The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-02-12
news as gently IS you can to his father and
his sister. for III cannot"

and Neliy's heart will break! Oh, SIR, you |
had better have killed that girl outright |
than send home her little brothers dead be- |
dy. He was all she loved in the world"
A deep groan escaped Harry's lips as he |
transferred his burden to the arms Of the old
man, and he whispered in his ear: He
must have fallen with his neck upon the rail,
for his head is severed from the body. But
never let them know that--never! Have
him dressed and placed in coffin before he
iscarried home, and break the news as gen
as you can to his sister. as you hope for
peace in heaven !"
A look oil horror played Upon the old
mans face, but it was quickly succeeded
by tears of compassion, and the sight Of
these treasured Harry in relinquishing his
trust.
"An aboard now all aboard quick I"
shouted the conductor, and Harry re-enter-
ed the cars. Was she awaiting for him at
the pines. thought he In the forward pas
senger car he placed himself beside win
dow. and partially screening his face with
one hand, he waited and watched until the
moment came. She was there. and had a
little note in her hand, tied to stone, but
there was an air of surprise ON her face at not
seeing Harry at the door of the baggage car.
1t was the first time she had waited there in
vain. Swiftly, madly the cruel train rush
ed on. Harry again went forward into the
baggage car and picked up his own note
where it had dropped from his hand. Then
he flung himself upon box and his strength
of spirit left him.
They wondered at his weakness, but re-
collected that this was the first fatal acct
dent on the road. and plying, they left him
to himself and discharged the duties Of his
Office.
Harry took his leave of absence, but oh,
how differently was it spent from what he
had anticipated Never could he forget
that old mans words /" You had better have
killed that girl outright than send home her
little bro,her's dead body" "Yes, it is too
true" he repeated over and over again !;
there is now a gulf between US, never,
never to be caossed. There is a little
grave between her path and mine, whose sa-
cred mound is an impossible barrier"
His heart was wrecked in the breakers Of
despair.
The weeks leave of absence had passed
by, and Harry was told that he had been
promoted to situation in the principal Of
fee. He received the intelligence with an
apathy that surprised the bearer of such IL
dings, and assumed his new duties quite
mechanically. His lively. bouyant spirit
was gone, and his friends marked and won
dered at the change. Occasionally his bus
mess called him over the road, and then
with tear-dimmed eye. he watched for that
clump of trees. How changed it seemed 4
him! The tall pines were bleak, and the
spot wore a melancholy air oil des0laton
where once he thought it fairy nook.
Winter came and passed. long and
dreary one to Harry, and spring smiled up.
on the land, when all seemed bright and gay
once more but his own heart, where tbs
winter still held on. Harry was sent to !
way station, to which, Of all other places
he wished not to 20, for the purpose Of ar
ranging some Of the company's business A
strange and uncomfortable feeling prompted
him to view. for the first time the hous,
where Mr.. Watson and his daughter resid
ed, and be walked up there in the afternoon
II was a neat little cottage, in the midst o
apretty flower garded, and everything abou
il showed the care Of a woman's oversight
Avoiding the yard, Harry took a by patti
that would lead him out to the railroad.
soon entered the pine trees that almost JOIN
ed their branches overhead, and was border
ed on either side DO the under brush.
Strolling along slowly, with his eyes ixet
upon the ground, and looking up he say
Nelly Watson just arising from a grass,
bank where she had been seated, with con
pie Of old papers in her hand, on the margin
Of which Harry recognized, at the frs
glance, bis own pencilings of long ago.
There were tears in her eyes. and a: sigh
Of him they flowed the more freely, cours
ing down over her pale cheeks, that ha,
lost that roseate tint he 50 well remember
ed. That laughter loving. roguish expires
sion was no more. and she seemed now a wo
man.
Harry advanced quickly toward her. A
/, first his voice was choked in its utterance
but soon he recovered himself, and said, i
low tone: You do not connect me, 10
feeling of aversion, with that terrible acct
dent, Miss Watson. do you 2"