CHAPTER III.
The time for the party came in due season, and at John Hilton’s everything seemed to be hustle, bustle. The tea things were to be cleared away, the lamps lighted, and many other things to be seen to before the company arrived.
Nettie was tripping here and there, making bouquets, for the dining room tables, seemingly very happy. Her cousins, Warren and Minnie, were very happy to see their little city cousin, as they loved to call her, so happy—she always wore a happy smile now.
It was getting late when Minnie said, “Come, Nettie, we must dress soon or some will come and see us with our working clothes on.”
“Why, cousin, we should not care, as all who will be here tonight know that we have to work for our living, and we should not try to deceive them,” answered Nettie, setting the last bouquet in the vase on the mantle over the old-fashioned fireplace.
“Come now, Minnie, I am ready to go up to the chamber.”
Suiting the action to the word she went tripping away, leaving Minnie to follow her.
Soon the house was filled with guests, as Hilton’s family were highly respected throughout the vicinity. Nearly all the guests had arrived when the girls came down to the sitting room.
Nettie was dressed in book muslin, looped up with knots of cardinal ribbon and a knot in her hair and at her lily-white throat. She was a picture of loveliness. Minnie was dressed the same.
“We will be twin sisters this evening,” said Minnie.
“Two better-looking girls there are not in the country,” said Warren, as he proudly gave an arm to each.
“Don’t flatter us, cousin, or you will make us vain,” said Nettie, looking smilingly up at him.
“Yes, brother, these dresses are very becoming to us—do you not think so?”
“Yes, sister, white becomes both of you very much.”
They were going slowly down the hall. Nettie was looking shyly around the room, and Warren noticing her movements said, “Dear cousin, who are you looking for?”
“No one in particular, cousin Warren. What made you think so?”
“Oh, you seemed so absent-minded; I do not think you have heard a word we were saying.”
As he stopped speaking the door opposite them opened, a young man entered, looked around the room, and took off his hat as he said, “Good evening, all.”
His eyes rested on the lovely young girl on Warren’s arm as they came slowly toward him.
They came to him, and Warren said, “My cousin, Miss Spaulding, Mr. Burton.”
As their eyes met Warren knew they had met before, as Nettie’s face turned crimson and Paul did not look up. He was sure the guests were all looking at him. The cousins turned and went down the hall. A young man came and claimed Minnie for a dance, and Nettie and Warren were alone. As soon as they were far enough away Warren said, “Little cousin, you and Mr. Burton have met before; when and where?”
As Nettie did not say anything, he said, “Won’t you tell me, Nettie? Do not be afraid to tell me, as I am your friend and cousin—one that will be a true friend to you under all circumstances.”
“Yes,” answered Nettie, “we met last Monday down by the lake; it was he who rescued the flowers for me.”
“Well,” answered Warren, “he is one of the noblest young men there is about here, and wealthy besides, and if you gain the esteem of him you will gain more than any girls about here have done. They have all tried to capture him, but all have failed in the attempt. They say ‘He never can be suited.’ I wish you success, little cousin mine.”
As he said this he led her to a seat and went to find Minnie. He went back to where Paul sat and said, “Mr. Burton, I am pleased to see you here this evening; I was afraid your mother was not able so you could come.”
“She is some better. She thinks and wished me to come, as she says I have stayed at home very much of late on her account. I shall not stay very long tonight, as I think she did not feel as well as usual.”
The young men went out on the piazza and were viewing the scenery by moonlight, when who should they espy but Minnie and Ralph coming towards them.
As they came up to them Minnie said, “Why brother, where is cousin?”
“She is with mother. I came to find you. Where have you been all this time?”
“You could not have looked very sharply, or you would have found me, as we have been following you for some time and wondering where cousin was,” said Minnie.
“Come, Mr. Burton, we will go and find her,” said Warren, leading the way through the company to where Nettie and her aunt sat chatting pleasantly.
As they came to them Paul said, “Miss Spaulding, please favor me with your company for a waltz?”
“Please excuse me, I never dance,” said Nettie, smiling.
“We will promenade then, if you wish. I do not care to dance either,” answered Paul.
She took his arm, and as they walked along comments of praise were lavished upon them, as they made a splendid-looking couple; and many of the company saw at a glance that the young man loved to be in the company of the strange young lady; and many a young lady there knew that he loved to dance, but preferred the company of the lady by his side. Many envious glances were given Nettie that evening, but she appeared not to notice them. She used them all alike, and, when not in company with Paul, she would seek the company of her aunt and uncle and look on and see the others enjoy themselves. “I do not care to dance,” she would tell all whoasked for her company. “I cannot enjoy dancing,” she would say to her aunt, when she urged her to dance.
“No, no, I can not,” she would say.
It was not because she could not dance. It was because of a request of her father, who was lying in his grave, and of her mother who was far away at home.
How many young people of today scarcely wait till the green sod grows over the grave of some beloved form, before they are away to some ball or place of amusement? Such is progression.
It was getting quite late and Paul came to Nettie and said, “Miss Spaulding, accept my company, please, for a promenade on the piazza. The moon is spreading its rays beautifully and the evening is delightful.”
She took his arm and they walked quietly out under the trailing vines of myrtle, which were trained to droop from the eaves of the old farm-house. They came to an old-fashioned settee that was enfolded in the drooping vines and formed an arbor. Here they sat down. Soon Paul said, “Miss Spaulding, have you been down to the lake since Monday?”
His companion blushed deeply as she answered. “I have not, sir; you must have heard all I said, did you not? I was very lonely that day—my poor mother far away and I alone here. My cousins are very kind to me, very kind indeed, or I do not know what I should do.”
“Will you accept the friendship of a stranger? As you know but little about me that is all I will ask now. I never saw a lady in all my wanderings who ever drew such words of acknowledgment from me before. All I ask is friendship, and when you know me better perhaps I shall ask you for this little hand.”
He gently raised her hand to his lips as he was speaking.
She drew it quickly from him saying: “Sir, please pardon me if I have given you occasion to make the declaration. The truth we should tell at all times; perhaps you think me rich; if so, you are mistaken. I am very poor. Such as you needs not the friendship of one beneath him.”
Truth and honesty shone in her dark, brown eyes as she turned her head away to hide the gathering tears. It pained her very much to tell him whom she loved. She had been taught to shun deceitfulness, and she thought it decisively her duty to tell him she was poor, no matter how it pained her to do so. She spoke deliberately, but in a dejected manner. She was pale, with a faint flush on her cheeks that was drawn there by the enthusiasm she was forced to exercise.
“Nettie, darling, you do not know me. It is not wealth I wish. It is this little being by my side. She is rich in voice, rich in beauty, and richer still in mind. Do not say wealth to me again—it hurts my feelings.”
As he spoke he gently drew the little form nearer to him and rested her head on his great, manly breast.
“Only four days have I known you, yet it seems to me a life time.”
Nettie quickly arose saying: “Please, sir, say no more to me; always remember me as your true friend, one who will not do you an unkindness. Never say aught of this meeting to anyone for my sake and for yours, and in the future if you prove faithful to me I am yours.”
She turned and fled away, leaving him sitting in the twilight deeply touched.
How long he had been there he knew not. Warren Hilton’s voice brought him to his senses as he said, “Paul, where is my cousin? I have not seen her since you came out together.”
“Oh, Warren! I do not know; she abruptly left me here, and how long I have been here I know not. Oh, I have stayed too long. I must surely go home.”
He quickly arose, and he looked so sad Warren really pitied him as he said, “Why, Paul, are you sick?”
“Oh, no,” answered Paul; “only sorry I have stayed from home so long.”
“I hope you have not been unkind to my little cousin,” said Warren changing the subject, as he thought Paul was really thinking of his mother.
“Been unkind to her? been unkind to your cousin?” said Paul, looking Warren squarely in the face; “I would sooner cut my right hand off than say one word to offend that lovely little girl.”
Warren saw he was deeply troubled as he answered, “Paul, what then is the matter?”
“I cannot tell you; go find your cousin. Perhaps she will tell you.”
Paul’s voice trembled, and Warren readily guessed the cause, as he thought Paul had sued for the hand of his cousin and had been refused. He went to find Nettie and he thought she would readily tell him all he wished to know. He looked, but could not find her anywhere among the company. At last he found Minnie and asked her where Nettie was.
“I have not seen her for a long time; I saw her last with Mr. Burton.”
“She is not with him now and has not been for some time. I wish you would go up to her room and see if she is there,” said Warren, “I fear something is the matter with her.”
Minnie ran softly upstairs to her room. She heard someone walking to and fro as if in a hurry. She gently rapped at the door and a trembling voice bid her come in.
“You know you are always welcome, Minnie.”
Not heeding Nettie’s words Minnie said, “why did you come up here? Warren missed you and sent me to find you. Why, Nettie, where are you going? I see you have been packing your trunk.”