The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-02-16
NO. =


and her friend we're sitting, saying that
Mowbray was in the parlor and solicit
private interview with the former. n
rose ut once, for she foreboded what
coming, and was only too glad to have
early opportunity Of stopping att,hl
which had become uncomfortable to her
Mr.. Mowbray was evidently embarra
an unusual thing for him. but lie raj
and came directly to the purpose bi
visit, which was, w Nelly had susp.s
to tender her his heart and hand. he
proceeding, in strain of high-ilown I
pliment, when Nelly said, with an ia
tient wave Of the hand.
"Sparc me, sir. You did not always.
So"
He looked his astonishmcnt.
"Many years ago ] answered Won
same question which YOU now ask"
lie colorcd up to the temples. ii so
do not deserve" he said, ito be mad
jcstof."
Neither do make ajcst you. do
not know me ?"
81 never saw YOU till this summer"
"lou saw me eight years ago. You
friend were on a pedestrian tour.
met little, harc-footed girl. whom
friend made sketch Of, and whom
jccred nj aud then nicknamcd." And rid
she made mock courtesy, for she saw
was n,w recognized. 81 am Cobweb|
your service, sir"
The discounted sutton never forgot
look Of disdain with which Nelly col
sled to him. His modification was|
lesscred, when, on leaving the housI
met Clarence on the door-steps. Ho d
in vain, to assume M Indifferent M
but he lrit that he had failed and tina
rival suspected his rejection.
Nelly could not avoid laughing a
crcs'-inilcn look of her old enemy.
whole manner changed, however, {
Clarence entered. Instead of the triu
ant, saucy tormcntor, she became the
scious, trembling woman. Clarence,
had logged for yet dreaded, this inter
took courage at once, and in few. n
wo Dis, eloquent with EMOTION, laid HI
tune at Nelly's feet
Tor Nelly felt more like crying.wiil
thln anything ol.e But n little of I'd
saucy spirit was still left in her
thought that she owed it to her sex Il
surrender too easily land 80 she said,
ly ghmcing up ut Clarence.
ado you know, Mr.. Harvard, Wild
are proposing TOT am no hcircs}
hgh-boun city belle, hut only--lct ND
wi n was il! ah ! | have it now
n common country rustic :" And she
and courtcsied to him.
"For heavens sake don't bring tia
ish speech up against me !" he cried
sionately, trying to take her hand. IL
repcntcd it n thousand times daily,
the unlucky moment j was betrayed
s1ying it. DO me the justice to bel
never meant it TO be personal"
"Ncil, then, | will say nothing m
that matter. But this'is only Will
your. How is it, that, having know
so long. you oniy now discover iny
l., 2"
known YOU so long ?"
"Yrs, sir !" demurely.
known YOU 7"
"For eight years"
"Good heavens :" he cried, sud
his whole face lighting up. "IIow |
have been! Why did not soc il b
You are"
"Cobwrbs," said Nelly, takin
words out Of his mouth, her whole
sparkling with g,ec; aud she did
and gave another sweeping curtcsy
Before she had recovered herself
ever, a pair of strong arms was
her, for Clarence OWNED now that |
lived. Nelly, all along, had had
secret fear, that, when her suitor kn(
past, he might not be 80 willing TO
the barc-iootcd girl az the brilliant
but all this was now gone.
Two months later there was n On
ding Mt 81. Marks. A month ate
the bridal pair returning from the w
tour, drove mp TO handsome house
Of the most fashionable streets III
dclpnia. As Clarence lei Nelly
tho rooms, in which his perfect tad
sccn everywhere, she gave say 20
m1'ipn after exclamation Of dcligl
last, they reached tiny boudoir,
t'ly carp ted aud curtainrd. A
gas burning Ia m alabastcr vase,
a soft light through the room. a
picture hung on the walls. 1t v
original sketch of her, taken cighs
before, and now elegantly framed
tears gusEcd TO Nclly's eyes, a
, threw herself into her husbands al
Al how love Won :" she cri,
! Nobody who sees that picture I
/ rs origin. l. is too sacred a sub
either Nelly or Clarence to ailude
| &; Vas luly the o,hor day that a
I'D leader Of fashion said to fricI
What n queer pet name Mr..
has Tor Lis beautiful bride In
except a genius it would be e
! But YOU don't know how pretty
from his lips"
Z" What i n -