The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-07-10

entered lie drawing room that evening the |
hrst stranger she saw WAS the identical Glar.
ence, who mad painted her as barefooted
llttle girl; aud then, for the first time, il |
flashed upon her that This was the great ar
tst who had spnken contemporary of her
charms. Her notion proved correct; for Miss
Stanley, Immediately advancing, presented !
the stranger TO her as Mr.. Harvard. glance |
into his face treasured Nellie Of his identity,
and satisfied her that he had not recognized
her; and then she turned away, after haugh-
" courtesy, TO receive the eager fluctuations
Of Mr.. Moworay.
There were conflicting emotions at war in
her bosom that evening All her old 70.
nance about Clarence was warred upon BY
her Indignation. as belief at his sighting
remarks and at his present Indifference for
he had made 40 attempt to improve his in
PRODUCTION, but left her entirely 10 the crowd
OF other beaus prominent among whom was
Mr.. Mowbray. Piqued and excited. Nellie
was even more beautiful and witty han usu-
al. Late in the evening she consented. at
Miss SANKEY'S request. to play and sing.
She FIRST dashed OF some brilliant saitzes,
then played bits Of few opeias, and at last,
at Mr.. Mowbray's solicitation, sang sew
eral ballads. Few persons had such sym.
pathetic voice, and Clarence, who was pas
sionately foud of music, drew near, fascina,.
ed. After singing, i. Are you sure the news
IS true y " Bonnie Dundee" and others
which had been asked for. Clarence said:
"And may |, too, ask for my fayorite ?"
Certainty, sir" she answered, with the
less, bit Of hauteur. "What is III"
"oh too sad. perhaps. for So gay CON-
pany. The Land of the Real | hardly
dare hope you will consent"
Il was her fayorite also, and her voice
slightly trembled as she began. From this
or some other cause, she sang il as even she
had never sung il before, and when she fn-
ished her eyes were fall Of tears. She would
have given much TO have seen Clarence's
face. bat she could not trust herself to look
up; and partly to conceal her emotion, part
iy By sudden impulse, she struck into the
Mlserere Of" II Troyatore." Nobody there
had ever before realized the full tragedy Of
that sadiest, yeI most beautiful dlrge. Even
the selfish heart OF Mr. MoSbray was effect
ed. When the last chord had died away, he
was the FIRST one to speak, and he was pro.
fase in admiration and hanks But Cla-
renee said nOlhiag. 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 forgaye him for having called
her common rustic"
Clarence soon became constant visitor at
Mr.. Stanley's. But he always found Mr.
Mowbray there before him, who endeayored
in every way tosmohopolze Nellle's atten-
ton. Reserved, il not absolutely naughty,
ClareRce left the field generally TO his rival /;
and Nellie. half indignant. was sometimes
tempted 10 affect gayety in Mowbray's COM
pany which she was far from feeling. 0cca.
sinnally, however, Clarence would assert his
equal right to share the company Vi Miss
SANKEY'S guest, and al such times his elo-
quent talk soon eelipsed even that Of the
brilliant advocate. As Nellie said in her
secret heart, il WAS Ruskin against Voltaire.
And the more Clarence engaged in these con-
versations, the more he felt that, for the first
time 10 his life, he had met one who under
stood him.
One morning the footman cam. up to the
little pansled boudOir where Nellie and her
friend we're sitting, saying that Mr.. Mowbray
was in the parior, and solicited private 10.
Wryiew with the former. Nellie rose Al once,
for she foreboded what was coming, aud was
only too glad 10 have this early opportunity
Of stopping attention which had become un-
endufable 70 her.
Mr.. Mowbray was evidently embarrassed,
an unusual thing for him. But he rallied, and
came directly 10 the purpose Of his visit,
which was. a. Nellie had suspected, 10 ten.
der her his heart and hand He was pro-
ceeding in a strain Of high-fown coppli-
ment. when Nellie said, with az impatient
wave Of he hand.
spare me. sir. You did no. always talk
co."
he looked his establishment.
Many year. ago answered you the same
question which you now ask.
lie eolored up 10 the temples. surely
do not deserve" he then said, TO be made
jest Of"
Neither DO make jes, Of you. Do
you not know me -
al never saw you Ill this SUMNER"
"Yoa saw me eight years ago. You and
q friend were on pedestrian tour. You
met little barelooted gil. whom your friend
made sketch Of. aud whom you jeefed at
and then nieknamej." And rising, she made
a mock courtesy, for she saw she was now
recognized: a am Cobwebs,' 81 your ser.
vice, sir"
The discounted suffer never forgo, the
look VI disdain with which Nellie eoariesled
20 him. His modification was not lesseneJ
when, on leaving the house. be met Clarence
On the door steps. He tried 10 vain - a..
sumo 40 Indifferent aspect, bat lie ieit thai
he had failed. AMI that bis rival suspected his
rejection.
Nelly could not avoid isughiog At the
eresi.lallen look Of Ter old enemy. Her
whole manner changed. however. when Car.
enee entered. Instead Of the triumphant,
sapcy tormsntBr, she became the conscious,
trtmBling woman. Clarence. who had long
ed, yet dreaded this interview, took courage |
Al once, aud IN ieS manly words, eloquent
with emotion, laid his fortune AZ hi, Nelly's |