The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-04-14
From tie IIarelty .Nnya=inc.
NETTIE GRAY.
By BELLE FLORENCE.

| :
bellies, but gay, romping, saucy piece OF
natures own handwork, yet gentle and ai-
tectionate witEaI, and pos,es>ing Il depth Of
feeling and sentiment which few had power
to fathom.
! Now sweet Ncttic Cray us she was
called, had long been bclovci 10y one Charlie
Gratton-the handsome Young merchant,
who kept the only store ;ho little vilasc
OF n could boast where lie had, for
some four or five years, dealt out tea,
sugar, coffee, tobacco, calicoes, silks, pins,
needles, hardware, and every variety Of
merchandise, to the villagers and surround
ing farmers, Till he had realized quite lit,
tie :ortunc; part of whicl, he invested
III the purchase of widow M,r.".l's beau
tliu cottage and grounds, which, TT the
death Of her husband, she l;.,. been
obl!ge.. tn dispose OF, :.nl t.oi; cheap
er place, where she couIl live less cy
pensively; which, from the <urpius o.!
The price received for the cottage, She
realized a snug little income Ci,are
had also taken the widows son into IN.
store, rs his increasing business made
1t necessary to procure assistancr. The
salary paid TO ltt!n johnny WI, ma
teriaI help to his mother; for Which She
was very grateful TO the voting n.y,chant,
and never failed to speak word
IN his praise whenever an opportunity
presented.
This, with numhci!css act; 8! Grncyos.
Ay which Charlie never trc,l Of perform
Ing, male lim the hero of t!;u !:,:2 vii
lage, and caused linn 10 be Lcluycd an.l
respected, 10y both y"un:; an! Old, for many
miles around. 10 say that Nct,ic Gray
was indifferent, to his many visits, or for
the ardent love he cntcr,anc, for her
self, would bc doing injustice 10 .hc warm
"rpreciativo heart. but the spirit Of
mischief seemed to possess her: and,
though she was uniformly kind and CEN
tic III her disposition towards her lover,
and wo"ld converse freely aud un,cserv-
cdly with him upon any other topic. vet
when he approached tho subject that law
nearest his heart, she WAS OF like fright
ened bird. Not that size was afraid Of him.
or that the subject WAS dstas!c.u. to her,
(tor her OWL heart was equally inter
estcd, but She delighted to tease linn, and
heartily enjoyed his discontinue Oh such
occasions. She knew he loved her Will,
all the strength Of his soul, ana she had
no fear Of alternating his affections from
hcrself-an event which would haze given
her the deepest pain.
Charlie had began to think seriously
Of marriage, and why not There stood
the cottnge, cmbowercl in trees, many
OF which were bending under tIc:. heavy
load OF rare fruit, uncccupicd. It nec,c
only the gentle rreseacc CT lis bright eyed
Ncttie to make i. q paradise. Ills income
was more than sa!!ieicm. tc satisfy t!.eil
most ex.ra7agaEt wants, ami why should
he not marry ? Many times had he Wis
tied Nettic for the express purpose Of max
ing known his wishes, III he had often
been prevented from saying what he wish
ed to say by tho liti!c ,a;schicf'< running
away at the first word he uttered upon til,
subject. 10 think Of supplying her place
from the many fair dam,c.s in it-whc
would gladly have accepted his han,', was
out OF the question. 1t was Nvttie he
loved, and Nctlie only, and lie felt sare sl.e
returned his affections; but how could he
ever get married, if he was not even
permitted to propose. | must resort
to some stra.agem, hc Thought, and hc
partially formed many plans to brin. the
little beauty to terms, and as often aban.
doned them.
His mind WIS busy with such thoughts
as, one bright morning in September, he
walked slowly y towards farmer Cray; man
sion. lie was lcisurcly ascending the hill,
at the top of which, upon Il level table
land, stood the great old house, when
he WAS startled by familiar Voice calling
out,
Bring the ladder, Dick 7 want to get
down. And, looking up, he bcIclI Nct,ic
seated in the wide Spreading branches Of -
large apple tree that stood i'll the field near
the road, while Dick, perci:cd upon the
top,nos. round of ladder, that leaned
against n pear tree, was quietly Glirg bas-
ket with tie rich fruit.
Wait, q minute, SIS replied Dick, with
out looking up; l have 60; my basket al
most full. I'll come in minute
| 'Come now, Dick quick quick =
again called tho impatient voice of his
sister.
Dick evidently began to think there was
something wrong, for lie turned around,
and bis eye instantly caught sight of our
hero coming up the roa'. but few rods
II from Where thew were JTo ;ncfouil,, 10