Arthurs Story

"I must commence at the beginning," he said, "and tell you first
of Nina's father--Ernest Bernard, of Florida. I was a load of
fourteen when I met him in Richmond, Virginia, which you know as
my former home. He was spending a few weeks there, and dined one
day with my guardian, with whom I was then living. I did not fancy
him at all. He seemed even to me, a boy, like a bad, unprincipled
man, and I afterward learned that such had been his former
character, though at the time I knew him he had reformed in a
great measure.

He was very kind indeed to me, and as I became
better acquainted with him my prejudices gradually wore away,
until at last I liked him very much, and used to listen with
delight to the stories he told of his Florida home, and of his
little, golden-haired Nina, always finishing his remarks
concerning he with, 'But you can't have her, boy. Nobody can marry
Nina. Had little Miggie lived you might, perhaps, have been my
son-in-law, but you can't as 'tis, for Nina will never marry.'"

"No, Nina can never marry;" and the golden curls shook decidedly,
as the Nina in question repeated the words, "Miggie can marry
Arthur, but not Nina, no--no!"

Edith blushed painfully, and averted her eyes, while Arthur
continued: "During Mr. Bernard's stay in Richmond he was attacked with that
loathsome disease the small pox, and deserted by all his friends,
was in a most deplorable condition, when I, who had had the
varioloid, begged and obtained permission to nurse him, which I
did as well as I was able, staying by him until the danger was
over. How far I was instrumental to his recovery I cannot say.