Nettie’s homeward journey came to an end in due season, nothing happening of any account worth mentioning. As she came sooner than her mother expected her she was surprised to see her child back again. In less than a week after greetings were exchanged and many questions asked about distant friends the mother said, “Why, Nettie my child, why did you not stay longer? I did not expect you for two weeks at least.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER V. “Oh, mother, I could not stay away any longer from you. It seemed a long time to me.” “Why, my child, in your letter you said you was happy and would stay two weeks, as your uncle and cousins would not take ‘no’ for an answer and wished we should come and live with them; and I was nearly making up my mind to go up there for a while and see the country. Perhaps it would be agreeable to my health.” The mother was viewing her child critically while speaking. Noticing Nettie’s face changing from a bright crimson hue to a pale color, and not answering her, she said, “Has my little girl quarreled with anyone out there and come home angry?” “No, no mother,” answered Nettie. “It is worse than that, mother; I will tell you all, as no true mother would advise her child to do wrong. I will tell you all, but do not think for one moment I was telling you an untruth when I told you I could not stay longer. I could not under the circumstances, and it seemed a long time to leave you here alone. Well, mama, now for my story: My cousins made a party for me last Friday evening, as you know Friday was my birthday, and invited all the young people in that vicinity, and among them was a rich young man, highly esteemed for his true manliness. Cousin Warren says he has known him ever since he can remember, as they have grown up and trudged to school together, and says he never caught him in a lie. That is saying a good deal about him. Well, the Monday before the party cousin went to town and I went down to a beautiful lake on uncle’s farm to gather flowers. I sat down on the brink of the lake and some of the flowers fell into the water. I was wondering how to get them when the same young man spoken of came and fished them out. He gave me his card, and the night of the party he told me the same old, old story.” “What did you tell him Nettie?” “Oh, nothing in particular. The most I told him at last was if he proved true to me in the future I was his.” “Nettie, dear, do you really love him?” “Yes mother, with my whole heart. But I have run away and if he really loves me he will hunt me up,” said Nettie, her face beaming with smiles. “Nettie,” said her mother, “pray what is the name of your admirer?”