The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-08-28

ID
! consent, the most cultivated in the city,
Nelly bowed codly. Her old distrust in the speaker
had revived again Through all the polish of his
ner and in spite of his deferential admiration she
cognised the same sneering spirit which believed in
nothing true or good from which she had shrunk in
stinetiFely when child. During the interview, she
was civil, but more. She could not however avoid
being beautiful could she help speaking with the
intelligence and spirit which always characterised her
conversation; and so Mr.. Mowbray went away more in
! love than ever
! A few months later found Nelly domiciIed for the
winter, in Philadelphia Hardly had she changed her
travelling dress when her friend came into her chamber
y want you to look your prettiest, tonight said
Miss Stanley for expect crowd beaux and among
them Mr. Mowbray, the brilliant young lawyer and Mr.
Harvard. The former claims to have met you and
raves everywhere about your beauty The latter who
is the great artist and very critical laughs at his friends
enthusiasm, and says he'd bet you're only common
rustic, with cheeks like peones So wish YOU to con
/ vert the hereto"
"Ony common rustic said Nelly to herself, hear,
tly; and she resolved bring the offender her feet
in revenge.
A great surprise awaited her When she entered the
drawing room, that evening, the first stranger she
was the identical Clarence, who had painted her as
baretooted little girl and them for the first time it
flashed upon her that this the great artist who had
spoken contemptuously of her charms Her notion
proved correct for Miss Stanley immedate advancing
presented the stranger to her Mr. Harvard glance
into his face reassured Nelly of his identity and salts
fled her that be had not recognised herr and then she
turned away after naughty courtesy to receive the
eager felicitations Of Mr.. Mowbray
There conflicting feelings at war in her bosom
that evening All her old about Clarence was
warred upon by her Indignation, belle at his slight
ing remarks and at his present Indifference For he
had made no attempt to improve his introduction but
left her entirely the crowd of other beaux prominent
among whom Mr.. Mowbray Pioued and excited,
Nelly more beautiful and witty than usual
Late III the evening she consented at Miss Staneys
request, to play and sing. She first dashed off some
brilliant watzes; then played bits of few operas and
last Mr. Mowbrays solicitations sang several bal
lads Few persons had such sympathetic voice. and
Clarence who passionatey fond of music drew near
fascinated. Alter singing, And you sure the news
rue?" Bonnie Dundee and others which had been
asked for, Clarence said:
And may l. too, ask for my favorite?"
Certainly, she answered, with the least bit of hau-
teur. ''What is it?'
80! too sad perhaps for so gay a company. THE
Land Of the Real hardly dare hope you'll consent"
1t was her tavorite also, and her voice slightly trem
bed, as she begun. From this some cause she sang
them she had never sung them before and when
she flushed, her eyes full of tears. She would
have given much to have Clarences face but she
could not trust herself look up and partly to conceal
her emoon partly by sudden impulse she struck iu-
the miserere of IL Trovatore' Nobody there had
before realised the full agedyo of that saddest vet
I T..
Mowbray was effected. When the last chord had died
away, he the first to speak, and he was prouse in
admiration and thanks But Clarence said nothing
Nelly at last looking toward him. that his ewes had
been dim well as her own. She felt that lis silence
was the most eloquent of compliments and from that
hour forgaye him for having called her rustic
Clarence soon became constant visitor az Mr. Stan
lcys. But he always found Mr.. Mowbray there before
him, who endeavored, in every way, to monopolise
Helys attention Reserved, il not otabsoutely naughty
Clarence left the field generally to his rival and Nelly
a,f indignant sometimes tempted to effect gayety
in Mowbays company, which she was far from feeling
Occasionally, however, Clarence would assert his equal
rights share the society OF Miss Staneys guest and
such times his eloquent talk eclpsed that of
even the brilliant advocate. As Nelly said in her secret
heart, it was RuSkin against Noltairc And the more
Clarence engaged in these conversations, the he
felt hat for the first time in his life he had met one who
understood him.
One morning the foonan came up TO the little pan
cled boudoir where Nelly and her friend were sitting
saying that Mr. Mowbay was in the paror and solicited
private interview with the former. NeYrose at once,
for she forboded what vs coming and WIS only too
glad to have this early opportunity of stopping atten-
tons which had become uncomfortable to her.
Mr., Mowbray was evidently embarrassed unusual
thing for him. But he rallied aud came directly the
purpose OF his visit, which was Nellie had suspected
to tender her his heart and hand He was proceeding
in strain Of hgh-hown compliment when Nellie said
with an inpatient wave of her hand
Spare me, sir, You did not always talk So"
He looked i'll astonishment.
MANY years ago | answered you the same question
which you ask"
lie colored up the temples. - surely do not de-
serve" /" he then said to be made Jest of"
Neither do make lest OF yon. Do yon not know
mc?"
i never saw you till this summer"
You saw eight years ago You and friend
were pedestrian tour You met little bareooted
girl, whom you eered at and then nic-namcd' And
rising she made mock courtesy, for she she
not recognised; II am Cobwebs, at your service sir.
The discomfted sutor forgot the looks of dis
dan with which Nelly courteSed to him. His morti-
cation was not lcssened when on leaving the house. he
met Clarence on the doorsteps He tried in vain, to
assume Indifferent aspect, but he felt that he had
failed, and that his rival suspected his rejection.
Nelly could not avoid laughing at the Cresallen look
of her old enemy Her whole manner changed however,
when Clarence entered Instead of the triumphant,
saucy tormcntor she became the conscious trembling
woman Clarence who had longed for yet dreaded this
interview, took courage at once, and in few manly
words eloquent with emotion, laid his fortune at his
Nelly's feet.
Poor Nelly felt more like crying with joy than any
thing else But little of the old saucy spirit still
left in her The thought she owed it her to
surrender easily and she said archly ganeing up
at Clarence
''Do you know, Mr.. Harvard, whom you are propos-
ing 30? am no heiress, no hghborn city belle, but
onlY-let me see-what was t?-ony common coun-
try rustic" And she rose and courtesied to him.
For heavens sake, don't bring that foolish speech
up against me' he cried Il have repened it thousand
times daily since the uulucly moment was betrayed
into saying it. Do the justice to believe that meyer
meant it to be personal"
"Well, then, ! will say nothing more of that matter
But this is only whm Of yours. How is it. that hav-
ing known me so long, you only now discover my
its?7
known yop 50 long,"
eyes, sir" demurely:
'Known you:"
''For eight years"
Good hearens!' he cried suddenly, his whole face
lighting. "How blind have been! Why did | not
see it before? Youare-"
"Cobwebs said Nelly, she taking the word out of his
mouth her whole face sparkling with gee and she
drew off and gave another sweeping courtesy
Before she had recovered herself however pair Of
strong arms around her. for Clarence OWNED now
that lie loved. Nelly all along, had bad half
secret fear that when her suor knew the past he might
not be willing marry the bareooted girl as the
brilliant belle; but all this was now gone.
Two months later there was a gay wedding at St.
Marks. month after that, bridal pair returning
from the wedding tour drove up to handsome house
in of the most fashionable streets n Philadelphia
As Clarence led Nellie through the rooms in which his
perfect taste everywhere, she gave way to
exclamation after exclamation of delight
At last they reached tiny boudoir exquisely carp
oto, lfnt,ro