The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-02-02

leisure hours were spent in studying
gradually, through her influence, her
unclc's household grew more refined, and
finally her uncle himself became ambitious
for Nellie, and as he had no children,
consented, at his wife's cntrcaty, to send
the young girl to n first class boarding
school.
At eighteen, the bare.footcd rustic,
whom the young artist had skctched, had
dawned into beautiful and accomplished
woman, who, after having carried Oft the
prizes at school, was the belle of the cOun-
ty town near which her unclc'S posses
siOns lay. For, meantime, her uncle had
been growing rich, like most prudent far.
ncrs, partly from the rise in the value Of
his lands, and partly from the judicious
investment of his savings.
But in spite Of her many Suitors, Nelly
had never yet seen IL face that appeared t0
her half SO handsome MS the manly one of
the young artist, whose kind, gentle words
and manner, eight years before, had lived
in her memory ever since. Often, after
brilliant company, where she had been
queen of the evening, she found herself
wondering, in her chamber, If sue should
CNeT Sce tIlaI IdCe again.
Arc you going to the party next
week :" said one Of Nclly's friends to her.
They say it is to be the most splendid
affair We have ever had. My brother tells
me that Mr.. Mowbray, the eloquent young
lawyer from Philadelphia, who is in the
great will case here, is to be present"
~ expect to CO." was the answer, "but
Mr.. Mowbray being there won't be the
inducemcnt."
U, you are so beautiful, YOU can af.
ford to be Indifferent. But all the other
girls are dying at the thought"
The ball came off and was really slI-
pcrb. Mr.. MOwbray was there, too, with
all his laureIs. The "great will case,"
which had agitatcd the country for so
many months, had been concluded that
very day, and decided in favor OF his client.
No such speech as Mr.. MOwbray's, it was
universally admitted, had ever been heard
in the court house. Its alternate wit and
argument had carried the jury by storm,
so that they had given the verdict without
leaving the box. The young lawyer at the
ball was like hero fresh from the battle
field. A hundred fair eyes followed his
form, a hundred fair bosOms beat quicker
at bis approach. But he saw only one in
all that brilliant acknowledgement it was
Nelly. lIcr graceful form, her intelligent
face, her style and beauty, arrested him
the moment he entered; he saw that she
had no peer in the room, and he devoted
himself to her almost exclusively through
out the entire evening.
Nor had Nelly ever Shonc so brilliantly.
She could not but feel that 1t was u great
compliment to be singled out from among
so many. But she had another motive for
cxcrting herself to shine. At the very
first glance she had recognized in Mr.
Mowbray the companion of the artist who
had skctclIed her, eight years back. In
hopes to hear something Of his friend, she
turned the conversation upon art, the city,
childhood, and everything else that she
thought might possibly be suggestive, but
in vain. She could not be more definite,
because she wished to conceal her identi.
ty, for it was evident Mr.. Mowbray did
not know her; besides, her natural deica.
cy shrank from inquiring about perfect
stranger.
The next day, as soon as etiquette al
lowed Mr.. M0wbray was seen driving up
to the farm. SNClly appeared, beautifully
attircd in neat morning dress, and look
ing so fresh and sparkling, in spite of the
late hours Of the night before, that it could
hardly he considered flattery when her
visitor assured her that she looked love.
lier than the lovelicst rose. Mr.. Mowbray
was full Of regret at the cruel fate which,
he said, compelled him to return to the
city. lie could not conceal his joy when
Nelly's aunt, inadvertently, and to Nclly's
secret annoyance, let out the fact that in
the fall Nelly was to pay visit to an old
schOolmate in Philadelphia, Miss May
Stanley.
".Ah. indecd!" cried the visitor, and
his face flushed with pleasure. ~ am so
delighted. l have the honor to know
Miss Stanley. You will be quite at home
in her set" he added, bowling to Nelly,
81 for it is, by common consent, the most
cultivated in the city,"
Nelly bowed coldly. Her old distrust
in the speaker had revived again. Thro'
all the polish Of his manner, and in spite
Of his defercntial admiration, she rccog-
nized the same snecring spirit, which be-
lievcd in nothing true or good, from which
she had Shrunk inStinctively when child.
During the interview she was civil, but no
more. She could not, however, avoid be-
ing beautiful, nor could she help speaking
with the intelligence and spirit which al
ways characterized her conversation, and
SO Mr.. Mowbray went away more in love
than ever.
a few months later found Nelly domi-
ciled for the winter in Philadelphia. -
Hardly had she changed her travelling
dress, when her friend came into her cham.
Der.
~ want you to look your prcttiest to.
night" said Miss Stanley, " for | expect a
crowd Of brauX, and among them Mr.
MOwbray, the brilliant young lawyer, and
Mr.. Harvard. The former claims to have
met you, and raves every where about
your beauty. The latter, who is the great
artist, and very critical, laughs at his
friends enthusiasm, and says he'll bel
you're only common rustic, with checks
like pconies. So l wish you to convert
the hcretic.'
! "Only common rustic" said Nelly tc
HERSELF haughtily; and she resolved tC
be as beautiful as possible. Perhaps, too
there was a half-forlned resolve to bring
the offender to her feet in revenge.
A great surprise awaited her. When
she entered the drawing. room that eve
ming, the 6rst stranger she saw was thai
i6entical Clarence, who had painted heI
ap . bare-fOOted little girl, and then for the
inst time N flashed upon her that this was
The great artist who had spoken SO con
tSmptuously Of her charms. Her notion
ptOved correct, for Miss Stanley, immedi
ately advancing, presented the stranger tC
hkr IS Mr.. Harvard. A glance into hil
Eice treasured Nelly Of his identity, anC
s{tisted her that he did not recognise her
HAd then she turned away, after naughty
courtesy, to receive the eager feliciaasni
Of Mr.. MOwbray.
1hsre were conflicting feelings at wal
In her bosom that evening. All her Ol,
1 u