Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-06-17

IL Wdo uCdIiy udIk Wueu Nellle Wcut uOtuey
and Of course Roland walked with her. They
said but little, and even that was about the
old man of the wood. But they walked Of
ten together along the narrow path after
that, and Nellie began to feel happier than
ever before.
One day Augustus Waxford, Esq, was
married to Miss Octavia Longpurse. All
the aristocracy of the town were present at
the interesting ceremony, and the thing was
done up in fashionable style. The thirty
odd years (Miss Redand Whitepaint said
over forty, Of the bride were partially hid
den bypaint and curls, and she would have
looked very interestingly she hadn't possess
ed such tenacious faculty Of looking almost
everything else.
And at the very time when the wedding
guests were assembling at the great brick
house. Roland and Nellie were walking home
from the old hut in the wood. Roland had
asked the question which he had asked once
before, and Nellie answered him with tears
and smiles-not such tears as were shed in
the time agone; but happy, joyous ones,
which were quickly kissed away as the vows
were sealed.
In the early morning when autumn had
come, Nellie stood alone by the bedside of
the Old Man of the Wood. The invalid's
breath came slowly and heavily, and his
eye had grown very dim.
s.Here is the box" he whispered, draw
ing the old silver memento from beneath the
coverlid, and handing it to his fair nurse.
Take it and keep it in memory of me-
You know why I gave it to you. Guard it
sacredly, for it is trust which put into
your hands"
With trembling hand Nellie took the
box and put it in her bosom, but before she
could make any reply the old man was seiz-
ed with sudden convulsion, and seemed
to be in deep pain. At that moment the
doctor whom Nellie had sent for entered the
hut
is all over" he whispered. after he
had felt the old mans pulse awhile.
'tAnd must he die?'
.sHe is dead now, my child"
Nellie could hardly believe it, but when
ss how st! hs aX and ID hoy dull bis
hushed, she knew that her charge had pass
ed into better hands The old man had
died almost as he ceased speaking.
The doctor promised to send help, and
Nellie waited there all alone with the dead
until it came Then she saw all done that
could be done, and when night came she
left watchers with the body.
Aaron Perry was buried in the village
church yard, and though few followed his
mortal remains to their final rest, yet warm
tears were shed upon his grave.
"Roland," said Nellie, after they had
been marrird week, and had fully enter
ed upon the happiness they so well deserv-
ed, stsee what found in the silver snuff
box old Uncle Aaron gave me-" And she
handed him slip of paper upon which was
written, in tremulous scrawling hand:
Il could not use this, though it is the re-
suit of years of toll and hardship. I had
hoped to spend it with my aunt, but she
turned me from her. [ give it to you be-
cause you are the dearest friend ] have to
leave behind me, and the first who has shown
disinterested love for me since my father
died. AARON PERRY"
s'But what does he mean ?" asked Roland
after he had read the note
''Here it is. [ found it neatly rolled up
in the box with it. I confess [ can hardly
understand it."
Nellie handed to her husband small pa
per covered book as she spoke, and when he
opened it he found it to be Savings Bank
book, and within was certificate Of deposit
of forty mine thousand and some odd dollars:
1t was in the name of Nellie Clark.
For long time the young couple puzzled
over the strange book in perfect wonder
ment; but finally it was arranged that they
should both 60 to the bank on the following
day, and find out what it meant. So early
the next morning Roland brought a wagon
to the door and he and Nellie rode off, The
bank was nearly twenty miles distant, and
they reached it in season to do their busi-
ness before dinner.
The mystery was soon cleared up. From
the officers of the bank they learned that
nearly twelve years before Aaron Perry had
deposited with them over twenty thousand
dollars, and that it had remained untouch-
ed since that time. and had now more than
doubled. Also they learned that during
the summer last past the old man had the
whole transferred to Nellie Clark
''And is it mine?" Nellie asked in bewil-
derment.
eyes" replied one of the officers. 'It
is all yours, to do with as you please. You
can draw it all out Immediately, or you can
draw out such sums as you want, at such
times as you please. !"
It was some days before the emotions of
Nellie and her husband became calm enough
for cool calculation. They were very hap
py and very grateful.