The huntsman's echo. [volume] (Wood River, Buffalo County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1860-1861, 1861-02-07

out leaving the box. The young law.
yer at that bill. was like hero fresh
from the battlefield. A hundred fiir
Ieyes followed bis form, hundred fair
bosoms bestquicker as he approached.
But be saw only one, in all that bril-.
lian, assembly-and it was Nelly. Her
graceful form, her intelligent face, her
style and beau y, arrested him, the
moment he entered: be saw that she
had no peer in the room: aud he devo-
ted himself to her, almost exclusively,
throughout the evening.
Nor had Nelly ever shone SO brilliant
ly. She couli not but feel that il was
a great compliment, 10 be lhus singled
out from among so many. But she
had another motive for exerting her.
self to shine. At the very FIRST glance,
she recognized. iu Mr.. Mowbray, the
con- panion of the artist who had sketch
ed her eight years back. In hopes
10 hear something Of his friend, she
turned the conversation upon art, the
city, childhood. AID everything else
hat she thought might be suggestive;
but in vain. She could not be more
definite, because she wished to conceal
her own identity, for IT was evident
NJ. Mowbray did not know her; be-
sides her natural delicacy shrank from
inquiring abou a perfect stranger.
The next day, as soon as etiquette
allowed, Mr.. Mowbray was seen dri-
wing up 10 the farm. Nelly appeared,
beautifully attired in a neat morning
dress. and looking so fresh and spark
ling, in spite Of The late hours OF the
night before, that it could hardly be
considered fAttery, when her visitor
assured her that she looked loyelier
than her lovelies, roses.
Mr. Mowbray was full of regrets at
the cruel fate, which be said, compel
led him to return TO the city. He
could not conceal his JOY, when Nelly's
aunt, inadvertently, and to Nelly's Sc
cret annoyance, let out the fact, that,
in the fall, Nelly was to pay visit to
au old school mate in Philadelphia.
Miss Mary Stanley
"Ahi indeed" cried the visitor, and
his face flushed with pleasure. IL am
so delighted. have the honor to
know Miss Stanley. You will be quite
at home in her set. he added, bowling
to Nelly, "for it is, by common con-
sent, the most cultivated In the city.
Nelly bowed coldly. Her old dis
trust in the speaker had revived again
Through all the polish OF his ln'n-
ner, she recognized the same sueering
spirit, which believed in nothing true
or good, from which she had shrunk
instinctiyely when child. During the
interview, she was civil, but no more.
She could not, h rwever, avoid being
beautiful; and SO Mr. Mowbray went
away, more in love than ever.
A few months later found Nelly do.
miciled, for the winter, IN Philddel-
phia. Hardly had she changed her
travelling dress, when her friend came
into her chamber.
II want you to look your prehiest.
tonight" said Miss Stanley, "for /
expect crowd Of beaux, and. among
them, MIR. Mowbray, the eloquent
young lawyer, and Mr.. Harvard. The
former claims to- have met you, and
raves everywhere Of your beauty. The
latter. who is :he great artist, and very
critical, laughs at his friends enthu-
siasm, and says he'd bet you're only
a common rustic, with cheeks like peo.'
MES. So wish You to convert the
heretic.'' .,
"Only common rus ic,p said Nell
ly 10 herself. haughtily, she resolved
to be as beautiful as possible. Per-
haps too, there was half f.formed re.
solve to. bring the offender at her feet.
in revenge.
A great surprise awaited her.
When she entered the drawing room
that evening, The first stronger she
saw was the identical Clarence. who
had painted her as bare footed little
girl; and then, for the first time, it
flashed upon her that this was the great
ar list who hadspoken so conlcmptuou,
" of her charms. Her notion proved
correct, for Miss Stanley, Immediately
advancing. presented the stranged to
her as Mr.. Harvard. A glance into
his face reassured Nelly ofhis identi.
ty. and that he had not recognized her;
AMI then she TUNED away, after
naughty courtesy. to receive the eager |
ielicitations OF Mr.. Mnwbray.
There were conflicting feelings at
war in her bosom that evening. All
her old romance about Clarence ives
warred upon by her indignation as, a
belle, at his sighting emarks and at
his present Indifference. For he had
matie no attempt 20 iinproye'his intro.
daction, bu, left her entirely 10 tho
crowd Of other besux, IRON nent u
mong whom was MIR Nov brgy.
nPiutel An excited. Neliv vas syes