Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-05-12
9mnsing 8eaamg.
NETTIE GRAY.
BY BELLE FLORENCE.

Wltnal, anQ pOSseSsiuSa ueplh VI ieeiiuS aoo
sentiment which few had power to fathom.
Now sweet Nettie Gray as she was call
ed, had long been beloved by one Charlie
Grafton-the handsome young merchant,
who kept the only store the little village
ofN- could boast; where he had for some
four or FIVE years, dealt out tea, sugar, cof-
fee, tobacco, caliooes, silks, pins, needles,
hardware, and every variety Of merchandise,
to the villagers and surrounding farmers, till
he had realized quite little fortune; part
of which he invested in the purchase of wild
ow Morton's beautiful cottage and grounds,
which, at the death of her husband, she had
been obliged to dispose Of, and took cheap
or place, where she could live less expen.
sively; which from the surplus of the price
received for the cottage, she realized snug
little income. Charlie had also taken the
widows son into the store, as his increasing
business made it necessary to procure assis-
tance. The salary paid little Johnny was
material help to his mother; for which she
was very grateful to the young merchant,
and never failed to speak word in his praise
whenever an opportunity presented.
This, with the numberless acts Of gener-
osity which Charlie never tired Of perform
ing, made him the hero of the little village,
and caused him to be beloved and respected,
by both youugand old, for many miles around,
To say that Nsttie Gray was indifferent to
his many visits, or for the ardent love he
entertained for herself, would be doing in.
justice to her warm, appreciative heart But
tho spirit Of mischief seemed to possess her;
and, though she was uniformly kind and
gentle in her disposition towards her lover,
and would converse freely and unreservedly
with him upon any other topic, yet, when
he approached the subject that lay nearest
his heart, she was off like frightened bird.
Not that she was afraid of him, or that the
subject was distasteful to her, (for her own
heart was equally interested,) but she de-
lighted to tease him, and heartily enjoyed
his discontinue on such occasions. She
knew he loved her with all the strength of
his soul, and she had no fear of alternating
his affections from herself-an event which
would have given her the deepest pain.
Charlie had began to think seriously of
marriage and why not? There stood the
cottage, embowered in trees, many of which
were bending under their heavy load Of rare
fruit, unoecupied. 1t needed only the pres
encs of his bright-eyed Nettie to make it
paradise. His income was more than sufd-
cient to satisfy their most extravagant wants,
and why should he not marry? Many times
had he visited Nettie for the express pur-
pose of making known his wishes, but be had
often been prevented from saying what be
wished to say by the little mischiefs run
ming away at the first word uttered upon the
subject To think of supplying her place from
the many fair damsels init-who would glad
ly have accepted his hand, was out of the
question. 1t was Nettie be loved, and Net
tie only, aud he felt sure she returned his
affections; but how could he ever get mar
ried, if he was not even permitted to propose.
Unjust resort to some stratagem, he thought,
and he partially formed many plans to bring
the little beauty to terms, and as often a.
bandoned them.
His mind was busy with such thoughts,
as one bright morning in September, he
walked slowly towards farmer Gray's man.
sion. He was leisurely ascending the hill,
at the top of which, upon level table land,
stood the great old house, when he was start.
led by female voice calling out.
Bring the ladder, Dick! I want to get
down. And looking up, he beheld Nettie
seated in the wide spreading branches of a
large apple tree that stood in the field near
the road, while Dick, perched upon the top
most round Of the ladder, that leaned against
the pear tree, was quietly filling a basket
with the rich fruit.
waits minute, SIS replied Dick, without
looking up; Il have got my basket almost
full. I'll come in minute.
Come now Dick! quick! quick |? again
called the impatient voice of his sister.
Dick evidently begin to think there was
something wrong, for he turned around, and
his eye instantly caught sight of our hero
coming up the road, but few rods from
where they were He instantly descended
from the tree but instead of carrying the
ladder to assist his sister to descend, he
gave a loud shout, threw his cap into the
air, cleared the wall with one bound, aud
ran rapidly down the hill, shouting, at the
top of his voice, 'Oh! Mr.. Grafton, I've
treed a coon I've treed COON Then
placing his hands upon the ground before
him, he turned some FIVE or six summer
saults, uttered as many boisterous shouts,
aud, picking up his cap, ran with all his
might to the house. the little rogue evil
dently loved mischief as we'll as did his pref
ty sister.
Charles first thought was to 60 to the
assistance of Nettie, and he leaped the wall
and approached the tree. Taking the ladder
from the pear tree, he was about placing it
for her to descend, when a sudden thought
suggested itself. 'She cannot run away from
me now;' and not stopping to consider the
ungallant act, he grasped a lower branch,
and, with some gay remarks, swung himself
lightly up, and took seat by her side.
Nettie was an amiable girl, and could take
a joke as good uaturedly as she could give