The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-06-04

home 1t proved pleasant one in ev-
cry way. She was person to be loved
and respected every where and in every
vocation She ennobled and dignifed
even labor itself; and in this wealthy
and aristocratic family she was received
and treated as an equal.
At first her letters to me were some
what sad aud hopeless, but by degrees
they became more cheerful, more like
her own buoyant and elastic self; and |
who now knew great deal of her heart
history, drew pleasant auguries for the
future.
But this season of calm was not of
long duration. freddie had found out
her place of refuge and papers and
magazines, wherein were published his
own impasSioned words, began to fud
access to his southern home. Nature
had made him pott she had made
him eloquent, and Nclli, could not hear
unmuvrd. Ills words stirred the ipmost
folds Of Ter brins. She wa again a
slave to his intelIrct--to the great and
wonderful talent God had given him -
Alas, alas, why were not great virtues
given along with thcm.
BY aud by he wrote to hcr-letters
that might have moved heart Of stone.
Still she did not auswer--Shc dared not
trust hcrGclfso to do. But nc vino knew
her weakness knew also his power He
met her in her uthern home. He
there succeeded in removing her impress
sion Of the past, aud filling her once
more with hope for the future. A few
days Of perfect happiness followed, aud
be left her once more his promised
bride
She was too far from home now to
hear of his course, other than what he
himself chose to tell her; and homes
ones deeming her safe from his evil in
huence, ceased even in their letters, to
mention his name. Thus the two years
Of her engagement passed aud she again
returned to her childhood'o home Thith-
er Fredric soon followed her but as in
years past, be was forbidden the house
For an entire year Nellie saw him on
ly at the house Of her aunt and that
aunt favored the marriage, Whether
she were right or wrong in this We will
not say. Let her own conscience decide
the matter, and wiser than we sit In
/ judg thereon.
1t is true Nellie heard much to his
disparagemcnt; but she felt that she
could never be happy without him
Could she be with him This was now
the only question.
At the time our sketch commences
eight years after their first engagement
she had been conversing long and earn
estly with him. Delay had made hin
9 impatient, and he had resolved that sh
{ should be his at once.
| BE mine, Nellie, be mine y he ha
{ said, 'and there is nothing | will not be
come for your sake. Already is you
heart mine, withhold your hand no lon
ger. o, be my wife, be my ,cife at once .!
~, That pleading voice what power il
always had over the warm heart of Mel
lie She felt it now. She could no,
resist its magic, and leaning her head
upon his shoulder, she murmured-
But the past, Fredric, the past will
its evils ever be repeated 1t would
kill me if they we're. could not live to
see you disgraced 1t would crush the
very life out of me o, Fredric, think
well of these things, ere you dare take
my heart into your keeping y
And have thought, beloved. BE
mine, only mine, dearest, and your fu-
ture shall know no sorrow that my heart
or my hand can avert. | can aud will
be worthy of the heart have won.-
Trust me, there is much happiness ye
in store Tor us. Only be my wife, anC
I fear no evil. But desert me-leav,
me to myself, and l will not answer fo
the consequences. There would be NJ
hope then-no ray Of light to brighter
the future. o, Nellie, dare you refus
|, me Dare you risk seeing me the vii
5 est Of the vile Dare you
: Hush, hush, Fredric y and she nest
+ led closer aud closer to his heart, a
v ,houph strength and purity could 20 ou