Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-01-15
Nellie Lane.

destined to become great science. ''-Eachange
Nellie Lane.
There was anew arrival in L. A Young
man of gentlemanly appearance and genteel ad-
DRESS alighted from the stage coach and announced
his intention to remain few months in the town.
The gentleman gave no reason for so doing; he
never limited his occupation, never asked if he
could procure work He paid his bill every Satur-
day night without murmur. What who was he
The fat landlady had intimated that she thought
he was young. The gentleman stared and left the
room, The consequence was that Mrs. Hobbs
talked herself into hoarse cold; she was sure
''he want enybuddy to act so. she knew
| Now, Mrs. Hobbs was one of those wonderfully
gifted persons who always knows every ones bust
ness except her own. The town of L was
well provided with such characters. They made
the life of the place. And if you get goodly
number congregated in one town, just stop up the
key holes of your drawers, or else they'll see
love letter in one corner. Don't wear your neck
chain, if you do sharp eyes may see gentleman's
portrait appended to it. If you walk out with
your father, they'll ask chow many yards you put
| in sheet 90
But few days passed ere Mrs. Hobbs told
Miss Jones that the ''feller's name was Mordant
Gray, and that he was going with Nellie Lane,
and she knew he'd have her. For once Mrs.
Hobbs told the truth-that his name was Mordant
Gray-that he had asked the hand of Nellie Lane
in marriage and had been refused by her father
and accepted by Nellie, every one knew.
Nellie was lovely, and the pet and pride of her
aged parents. They loved her too well to yield
her to the care and keeping of one they knew moth
ing definitely about. But Nellie loved; she asked
no questions twas enough for her that he loved
her in return. Twas enough, and so she left her
fathers house, and went, she knew not where,
with Mordant Gray.
Mr.. Lane grew very pale, and his hand trembled
as he turned the key to Nellie's room; and Mrs.
Lane gave her harp into the hands of a stranger.
From that hour her name never mentioned
There fell silence DER the old house; silence
such as death leaves. They heard from Nellie but
once, and then she was the star of the fashionable
circle.
The old man did not curse his child, he remem-
bered that she had nestled to his bosom, even as
she now nestled to another's; that her white hand
had rested on his brow, or twined the silver hair
in many massive curl; he said she was his child
yet no matter for the rest.
1t is better to bless than curse. 1t matters not
how deeply you are wronged, curses do no good.
They will meet you in after years; they will rise
up at every step, whispering, ''if We had blessed
) the wrong would not have fallen" There will
| come memory of sunny eyes that have met yours
in trustfulness; of small hands claspng thine in
confidence; of red lips, which spoke, it may be,
) love VOWS. Curse them not, though those eyes
looked injury; the hands worked it; the lips spake
it. Curse not, say, though they blight your life
prospects. Bless, and the sun glideth through
the clouds; curse, and the tempest lowers.
Not many weeks after Nellie's departure, they
bore her mother to the grave.
Twas year after Mrs. Lanes death that one
o1aor cold nirbt Mr. sat nv he 6raSide his
clasped hands resting on the old Bible, and his
voice raised in prayer
S He did not hear the door open; he saw no one
enter, until muffled form stood by his side.
S 'sFather father father!"
The thick veil fell back, leaving exposed the
S wan, white face of Nellie Lane.
The old man started to his feet He pushed
d back the matted curls and piered earnestly int
It that face. He opened his arms, ''My Nellie 7
and she lay sobbing on his bosom. Setting he
beside him, he asked her history 1t was shor
d but full of agony.
True to his promise, on their arrival in New
: York, Mordant made her his wife. He was yer,
wealthy, and they entered into the highest circles
> She was very happy he gratifed her slightes
a wish. They went one night to the opera. A new
star made her appearance in the musical world
IS When she assembled the stage, Nellie observes
e Mordant grow pale. She asked the cause, he re
d piled, "Nothing!'
7. The following morning as Nellie sat reading i
pit her boudoir, a servant ushered in the singer
or the night before.
n, s'Is your name Nellie Gray ?" she asked.
g cit Isl was the reply.
b. t'Lady, will you listen calmly to me ?" aske
!, the stranger, laying her hand on Nellie's arm.
ne Nellie said eyes"
ed care you his wife ?" she whispered compress
be ing, her lips.
re II ann Nelly trembled, she knew not VIII
so s'Wedded?"
i ''What mean you, madam? You are a stran
err"
us "What mean /? He has deceived you. Y
Ky are not lawfully welded. I am his wife, marr
IN not two years ago, in Spain. See.''
dy AS she spoke, she laid before the grief-strick
Nellie the marriage certificate of the maria
nd of Mordant Gray to Ionia Gonzales. Nellie q
ng not faint. She left the house in company wi
ers Iona, and sought her parents.
Gather, tell me, am thy child yet? M
OF Ionia-"
IT, eyes, my own forever. Let the stranger come
st- As he spoke the door opened and Ionia entert
She was very beautiful-the dark, dazzling beat
of Spain.
She refused to tell her past life, and Mr.. La
~. pressed her not. He was happy with his chi
re- happy with the stranger
inn
;cle CHAPTER II
tier Hush ! bend reverently. The White An
au- hath been busy. Shadowy fingers have pres
4 II r. 4