Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-07-14


Nellie Thurston would have to be bold
girl to venture out after seven'
DO you sneer Miss Thurston. If this gets
out'you will be sent from here in disgrace.
AT present no one knows it except myself
land he gave me a keen glance and your
escort; and promise me that the offence shall
not be repeated-and it shall pass. Other
wise it must become public
He sat with downcast eyes and stern
face, that softened gradually. You know.
Miss Nellie, do you not, that l would will.
lingly save you pain And believe me that
do this Tor your sake. If you have formed
any school-girlish attachment-'
Give yourself no further trouble, Professor
Adams. / have no time for school -girlish
attachments. am busy with other things.
thank you equally for the compliment 10
my sense. But remember that, before can
be expelled from school, it must be proved
that it was whom you saw IL you can
provei it, even to your own satisfaction, then
said /, making mighty effort not to cry. you
may proceed as soon as you please His
head rested on his hand. After q moment
he said, without looking up.
1T shall be as you say. could save you
from this disgrace; but you have decreed
otherwise
This disgrace does not hurt me. No
matter" And swept out Of the room with
all the "style" that schoolgirl are wont to
assume. The fact was, / was prodigiously
sorry to have him, of all others, known about
my escapade. All the other Professors in
school might have known it, and would
not have cared. When was alone, I shed
few tears over it. 1t was too bad! said
so over again. If it came before the school,
John would surely report. Well, it was al
most ended, and must bear it.
The next morning, when we were all as
semb!ed for prayers, Professor Adams intro
duced my case. He said it had become his
duty to inv estigate certain matter. He then
mentioned his suspicious, and the grounds
for them. And, said he.
Young gentleman and ladies, it is for you
to criminate Miss Thurston. As you know,
we never compel any student to report an
others misdemearors. That each one of you
must decide in his own conscience. will
give you moment for thought There was
a dead silence of perhaps two minutes dura-
ton. Miss Nellie, you may rise in your
place did rs he budc me, wondering at
his tone.
Nov ask you, do any of you know that
! Miss Thurston was out on Tuesday EVENING"
And how do you know it?' l waited in
IL
asked the question, and NO one had stirred
l wondered if John was there. had not
dared to look before Yes, there he sat,
looking at me quietly. The question was re-
peated. Still no answer. He had saved me.
Miss Thuiston,' said Professor Adams, 4
am most happy to exonerate you from any
blame He bowed TO us hastily, and left
us. In the course of the day managed to
see John. thanked him for his generosity.
He laughed.
NO thanks, if you please, Miss Nell. You
would have done as much for me, hope
Afterwards | met Professor Adams in the
hall. He stopped. Miss Nellie said he,
| John Grey saved me painful duty. Thank
HIM for it,
4 do, Professor Adams; and have al
ready told him so. thank you, too. You
have been even more generous than he.
am very, very sorry that was angry yester-
day."
Say no more about it, Nellie; but be very
careful in the future.
/ 4 will try, Professor
Well, the days wore on, and finally vaca-
tion came. was at home, and was really
enjoying my rest very much. John had re-
turned to our village, and l saw him almost
every day. One evening we had been at a
concert. had noticed that he was a little
more silent than usual. AS we walked home
lie said to me abruptly,
Nell, l am not going back to school,
why, John 2
! Are you sorry, Nellie9
Il am glad-you must know that am
4 am glad of that. But | haven't told
you all. have enlisted'
was stunned. After little, said, quiet
ly 'Ynu have done riuht Jnhn,
Shall you miss me 2
Il shall miss you
Just there he paused abruptly. 'Stand
here, Nellie, and look at that We were or
a little rise of ground. Below us were greer
meadows, showing very fair in the moon
light A stream of water wound it's way
through them in many curves. We stood
there for some moments. Then he spoke alb
ruptly as we walked on.
THE chances are that l shall never SCI
that again.
What could l say2 Manifestly, nothing
So I.was silent. After a little, he went on
1T won't matter There is no one left bu
Mary, (his sister , and she will not be lef
alone by my DEATH
John, said I, it is cruel in you to tall
so. We all would grieve for YOU
'Ah ! said he, that's some comfort
| AS Wo ucdTcl uoiie, dohSu hiih WHICH Nv
was going. He said on Friday. This wa
Wednesday-onlyo one day more.
But said he, Il shall not see you again
must go to Mary's tomorrow; anC
them he added, Il shall not write to you.
know you dctest letters and letter writing.
He smiled little sadly. Il shall tell Mar.
to let me hear from her that you are wei
and-happy.' l could not speak. l onl.
walked on in silence.
well, Nellie, we are at your home; anC
we must part He had taken both m
hands, and was looking straight at me.
we arc parting, Nellie. 1t may be fiua
parting. am taking, perhaps, the last lool
into your face. Give me this ring that yo,
wear on your last finger. Let pe take i
with me- took it OLA heavy gold banC
with an opal setting-and attached it t.
! bis watch-guard.
Il shall wear it for your sake. In time G
! danger l shall think Of you, and take coul
. age. Good.5y, Nellie; you won't forge
me2'
| Never, John " ,...- .-
He kissed me, and was gone. So it wa
, ended. God help him and keep him.
r Do not think that loved him, or grieve
for him. sometimes wished to sec him