Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-03-28

room.
4 servant presently entered and hand
ed ner n card. upon which was written
in Il bold hand:
Miss Celeste Vertner.
Mr.. Howard yertBer.
"Show them In here, please"
moment after Nina started back, IA
the tall form of her preserver stood be-
fore her, and by his side perfect little
beauty In face aud form
With JOY Nina was about to welcome
them, for she had found her brave pre-
server, but she was In agony OF fear
that the hated cousins would arrive
and spoil all. and she glanced uneasily
out Of the door, while the gentleman,
splendid specimen OF manhood, with
easy grace, ADVANCED and said:
"Shall have to Introduce myself and
my sister, Celeste. to our unknown
cousin NinaT
you, You Howard Vertner, and that
beautiful girl my cousin CelesteT' she
cried, hardly knowing what to say.
yes. IL address Miss Nina Vertner,"
said the gentleman with surprise at her
manner.
"Oh, cousin Howard, and you Celeste,
forgive me. for have been so wicked,
and the tears came into Nina's eyes, as
she now warmly welcomed them. and
in few words confessed how she had
dreaded their coming.
But why did you not make your
presence known before?" she asked af.
ter while.
Il will tell you. We wanted to see
you first without you knowing us, Sc
stopped at another hotel, and were
driving up to this one when saw your
adventure in the sea and went to your
| aid"
And | owe you my life"
THAT Is my revenge for the opinion
you entertained Of your Kansas cous
ms" laughed Howard vertner.
Forgive me; but was led to believe
as many others do, that Kansas people
were uncultured and now | see my
error, for | expected to find you and
Celeste half savages.'
mo. we are civilized, for as father Is
very rich we have passed the last six
years abroad. where Celeste has been at
school In Paris
but why have we never heard OF
your father In all these years, cousins
mine?"
'Well. he was looked upon as the
black sheep of the family, and deter
mined not to renew his acquaintance
with his kinsfolk until he could prove
that he had turned out differently from
what was predicted of him.
well. can certainly say, If his chill
dren are like him. he has made a sue
cess in life; now come up to our rooms,
for papa will soon arrive, and Celeste,
we must dress for the ball tonight, for
| intend to get you beau"
Celeste has beau out In Kansas,
and he's a fine fellow, too
"Then she had better keep him, for
after my experience with the curled
and gilded darlings of society here, who
swore they would die for me, and then
deserted me when | was drowning, |
lllnk size Iuu Detter lOI trust any Oh
my fashionable set; but here comes
papa, and Mr.. Vertner, entering the
room, also received surprise at the
dlstingue appearance of his nephew
and niece, and joked Nina numerically
upon the opinion she had entertained of
her Kansas cousins.
But Nina took the bantering in good
part, for she had found the preserver of
her life, and n noble cousin, too, and
she was content, for she knew how 1t
would all end. as she was an adept at
reading the hearts of men, and saw that
Howard Vertner would one day ask her
10 be his wife.
And he did so, and the bridal tour was
made TO Kansas, to attend the wedding
of Celeste, who had refused many brill
liant offers to remain true to her West.
ern lover whom, upon seeing, Nina pro-
nounced to be almost as handsome as
her husband. "-Hearthstone.