The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-10-20

dau happened at that moment TO pass,
for Miss Quits was the personifica-
ton of rigid c0nvcntionaIity. lie count
ell the meeting as one more misfortune
in an unlucky day.
Nellie's excitement waned as they
walked, and by the time they entered
her unclc'S gate she was strangely 81
lent Adoiphus evidently took this for
hopeful sign, for presently he cleared
his throat, adjusted his monocle and
began:
Nellie we must talk seriously. The
time has come
mo, 1t hasn't come" she said, in
terrupting him good naturally, 80 stop
right there. don't know whether
this Is lecture or proposal Of mar
riage-your private talks with me VI
brate between these two subjects
but l am in no mood for either For
heavens sake, Adolphus, throw that
glass away. l hate to be spied at like
that"
With a reproachful sigh he removed
the offending glass and said: Mick not
only lecturcd you yesterday; he posi-
lively scolded you, and
And / deserved it, but l answered
him back spitefully, like the little beast
am, and hc-he hasn't even noticed
me since" She turned her head so
that he did not see the culver of her
red lips, the passionate protest of her
| eyes.
| All their set knew that her dicta-
torial old ur,cle intended she should
marry Adolphus, who satisfied his So
cial ambitions. while Nick. who cared
nothing for society. smoked pipe and
| forgot to have his trousers creased,
was thorn In the old mans side
! Between these two We're constant dis
| agreements, which Nellie had hitherto
managed 70 make UP, but yesterday
there had been n quarrel Of unusual
| violence, and there was even some talk
| of Nick's leaving the house. 1t was
| OF this she had been thinking as she
| followed her purchase home
"AdolphuS." she said as they mount
ed the steps, cant you do something
anything-to patch up this new quar-
rel between Nick and uncle? 1t isn't
Nick's fault that he is-that he was,
was born different from you and I'M
cle."
Il quite agree with my uncle about
this Summing business. A man I'M
Nicks position owes something toto
appearances"
Stuff she scoffed and ran by him
into the house.
In the library, to stem the tide OF
-AuvIIuIus wUUIng, snc nasIIly opc:.cG
her box and lifted out the contents, a
quaint and curious bonnet of a decade
ago, q bonnet with a scoopcd brim
piled high with flowers and nodding
plumes. AS she put 1t on her headt
thrieking with laughter, her uncle and
NIck entered the room, both Of them
showing in their manner strong excite
ment. The girl paused in her pirouet-
ting and paled at the sight Of the stern
faces. Her uncle saw her strange head
gear and angrily demanded its origin.
Adolphus explained very carefully, not
forgetting his own eXpostulationS
against the caprice. The old man turn
ed wrathfully upon the girl.
You and Nick are Of piece In your
attempts to humiliate and make a
laughingstock of me. My niece, the
female head of my family, bidding at
common auction against washer
woman! Take that hideous thing out
Of my sight,
But the spoiled girl only made him a
daring little courtesy which set oil the
bonnet's varihued plumes a-nodding.
Nick crossed the room to her side.
Nellie" he said wistfully, II am go
ing away for good; my uncle and
have agreed 1t Is best He has for
hidden me to speak to you of marriage
land that Is the cause Of our QUARREL,
but love you with all my heart. You
know what | have to Offer you, dear,
but will you come with me as my
wife,"
II was as if bomb had exploded at
the old mans feet. The words Of in
terruption he would have uttered were
only splrtterings of anger. BY the
table the girl paused, trembling and
going from white to red. Then her
uncle found his voice.
"OtIt of my sight, sir. Your disobe-
dience shall cost you dearly. | dis
own you'll cut you off without
penny for your impudence! Your in
herltancc shall be"-he glanced about
for the most worthless thing In sight,
and his eye lit on the empty box on
the table-"that trash, sir! Take your
inheritance and co.
He was pointing TO the door, but
Nick's eyes were on Nellie and into
them there flashed a radiant joy as at
4 sign from her he approached the
table
You give HE this box and its con-
tents as my fortune, sir?"
"YeS."
Then l am content, for you have
given me that which / most desire in
all the whole world"
The old man looked sharply at the
two smiling faces. What mummery.
is thlsf" he demanded. Then he, too,
approached the table and peered into
the box where Nick's eyes were fas-
tened. What is that? he cried, ad-
justing his glasses.
IF you please, sir, it Is Nick's heri-
tage," answered Nellie shyly.
For in the side Of the pasteboard box
was hole through which the rogue
of girl had thrust her dimplcd hand.
And that was how Nellie obtained
her uncle's consent and how Nick won
his hearts desire as the aftermath Of
the old horse. sale.
Difficulty and Ease.
There Is nor that conflicting nm