Year: 1878

my plan by accompanying your father
home. If she should do so, Belle can
never be brought to terms"


''Don't you worry about that" l re-
piled. "Nellie is perfectly bound up in
Belle, and nothing could ever induce
her to return till Belle was there, or had
promised to go. You do not know my
little sister as we'll as do"


''Perhaps not, but your father thought
he would not have any difficulty in get
ting her to return with him."


''Well, let him try. Nell loves father
dearly, but she loves Belle more, and
she will prove it when he comes to try
to get her home.n


The next day brought father. We
were very glad to see him, and Nell ran
to him and hugged him as though she
would eat him up.


Aunt Agnes looked at me as much as
to say, "Didn't tell you so ?"


"Wait!' whispered.


After father had asked me to return
with him and received positive re-
going back, telling her what nice new
mother he had brought home, and how
pleasant it would be for her, but when
he asked her to go with him, she simply
said:


81 shall not go home till Belle does"


"But Nellie" said father.


''Don't urge me father, l will not go
till Belle goes, if its never, and | don't
want you tO-say another word to me
about it,"


That settled it, and father went away
very much grieved to think that little
Nellie, whom he had depended on for a
certainty to accompany him home,
should be so positive in her refusal.


We heard no more from father for a
long time, and when we did it was
strange news, and started us for home
Immediately. But 1 must not antici-
pate.


Belle was getting along nicely with
her school, when she was prostrated by
a slow fever. She requested that none
of us should be informed of her sickness
as long as she was not dangerously ILL.,
so we heard nothing about it.


The landlady did everything that was
possible for Belle, but her duties were
so numerous that she thought it best tC
have some one to take the full care OF
the patient. While she was thinking as
to whom she could get for nurse, ;
lady was admitted. She said she had
heard that Miss Belle was sick, and be-
ing friend of her mothers had como
to see her and help take care of her, i
she could be of any service.
The landlady explained her situation
and it was agreed that she should stay
and care for Belle, and it was alst
thought best that Belle should not be in
formed but what she was paid nurse.
The lady Immediately entered upOI
her duties, and by many little kind
nesses completely won Bellies heart
and in less than a week they were tht
very best of friends.


At the end of two or three weeks
Belle was able to be out, and her nurse
proposed taking her to her home for !
few weeks, till she was sufficiently re-
covered to 90 on with her duties at the
school. To this Belle consented, as thu
doctor had told her it would he severa
weeks before she would be able to tax,
up her duties again.


The next day was set for their depar
ture, but BvIIo wac not well. and i
was not until the fourth day after tha
she was able to make the journey.


She was very much surprised to b'
taken right back over the same course
she had come few weeks before, ant
much more so, when she was at las
landed at her fathers own door, ant
found that the nurse for whom she hat
formed such an attachment was non,
other than her step-mother.


Not much more remains to be told
No sooner had they arrived home thai
father telegraphed me of the fact.


When | told Nellie she was fairl,
wild with excitement, and could hardl.
wait for the train, which would not g
for some hours.


We arrived home in due season, ant
they gave us warm reception, on
new mother going so far as to meet u
at the depot, although it was after mid
night. We never had occasion to leav
home again, Except to form homes 70
ourselves) and have found that ther
are many worse things to contend wit
than IA step-mother. H. d. II.