Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-08-20


again. When the strain equals resist
ance, a slight increase of force snaps
shafts of timber. If papa gets in trouble,
and son-in-law is ali right, son-in-law
must go to the rescue. sink or swim. 1t
won't answer you see. I've counted the
cost, and think il too great, have looked
over all the hedges before leaping, and
am afraid ofthe ditch on the other side :"
see how it is, answered the friend,
you have large caution"
" Am not right?"
I" Perhaps so. But lovers, whose hearts
are SO much interested as yours seem to
be, are not apt to throw prudential rea-
sons of this character in the way of their
happiness. They are usually inclined
TO take counsel of love alone"
t / have seen pictures of love blind
folded but think love z false god"
AS you will, said the friend. "But
this know ifmy heart were interested
in Nellie, / would never abandon her on
the plea that you have advanced; az
least MT before was well assured that
the false life. which by, kind of domes-
tic necessity she has thus far led, had so
fostered pride and vanity as to deprave
her understanding. Beassured, George,
that in this you sin not against your own
heart, but the maiden's!n
"I spent an evening with her last
week, ~ be replied. al went with my
mind more than half made up to let my
lips betray my feelings. 1t so happened
that she was not alone. A young lady
was her guest; a very sprightly, out
spoken, critical, rather sharp-tongued
girlof eighteen or rtwenty-smarte enough
for twenty, and thoughtless enough for
sixteen. People and things were talked
about with fiippancy and freedom
neither charitable nor delicate. Among
other subjects, the marriage of friend
was discussed, and the well or ill of the
case settled in manner that made my
cheek burn"
II never thought Amy the simpleton
to get married in that mean sort of a
way,n reL-arked the young lady," "She
must have wanted a husband! If
man cannot do better by me than that,
I'd advise him to give my door a wide
birth"
".Nellie laughed at her friend, and re-
turned few asserting words that stung
me to the quick. The present of ring
by the young husband was remarked
upon. Nellie said it was an emerald,
but her friend pronounced it green glass,
adding that nothing but diamond
would have suited her ideas. l waited
in uncomfortable suspense for Nellie's
response. 1t came in these words. "Noth-
ing but diamonds for me-"
"ThoughtIessly said, Georgew re-
marked bis friend. "You take too seri-
ously the light speeches of girls, who
often talk without thinking, just to hear
themselves talk.n
"If it were jesting," answered Lane,
.'the subject was unf -rtunate at the time.
But this was not all. My ears were
quick; and 1 took in every infection OF
voice. Nellie said many other things
connected with the subject of their
young friends marriage to poor young
man who could not afford her respect
able place in society, that it would be
folly for me to forget. WheL / left her
house that evening, l drew veil over
her image in my heart, and have tried
not to lift that veil since. The pain it
is costing me am not able entirely to-
conceal, as witness your observance 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 is in my heart have passed to the
young lady, so that can turn from her
without dishonor. Heaven send her a
happy lot in life!"
The voice of George Lane faltered a
little on the closing sentence. He was
! fully in earnest, as shown by his subse-
quent conduct. More deeply than he
had imagined was the heart of Nellie in
terested, as her face, dreamy eyes, and
quiet manner long afterwards witnessed.
! But he did not return. Two years af-
terwards she married, beginning life with
young husband just in business, who
drew from his light capital $1,000 to-
furnish his house in style suited to the
Il Il s.l, Il
ing. In three years eXtravagant living
had consumed more than all he was
worth, and under the pressure of ''tig hit
money Market" he failed and was sold
out by the sheriff, Nellie being forced to
go back with her two children, to her
fathers house. The husband, in fit OF
desperation, went to California, and
died from sickness and exposure among
the mines.
In the meantime George Lane, who
could never obliterate Nellie's image
from his heart, continued to live single
life. He was now in business, and grad
ually accumulated property. The death
of her husband, and in a few months af-
terwards the death of her father, awak-
ened anew his interest. He knew she
incidentally, with pain, that since her
fathers death she was living in the house
of brother-in-law who was not able to
support his own family. That one still
dear to him should be thus dependent,
and as he felt, humiliated, hurt the
young man. He could not bear the
thought, and began turning over in his
mind one suggestion of means after an
other, looking to her relief, But her
considerations of delicacy and propriety
were in the way. He felt that he could
do nothing.
One morning he met her in the street.
He was walking with his eyes on the
pavement, thinking of Nellie, when
looking up suddenly he saw her at dis |
tance approaching. She was poorly clad |
and had bundle on her arm, which |
Lane recognized at glance as work |
from clothing store.
Their eyes met and rested on each 9TH
er. Lane made a motion as if he was |
about to speak; but Nellie dropped her
veil over her face and moved on with a |
quicker pace. Ere the veil fell he saw /
an expression in her eyes and on her
changed and wasted countenance, that
filled his heart with the tenderest and
saddest feelings. What history of suf- |
fering was revealed!
The rest need not be told. If Nellie
lost her lover when skies were bright, |
she found him when the rain was falling
into the dark days of her life, and when
painful experience had made her vision
clear.
On the lovers conduct in turning from |
Nellie in her sunny days we give no opin-
ion. We only record the fact, and give
the reason. differences and opinions are
with the reader-and the lesson also.
THE following story is probably famiI-
lar to most of our readers: When DIR. |
Holmes was on his way to Dartmouth,
n. H., some years since, to deliver a
literary address, in place of Rufus Choate
who from i'll health was unable to be
present. soEe one asked him if he was
going to fill Choate's place? "FMl
Choate's place! fill Choat's placer Ex-