Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1860-09-12

~Hu IHC tuUuRul budl sue Dad lOFFNtF lOI- /
feited bis respect and esteem, was truly
a source of distress the knowledge that
she had caused him pain, gave another
rang to the hearted, though proud |
and merry girl.
When she reioined her young COM
panions in the glen, it was with a slow
stop and such serious face as they had |
never before known the widest and mad !
dest Of their number wear
why, wha Ii tla matter Nell II
called out Maggie. 4 never saw YOU
with such a sober visage in all my past
experience
Hush your nonsense, will you ?" re-
torted Nellie spitefully
So, ho Nell is sharp; Mr. Clayton
must have declined her hand a laughed
Alice
Il don't imagine the existence of the
unimpressible monster who would de,
cline tie hand Of our queen Nellie o.
said Lizzie, rising and putting her arm
around her friend Now, tell me, pet
what is it ?" she continued coa2iugly
Il have made a fool of myself, that's
all replied Nellie fercely. I wish
that proud, hateful, conceited Archer
Clayton had been in Jericho before ever
| saw him. And wish you were all at
the bottom of The Red Sea, instead Of
being here to put me up to such crazy
trick p
A burst of laughter from Maggie and
Alice greeted this TRADE, and cvea liz
zie, who was trying to soothe the irrita.
ted girl. could not repress a smile.
"Did you propose to him, sure enough
Nell ?" inquired Alice, teasingly
Eyes, l did the more fool !" snap
ped Nellie
"What did he say, Nellie pursued
Maggie.
None of your business !" was the re-
joiuder, followed by another burst of
laughter.
All the following week, Nellie avoid
ed Archer Clayton as much as possible,
spending the greater part other time in
her own room. In due time, as all
Thursdays do, the appointed Thursday
arrived. All day Nellie had kept her
room, pleading headache but in the
evening, while the family were at tea,
she stole down stairs and out to a little
arbor in a secluded part of the garden
Seating herself on the floor, and resting
her head on the bench, she suffered the
evening breeze to toss the brown curls
and fan her fevered temples Our bright
Nellie had changed wonderfully in this
one short week her merry, ringing
laugh was no longer heard echoihg thro'
the house, and instead of her former
quick and dancing step, she moved list
lessly and noiselessly about. The once
misunderstanding eyes we're dim with
weeping, and the roses had fled from the
cheeks now brushed by the honey .sUckle
vines, leaving them white as the polished
brow.
A rustling of tie vines caused her to
look up suddenly and what she saw
brought the truant crimson back to her
cheeks. Standing in the small doorway
and regarding her mischievously, was
the person whom of all others she had
this day dreaded to soe--Archer Clay.
ton,
II have come to give my answer,
Miss Nellie | accept your offer" he
said, his eyes, sparkling with morriment,
fixed on her face,
She made spring to tie door, but
he was too quick for her, and placed
himsclfso as to completely bar her egress.
30 Mr.. Clayton" please let me go
| have been rude and unmaidenly, |
know, but you have punished me sufi.
GENTLY Let me go now" she exclaimed,
hiding her face in her hands
punished you, Nellie y he said ten
dorly. drawing the little white hands
from her face in one of his own, while
with the other he gently raised the drOop,
ing head, and gazed fondly in the beau
tiful brown eyes. Far be from me the
desire to infict punishment on you =
Nellie, darling, | love you deeply, for,
vently offer myself to you. Will
YOU be my wife, little Nellie Y
As Ncllie's reply only reached the
ears for which it was intended, | regret
that | am unable to record it. But ono
thing | 10 know two weeks ago Nellie