Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-10-24

bry was full or regrets at cruel fate, which, he
said, compelled him to return to the city. He
could not conceal bis Joy when Nellies aunt
inadvertently, aud much to Nelli'o secret an
noyance, let out the fact that in the fall Mel
lie was to pay visit to an old schoomate in
Philadelphia, Miss Mary Stanley
-" All, indeed ~ cried the visitor and his
face flushed with pleasure. am so delight
ed. | have the honor to know Miss STANLEY.
You will be quite at home in her SET" bowing
to Nellie, " for it is by common consent. the
most cultivated in the city,
Nellie bowed coldly. Her old dStrust in
the speaker had revived again. Through all
the polish OF his manner, and in spite of his
deterentlal admiration, she recognized the same
sneering spirit, which believed in nothing true
or good, from which she had Shrunk instinc-
! lively when "a child. During the interview she
was civil, but no more. She could uot how
ever, avoid being beautiful nor could she help
speaking with the Intelligence and spirit which
always characterized her conversation and so
Mr.. Mowbray went away more in love than
ever
few months later found Nellie domocled
for the winter in Philadelphia Hardly had
she changed he" travelling dress, when her
friend came to her chant er
| want you to look your prettiest to night, ,
said Miss Stanley " for | expect a crowd of
beaux, and among them Mr. MowJry, the ri.
liant young lawyer, aud Mr. Harvord The
former claims to have met you, aud raves ev-
erywhere about your beauty. The latter, who
is great artist. and very critical, laughs at
! his frIend'S enthusiasm, and says he would het
/ You are ouly common rustic, with cheeks
, like peolieS. So l wish you to convert the
hereto"
Only a common rustic," said Nellie, to
herself heartily and she resolved to be as
beautiful as possible Perhaps, too, there was
a half formed resolve 10 bring the offender
TO her feet in revenge
A great surprise awaited her When she
entered the urawlDg-room that evening, the
first stranger she saw the identical Clarence,
who painted her as a barefooted little girl: aud
then for the first time il flashed upon her that
this was the great artist who had spoken con-
. temptuouSly OF her charms. Her notion prov
ed correct for Miss Stanley, Immediately al.
vancing, presented the stranger To her as Mr.
( Harvard. A glance into his face reaSsured
( Nellie of his identity and satisfied her that he
had not recognized her aud then she turned
away, after naughty courtesy, to receive the
eager Fluctuations of Mr.. Mowbry
/ There we're conflicting emotions at war in
/ her bosom that evening All her old romance
about Clarence was warred upon by her indig.
nation at belief OF his sighting remarks aud
at his present. indifference for he had made
no attempt 10 improve his introduction, but left
/ her entirely TO the crowd of other beauu pro-
minenI among whom was Mr. Mowbrav
P,qued and excited Nellie was even more
/ beautiful aud witty than usual. Late in the
evening she consented, at Miss StanIeY's re-
quest, 10 play anu sing. Sac first dashed off
some brilliant wallzss, then played bits of
operas, and at Mr. Mowbray'S solicitations,
sang several ballads. Few persons had such
q sympathetic voice, aud Clarence, who was
passionately fond oimusic, drew near, fascnat.
ed. After singing " Are you sure the news
Is true - Bonn!e Dundee and iothersI (which
had been asked for, Clarence said
And may |, too ask for my favorte 2"
Certainly, SIR she answered, with the
least bit of haateur. What is 1t ?"
/ 20 too sad, perhaps, for so gay COM
pauy The laud of the Real | hardly
D dare hope you will consent"
1t was her favorite also, aad her voice
slightly tremb.ed as she began From this
or some other cause, she sang it as even she
had never sung it before, and when she fn-
iShcd her eyes were full of tears. She would
have given much to have seen Clarence'S
face, but she could not trust herself to look
( up /; aud partly TO conceal her emotion, part
. ly by sudden Impulse, she struck into the
MiSerere of - ii Trovatore" Nobody there
/ had ever before realized the full tragedy Cf
/ the saddest, yet most beautiful dirge Even
/ the selfish heart of Mr.. MOwbr8y was affected.
/ When the last chord had died away, be was
the first one TO speak, aud he was profuse in
admratious aud thaukS But Clarence said
nothing. Nellie, at last, looking towards
/ him saw that his eyes had been dim as well
as her own. She felt that his silence was the
most eloquent Of compliments, and from that
hour fOrgave him for having called her
" common rustic"
Clarence soon became O constant visitor at
Mr. Stanleys. But he always found Mr.
/ Mowbray there before him, who endeayOred
ID every way TO mouopoIZe Nelie's attention.
Reserved, if not absolutely baushty, Clarence
left the field generally TO his rival and Nell
lie, half Indignant, was sometimes tempted TO
affect gayety in Mowbrays company which
she was far from feeling. Occasionally, how
ever, Clarence would assert bis equal rights 10
share the company Of Miss Stanley's guest,
and at such times his eloquent talk soon
eclipsed even that of the brilliant advocate. e.
As Nellie said iu her secret heart, it was
Ruskin against NOtIrie. Aud the more Clar-
ence engaged in these conversations, the more
be felt that, for the first time in his life, he
had net one who understood him.
One morning the fOotman came up to the
little paueIed boUdoir where Nellie aud her
friend were sitting, saying that Mr.. Mowbray
was in the parior, a1d solicited private Ia
terview with the former. Nellie rose at once,
Tor she toreboded what was coming, and vas