The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-11-18

| properly, yes, even 80 politely, when ne hau
probably never never seen q city. So she
went on weaving flowers and fancies, until
the shrill blast Of tn dinner horn aroused
her from her reverie In which pavements and
clover fields, bathrooms and frmhouses, 10
on Howard and Paul Clifford were strangely
blent and comminglcd. J. ..,
Aftcr supper he was missing,-in his room
writing. aunt Nancy said and SO it was day
after day, until days became weeks, and Mel.
lie began to think he might afford to be civil
at least, although she could not tell an un.
civil thing that he had ever said or dome
on the contrary hc had been very polite, very
deferential, perfectly gentlemanly ut oil times,
but she had got the Impression that he did
not consider her worthy Of much attention,
and with woinanly caprice she resolved that
Mr.. Paul Clifford should see that she was
young lady of some importance. and forth.
with set about making herself very agreeable
where she had hitherto been supremely in
different, and with good effect, for she soon
had the satisfaction of seeing him devote an
hour that had heon given to the seclusion OF
his own room to her. t-
Nellie, for while, felt inclined to laugh
son the sly" ut what she supposed to be an
assumption OF dignity and learning, but all
unconsciouslv to herself she grew deeply In
tercsted in him as their acquaintance pro-
gresssd, and she found it was not assumed
that he was cducated-"almost ready for col
lege. as he told her incidentally one evening.
Seeing her look Of surprise, he said:
"You think me vain dreamer, Miss
Moore, but am not, rs you shall see"
Then he told her story OF wrong and sui.
fcring, and struggle, such rs she never had
hcard-told her how, by his own cxertions,
he had climbed ov'r almost insurmountable
distractions, so far up the hill of lifc. and
that he was yet far from tho mark he had
set. .........
She did not ask him what that was; she
did not enquire OF him as to his plans OF the
future: she was thinking what a grand. no
bic, heroic life such u one must be, drawing
mental comparisons between it and some 9th
err she knew and that night when she re.
ceiyed letter from Leon Howard. rendering
her his heart md hand, and ten thousand a
year. she sat down and wrote very decided
refusal, without reference to papa.
Nellie had learned u good lesson; her views
of life had changed; she was beginning to
think her own life had been miserably poor,
weak and useless albeit she had been &C.
counted worthy young lady, a dutifu
daughter-but to think what she might have
been. with her opportunities! And Leon
Howard whom she had considered vi nearly
perfect who waltzcd and sang so divinely-
laugh! a jcwcllcd mass OF millinery, was
all tho term she now found fit fir him. She
took up his dainty little letter. smellin: ol
musk and nsolencc, and read tngiin with
cuntemptuous curl Of the lip--"NIarry him
no, she would never marry" She would
live life that would put b shame NIL her
past vanites-a life to be proud of-do some
thing good and great, she hardly knew what.
Yes. Nellie had learned good lesson
Paul meant she should. Beneath the crust
of conventonality and pampercd vanity pre-
sented to his gaze, he saw the possibility of
a grand woman; underneath the coquettish
light of that brown ego he dsccrncd deep,
unawakened fire that might be kindled into
An earnest fame to light and warm noble
deeds and resolved that his should he tho in
huence that should developc"a pretty woman
molly planned" from the young, giddy, city
belle, who never had half dozen thoughts
on a graver subject than a ballroom or OPP
era.
Nellie was progressing wonderfully in the
good graces OF aunt Nancy; she had churned
ever SO many times, and believed she could
make cheese. 40 she wrote to her mother
and her cheeks were rs red rs any farmers
daughters, and her hand rs brown as an oak
leaf in autumn. "When was she coming
home?" "Not until the nuts and apples
were all gathered, ,"she answered. She could
not bear to think OF the hot city, with its
filth, and sin, and shame the Haunting mis-
cry and gilded vice. She thought she could
never be contented to live there again, since
she had learned how. pure and uncorrupted
the country was. ~ ,,i.tr
"Ortoher with her hair afame, 49,.
Flushed brow and purple finger tips,
Across the southern orchards came,
Aud touched the apples with her lips"
Tho October moon was ut its full, shining
only as an October moon can shine-tO NOR
row her father would be there! Nellie went
out and sat under the elm tree in the mead
ow to have good cry-she hoard firm
tread on the short grass, and looking up she
saw Paul Clifford coming-',just to plague
her." she said pettishly, to herself. Hc
came straight on and sat down without invi.
tation, close behind her.
( "What, CRYING, Nellie sorry to go back
TO the city and leave this dull farm?"
"Yes," was all she sould find voice to say.
"Don't cry any more. please, hut listen to
inc, have something to say to you.
lie had never spoken in that tone before
she could not imagine what was coming.
"You have something TO say to me, did
you say, Mr. Cliif1rd?" ..
.Ycs. ."-he swallowed n big lump in his
throat-"Nellie, love YOU" Sho started
MS ir ho had struck her. and looked at him.,
'rNhat did you say 2"
~ said, Nellie. love you; and | have
come to ask you 10 love me in return, and by
and by. when have made myself worthy Of
such blessing, will you be my wifo?"
"You cannot mean It, Mr.. Clifford you
cannot caro- for foolish little thing like
me-" ,i
"But I know best about that i; | should
not have told you 80 if 1t had not been true.
will you tell me the truth now; do you
love me ~ '1
Somehow tho heavy feeling that had laid
at her heart all slipped away. and in its stead
there came a strange thrill Of joy and with
Il some Of her old mischievous spirit. so shat
instead Of answering ns she truly felt, sho
said. "what II should tell you no, Mr..
Clifford -" 'a- W
He drew himself up little proudly-"I
should not hang myself nor jump into tho
lake: for there is much to be sought after
and won, in true life. outside Of love; but