True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-29
STEUBENVLLE, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, December 20, 1863


face, and involuntarily clasped my
hands from my eyes to meet the penetra-
ting gaze of The man loved.
Now, now, Nelly we have the rain
bows !! he said drawing a chair and seat.
ing himself by my side, and at the same
time tossing careessly The light, airy robe
which was making, upon the table,
Tell me what noubles YOU
For some reason the bitterness within
me flowed up to my lips when opened
them to speak
4 am weeping for joy I said, turning
my head away from him. is it to be
wondered at!'
Not if your heart in its outreaching
can divine the fulnre,' was the answer.
Are you prophet said | that you
speak with such aulhorty:'
i judge your future by my own heart,
Nelly said he, Il will not believe that
it tells me wrongly
reached out my hand for my work,
without replying as he said this. A de-
termination arose within me not to listen
idly, like pleased child, TO his words.
even though they sent the warm blood
dashing over my face, and quickened to
widness the pulsations Of my heart. l
was poor dependent sewing girl, and
Charles Howard was rich, proud, and of
high family. What | knew of the world,
all the education could lay claim to, had
been gathered piece meal and yet was
not ignorant or unlearned. He was an
elegant, polished man, at ease in any sta,
ton, man who had seen the world
without entering into its busy, busting
rank, and from seeing, had turned away
weary and discontented.
From the moment saw him, when he
first came to spend the summer with the
proud Laugdons, with whom | was living
/ knew him wholly and well, as if fol
years had been permitted to read his
heart as freely as written scroll. Peo.
pie said he was the betrothed husband OIL
his naughty cousin, LetiIia Langdon, and
judging by what I saw daily, l had nc
right to dispute it. Indeed, I thought
it very probable yet with me there was
ever this sweet assurance, l could under
stand him, appreciate him as she could
not; could bring by my words smile ,c
his lips that she might try in vain to sum-
mon there. He might give her the husks
Of his soul. the outward make believe de.
votion, but l could see into his inner life,
and knew that not for a moment was heI
proud, arrogant face deguereotyped there.
He was by her side in all the glitter ant
show of fashionable society, but he came
10 me for sympathy when he was weary
and dishear,ened, when the eyes Of The
world were turned for a moment from th.
worship Of its idol. .....
But the day before that, upon which
he found me weeping, Letelia spoke harsh
and insultingly TO me, taunted me witt
my low name and calling, and with ar
angry light in her dark eyes, told me i
| dared raise my plebian voice to speal
to those so far above me, she would have
me turned into the street like the beggal
| was. have often wondered since, how
| bore so meekly, and without .retor,ing
her insolent words; cannot say unless
it was for the sweet love that had placed
me, for the time, far beyond the reach O
her taunts.
| Ijudge your future by my own heart,
repeated Charles, attempting as he SPOKE
to draw my work from me again, 'Ol
Nelly bid me hope that have not judget
wrongly
What right had to tremble with de
light a. his welcome words? what righ
had the warm tell tale blush, to writ,
out for his perusal my secret upon brow
lip and cheek! l was poor, and wha
right had | 10 a woman's life of love ant
joyl Charles Howard was proud man
what could he want Of my love Th'
thought was tortnring to me, and with
quick spasmodic effort said to him, Do
not, do not taunt me, Mr.. Howard. l dc
not deserve this from you
'Taunt you, dearest he said, drawing
me passionately towards him. 'Taun
you, who have grown TO be nearer ant
dearer to me than any one else ! when !
came to you this morning to ask you tc
be my wife-my wife, NellyP be repeat
ed
you cannot mean what you are say
ing | sobbed. you are rich, Learned
and proud sm poor unknown and un
: loved Twas a sewing girl.
'Well, what of that?' be asked, hold
ing me at arms length from him, al
though had been the meresl child, ant
looking half steruly, half reproachfull,
in my face. q am weary of pride, pomp
and show. ask for the love Of you
true, womanly heart--a heart that ha'
been kept pure and free from the corro
ding dusts of the world. Give, o Civ
me home there, Nelly! II there is
condesension on either side, it is o.
yours. You are trder and purer than
am. Do not interrupt me. If you wer
J not, your life could not Aow on so calmly
so gently. am a better man when nea
I. you, darling
I oh, how like bewildering, beautllU
a dream his words made everything to me
: How rapidly and intoxicatingly the ASST