The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-01

ases went into the pafiof for It wns now
bst 10 Q,slaek An1 ~ tnia did - -
for K. Nsllis's home, until s O'clock II
ths altsrnoon. She was sitting By the
winleu watching the pessers-by, whea
the door opened and some ons enteesd.-
Shstarned ard beheld esntlsnaa-a
very tail and : very handsoms gentleman
-ons With : Ans form and ! handsome
fscs: NTH parplish black Asir, and eyes
that were 'deeply, dartly blue" He
looked - though he had been born to
Command ~ afnys 10 win hsAtles and to.
break young maidens' hearts. He had
some fine, large apples which, with An
indescribable grace, be offered Nellie
Shc accepted them. and before she fairly
knew what she was doing she was carry
ing on spirited conversation with him
laughing merrily ct his witty sayings.
Suddenly Il flashed into her mind that
perhaps she WAS making too free With
stranger. She ross 70 leave the room
when he. divining her intention, took his
leave. Being left alone, our heroine again
turned to the window for amusement, but
her thoughts soon flew away from the
passers-by to TIE dear ones she would in
. few hours see. While she was thus
nasiug the dinner-gong sounded, and at
the same moment her apple friend entered,
introduced himself a. Mr.. Clifton, and
begged to escort her down to dinner, sta
ting that he knew she was unattended
and thought it would be very embarrsss.
ing for her to enter the dining. room alone.
Nellie Vas touched BY this mark Of kind
ness and consideration Of her feelings
from q stranger, and right gladly did she
accept Mr.. Clifton's offer. Merrily passed
the dinner hour. Nellie acknowledging to
herself that never before had any gentle
man 30 interested her After dinner they
proceeded to the psrlor. whore Nellie was
left BY Mr.. Clifton. About 3 O'Clock be
returned, bringing with him some wine
which he offered to Nellie. but she de-
elined taking any. Mr.. Clifton quietly
seated himself on the sofa and commenced
talking 10 our heroine. In few moments
he had learned her name and where she
was going. He told her that business
would call him to K and be asked per-
mission to visit her in her own home, and
this she granted.
But bark low rumbling and . dis
tant whistle are heard. "The train is
coming" excIaims Nellie, and bastens to
don her cloak and bonnet. Ia few mo-
ments she was seated in the cars and be-
ing rapidly whirIed towards her home
Station after station is passed, but it
seems to Nellie as though she never
would reach home. But finally she hears
the dear name of X. called out, and 10 o
few moments the cars have stopped. Our
heroine jumped from her seat, rushed to
the door Of the car, where she met an ac-
Quaintance Who conducted her to the
"bus.'' After what to Nellie seemed an
age she reached her home and was clasped
in the loving embraces of parents, BROTH
ers and sisters. 1t was happy meeting,
but We have not time to dwell upon it.
A few days after Nellie's arrival home
gentleman called to see her, and upon
entering the parlor she Immediately rec
ognized her "apple friend She gave
him kindly welcome and when he rose
70 go, invited him to call again. He did
call again-in fact, he never seemed to
tire OF calling-and on Nellie's next re-
turn to school she was the betrothed
bride Of Herbert Clifton.
Young ladies. l would not advise you
to act IS freely with strange gentlemen as
Nellie did-it might not secure to YOU
as it did to her kind. loving. intelligent
husband.
Nellie is now happy bride and daily
blesses the Faculty who gave the studen.s
Of Iowa University q vacation during the
holidays.
Kind reader. my story is ended and
will bid you s'adieu."
Don't view me with . critics eye.
But pass my imperfectfons byp