New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-15

u HON ! was thrust back 20 take my portion.
could have read any chapter in the Bible now
aud Nelly seemed as though she'wOud never
know it, l was driven in upon my books; and
few enough Of them had. The pedlars brought
them round in their packs, and | bought what
could | had the "Seven Champions and the
" Pilgrims Progress;" and both seemed 70 me
equally wonderful and equally founded on TACT
/ got Byrons Narrative, snd Milton FafS'
disc Lost ;" but ! lscked the knowledge Whlcn
would give a clue 70 all. Sail they Afforded me
pleasure because they took me out OF myself and
made me forget nay miserable position, aud m 2de
me unconscious for the time az east Of my ole
great passion Of hatred against Dick Jackson
When Nelly was about seventeen her grand
mother died. / stood aloof in the churchyara'
behind the great yew tree, and watched me
funeral Il was the first religious service that
ever | heard and, to my shame as | thought, 1t
affected me to tears. The words seemed 20
pesceful and holy that ! longed 70 60 20 church.
but burst lot, because | had never been. The
parish church was at Bolton, far enough away TO
ferve as an excuse for all who did not care 70 60
heard Nelly's sobs filling up every pause IN the
clergyman's voice and every sob OF hers went
20 nv heart. She passed me on her way out OF
the cburchyard; she was so near l might have
touched her; but her head was hanging down, and
| burst not speak 10 her. Then the question
arose what was to become Of her she must
earn her living; was it 10 be as farm servant, or
by working at the mill l knew enough oil O0tn
kinds Of life 10 make me tremble for her. MY
wages were such as TO enable me to marry, II l
chose and / never thought of woman, for ny
wife. but Nelly. Still | would not have married
her now, if ] could for, as yet, had not risen up
70 the character which determined It was tit that
Nellv's husband should have. When | was rich
In good report, / would come forwards, and take
my chance but until then, would hold my peace.
| had faith in the power Of my lOng-contlnued
~ fer
must. it should, Weld, and | be received among
the ranks Of good men. But meanwhile what
was to become Of Nelly 1 reckOned up my
wages | went TO inquire what the board OF a glrl
would be, who should help her in her household
work and live with her as a daughter, at the
house of one Of the most decent women OF the
place; she looked at me suspicl0usly. l Kept
down nv temper, and told her | would never
come near the place; that l would keep away
from that end of the village and that the girl Tor
whom made the inquiry should never know put
what the parish paid for her keep. 1t would not
do; she suspected me but know had powerover
myself to have kept 70 my word and besides
would not for worlds have had Nelly put under
any obligation to me, which should speck the Pu-
rity of her love, or dim it by mixture OF grail
tude-the love that ] craved to earn, not for my
money, not for my kindness, but for myself l
heard that Nelly had met with place in Boand ;
and could see no reason why l might not SPEAK
to her once before she left our neighbOrhcod.
meat it 20 be quiet friendly telling her OF my
sympathy in her sorrow. l felt could command
myself So, on the Sunday before she was TO
leave Sawley waited near the wood path. by
which l knew that she would return from alter
noon church. The birds made such melOdious
MARBLE such busy sound among the leaves, that
| did not hear approaching footsteps, till they
were close at hand and then there were sounds
of two persons voices The wood was near that
part of SaWley where Nelly was staying with
friends; the path through it led TO their house,
and theirs only, so | knew it must be she, for |
had watched her setting out to church alone.
But who was the other
The blood went 70 my heart and head, as if
were shot, when saw that il was Dick Jackson.
Was this the end OF it all 2 In the steps of sin
which my father had trode, would rush 10 my
death and my doom. Even where | stood l
lopged for weapon to slay him. How dared be
come near my Nelly She tool thought her
faithless, and forgot how little had ever been in
outward action how few words, and those how
uncouth had ever spoken TO her. and hated
her for traitress. These feelings passed through
me before | could see, my eyes and head were so
dizzy and blind. When | looked | saw Dick
Jackson holding her hand, and speaking quick
and low, and thick, as man speaks in
great vehemence. She seemed white and dis
nay ed but all at once, at some word Of his land
what it was she never would tell me-, she looked
as though she defied a tiend and wrenched her
self out Of bis grasp He caught hold Of her
again. and began once more the thick whisper
that loathed. | could bear it no longer nor did
| see why | should. | stepped out from behind
the tree where had been lying. When she saw
me she lost her look of one strung up TO despera-
ton, and came and chung to me and felt like
giant in strength and might. held her with one
arm, but did not take my eyes of him felt as
if they blazed down into his soul, and scorched
him up. He never spoke, but tried to look as
though he defed me at last his eyes fell before
mine. / dared not speak for the old hOrrid oaths
thronged up to my mouth and | dreaded giving
them way, and terrifying my poor trembling
Nelly.
At last he made to go past me l drew her out
of the pathway. By instinct she wrapped her
garments round her, as if TO avoid his accidental
touch; and he was stung by this, l suppose be-
lieve-to the mad, miserable revenge be took. AS
my back was turned TO him, in an endeavor to
speak some words to Nelly that might soothe her
into calmness, she, who was looking after him,
like one fascinated with terror, saw him take
sharp shaley stone, and aim it at me. Poor dar-
lingi she clung round me as shield, making her
sweet body into defense for mine. IL hit her,
and she spoke no word, kept back her cry of pain,
but fell at my feet In a swoon. He-the coward
ran off as he saw what he had done.
was with Nelly alone in the green gloom of the
wood. The quivering and leaftinted light made
her look as if she were dead l carried her, not
knowing if | bore q corpse or not, to her friends
house. did not stay to explain but ran madly
for the doctor
Well! | cannot bear to recur to that time again
Five weeks l lived in the agony of suspense
from which my only relief was in laying savage
plans for revenge. If | hated him before what
think We did now 1t seemed as If earth could
not hold US twain bat that one Of US must 60 down
10 Gehenna | could have killed him and would
have done it without q scruple, bat that seemed
too poor and bold revenge. At length-Ohl the
weary waiting oh the sckening Of nay heart
Nelly grew betteT-as well as she was ever 10
grow. The bright color had left her cheek; the
mouth quivered with repressed pain; the eyes
were dim with tears that agony had forced into
them; and / loved her thousand times better
and more than when she was bright and bloom
ing What was best Of all, began to perceive
that she cared for me. know her grandmothers'
friends warned her against me, and told her
IL hnd -. - hnlr