Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-11-28

, girls, who often talk without think
? ing, just to hear themselves talk.
"If it was jesting," answere,
: Lane, ''the subject was unfortu
, nate at the time. But this wa
r not all. My ears were quick, ant
l took in every word and every
infection of voice. Nelly sait
many other things connected will
the subject of their young friend:
marriage to a poor young man
who could not afford her a respect
able place in society," that il
would be folly for me to forget
When / left her house that eve.
ming, l drew veil over her image
in my heart, and have tried not
to lift that veil since. The pain it
is costing me | have not been able
entirely to. conceal, as witness
your observation of a change in
my appearance. But l am strong
enough to do what reason tells me
is right. No word or intimation
of what was in my heart have l
passed to the young lady, SO that
| can turn from her without dis
honor. Heaven send her a happy
life!'
The voice of George Lane falt-
cred little on the closing sentence.
He was fully in earnest, as shown
by his subsequent conduct. More
deeply than he imagined was the
heart of Nelly interested, as her
pale face, dreamy eyes, and quiet
manner long afterward witnessed.
But he did not return. Two
years afterward she married, be-
ginning life with young husband
just in business, who drew from
his light capital two thousand dol
lars to furnish his house in a style
suited to the social grade in which
she had been moving. In three
years, extrayagant living had |
consumed more than all he was
worth, and under the pressure of
a "tight money market" he was
sold out by the sheriff, Nelly be-
ing forced to 60 back, with two
to her fathers house.
The husband, in a fit of despera-
ion, went off to California, and
lied from sickness and exposure
the mines.
In the meantime, George Lane,
Who could never obliterate Nelly's
mage from his heart, continued to
i've single life. He was now in
and gradually accumula-
ing property. The death of Mel
US husband, and in a few months
.fterward the death of her father
anew his interest. Pity
nd sympathy began to drop fuel
N the smouldering fire of love-
lie knew that she was poor and
dependent; and learned, incident
lily, with pain, that since her
lther's death she was living with
ler children in the house of a
rother-in-law, who was not able
0 support his own family. That
ne still dear to him should be
hus dependent, and, as he felt,
umiliated, hurt the young man.
ie could not bear the thought,
nd began turning over in his
hind one suggestion of means af-
er another, looking to her relief. {
'ut all considerations of delicacy {
nd propriety were in his way
Ie felt that he could do nothing.
One morning he met her in the {
treet. He was walking, with s
is eyes on the the pavement,
linking of Nelly, when, looking
p suddenly, he saw her at a dis
lnce approaching. She was poor l
: clad, and had a bundle on her
rm, which Lane recognized, at a
lance, as work from a clothing
ore. Their eyes met, and rest
on each other. Lane made a
lotion as if he were about to l
1eak; but Nelly dropped her veil
YER her face, and moved on with
quick step. Ere the veil fell, he l
wv an expression in her eyes,
nd on her changed and wasted
,untenance, that filled his heart c
ith the tenderest and saddest +
elings. What a history Of suffer-
g was revealed. Was this the I
ELY of few years pastl 1t s
as; but Nelly chastened, refined, t
lbdued, and sweetened for a pur-
Il.