The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-08-18

4
see you alone, Nellie"
"Cross~ Nellie could get no further.
She was almost ready, the silly little
beauty, to cry, as the contrast between
her last visit to the stile with George, and
this one struck her.
"There, don't cry, Nellie!" said her
lover. 81 love you rs dearly as | ever
did; but you see you've been so taken up
with your town beau lately, that could
not get chance to talk to YOU. You
were trying to come mp to him in learn
ing French and singing; but it is of no
use. The town ladies can paint and
draw, play the piano, and some of them
even write poetry: but they can't make
such cakes as you can, Nellie, or keep a
house so nicely. l shut my eyes, when
I vas in town, on their fine dresses and
pretty ways, and kept my heart true for
you. Now, won't you have me, Nellie ?
I've been counting you more than year,
ever since your sixteenth birthday; and
you know love you truly"
Poor Henry had chosen most inaus-
picious time. The little heart he coveted
had not had time to cast out the image
of the first man who had ever really
touched it; and as Nellie sadly pictured
Georges graceful manners and courtly
address, and turned to the simple pcda-
gogue beside her, the contrast was too
striking. Georges dress was so different
from that of the villagers, who, living
miles from any town or railway, dressed
in the fashion of their grandparents.
Henry and Nellie, as they sat on the old
stile, would, could they have moved at
once into fashionable drawing-room,
have been admirably costulned for fan
CIV ball, as country people of fifty years
ago.
Nellie gave Henry most decided re-
fusal, and taking no notice of bis surpri-
sed, dismayed face, left the old stile and
hurried homeward. As she went, she
pictured in her mind the accomplishments
of the town ladies. This explained
Georges silence on the love subject,
which had so puzzled the little country
girl, accustomed to the plain counting Of
the farmers sons. Ofcourse, she argued,
George, with his fine education and ia
Tents, looked for accomplishments in his
wife; and Nellie determined to have
these.
Father" she said, coming into the
kitchen, where the farmer was enjoying
his pipe, 81 want to 60 to a boarding
school for two or three years
"Gracieus sakesr' cried her mother
dropping the plate she was Washing
"Whatll you want next?"
This was the first mention of the sub
iect. Nellie WAS more than two months
persuad;ng and coax;ng the old man be
fore he consented. He was rich. Nellie
was the only child; and at last the un
willing consent was wrung from him; anc
Nellie was taken to the best boarding
school near town. The poor child wa:
at first much discouraged by the ridicult
of her schoolmates. 1t was hard to hear
her dress laughed at, and her ignorance
dcspised; but tho girls own good taste
in investing the money her father supplied
literally in neat and fashionably made
garments, and her fine talents, which
soon displayed themselves, were not long
in placing her on an equality with hel
companions. There was one grief she
suffered. George Lawton had left town
to travel on the continent: and when she
arrived, thinking of the pleasure her un'
expected presence would give him, be
was far away. The two letters he had
written after leaving Towerville had made
no mention of this intention, for, argued
the gay young man, sit is of no use tc
break the poor little beauty's heart. Pity
she's so countl ifed! Ny heart was il
real danger; but allens, she'll forget me
in month"
Two years passed on, during which
Nellie applied her whole mind to bel
studies; and on her nineteenth birthday
she left the school, and, at the earnes
solicitation of Georges mother, went tc
pass some weeks at her house before re
turning to Towerville. George was still
abroad; and his mother thought it would
be a good time to return Mrs. Greyson''
hospitality to her son when he was not Al
home, and there was no danger of his
falling in love with country farmers
daughter, even though that same farmer
was the husband of her second cousin
and Mrs. Lawton's grandfather was {
country farmer, too.
snow, Nellie" said Mrs. Lawton
coming into her room one morning; 81