
a-goin' TO walk over to The Bell, at
Stroan to ask if a certain gentleman
from Lon'on is in"
And, without further ceremony,
Jem turned his back Oh the ladies. and
marching out the room by the oppo-
site end, through the back door, left
them no alternative but to retire.
Nell was utterly disguised. not only
10y the part she had been made to play
In this unpleasant scene, but by her
companions humble demeanor and
Jem's own rudeness. AS for his threat
of speaking to the detective she seemed
to be past caring whether he carried
1t into effect OF not. She said nothing
as they walked back to Single End,
and Miss Bostal, perhaps conscious