The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-04-30

mOuy III my CagCruesS 10 watch the cuun-
tcuance ot the May Quccn. She was
not over fifteen years Of age, and her
size, aud appearance generally, would
not lead you 10 think her rs old rs that.
inquired hcr name Of one of the party
and va, told that She was the only daugl-
ter OF Widow Phillips vino lived in the
cottage 10y the pend. Nellie was the
only remaining child of Il family OF four
children, aud she had been so delicate
in her infancy that the poor widow had
suffered the most painful apprehcnsious
Tor her HE. The fresh, country air,
and the elastic spirit Of the young girl
had supplied what Nature had denied
her at her BIRTH and she had grown up
TO gnlhood with rare development Of
grace aud'beau,y.
You see she is lamc,' rcjoined my
Icompanion.
Nc, | had not noticed it,
A quick pang Of pain shot through
my heart at this intelligence. | had al.
ready become 50 interested in ber that
knowledge OF this dctolmiry gave me in-
tense suffering. watched her now, aud
saw her join group Of girls who were
haNtenng to the other part of the lawn,
to form dance round the May-pole. |
saw now that She ',mped siignCy, but
Ler motion as She walked was far from
being uugracetul. II her it seemed no
detcrmily, and, as She gljdod past me,
| should hardly have noticed 1t, had
not had my attention directed to it.
Nellie was the iavorite OF the party.
| could see it in the pleasant glauces
given by all eyes aud by the peculiar
tenderness which all manifested towards
her. When the dance formed about
the ring, Nellie retired short distance
from the scene and sat down. She could
not join in the dance, but her face show
ed no signs Of discomfort or regret, and
she seemed to be enjoying it most deep
ly. My attention was now divided be-
tween my little favolitc ana the dancers.
The scene about the May-polo was one
Of native grace, and the happiness that
lighted up every face added tie crown
iug charm to the occasion
While the dance was continued, | no
ticod two young men, apparently stran.
gers IN the village, approaching Nellie
Phillips, and commenced a low conver.
saton with her, They were fine look
ing, handsome men, aud had seen them
before during the crowning OF the queen
and been some somewhat Interested in .
their faces aud appearance. One OF
them the taller OF the two, after talking
quite huently for some time, presented
to her wreath OF evergreen, iutermn-
gled with vlolcts and al butecs. Nellic'sI
check took IA brighter hue as she receiv-
Cd this liit from the haud Of the young
stranger. lnstlnctvcly | was attracted
nearer to the group. | found strange
interest in Nellie drawing me to the spot
as II she needed prot, election in her
lonely situation.
As luitcred near to them, | heard |
the one who presented the evergreen
wreath beg OF Nellie flower from her
crown. For moment her slender fin
gers play cd with the crown she had III,
her hand, as ii unable TO decide which
OF the flowers to bcstow upon her com-
paulon. At length she selected the pale
anemonc, and winding its fragile stock
around sprlg OF rose geranium, she
gave II to him aud also one OF the same
to the other young man, who had been
begging so earnestly with his eyes dur.
ing The scene for token Of remem
brance. Nellie took the evergreen
wreath upon her arm, and rising, nur.
ricd away to the circle about lbe May
pole. The young strangers disappeared
from my sight, aud | saw no more of
them, OF OF Nellie Phillips for that day
The festival closed, and each of us went
our own separate ways.
In my sleep that night | dreamed OF
Nellie Phillips, and her sweet young
lace haunted me for days Afterwards
She often passed my window on bcr re-
turn from an evening walk, accompanied
by her friend, Nettie Lee. My interest
III Nellie most painfully increased as
the days and weeks passed on, and |