Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-12-12

Then must consent to he ruined, or writ.
[ ten down as mser or churl by the whole
family Papa lives on the extension prnci-
! pie, just making both ends meet, as Infer
| Well, tight times come every now ana
| then. He has failed once in life and may
| fail again. When the strain equals the re-
sistuuce, slight increase of force snaps
shaft of timber. If papa gets in trouble
and sor in.law is all right, son.in.law must
go to the rescue, sink or swim. 1t wont
answer you see. I've counted the cost and
thinA it too great; have looked over the
hedge before leapiug, and am afraid of the
| ditch on the other side"
~ see how it is," answered the friend,
| "you have large caution"
! IAN not right 7"
| perhaps so. But lovers, whose hearts
| are as much interested as yours seem to be,
are rot apt to throw prudential reasons Of
this character in the way of their happiness.
They are usually inclined to take counsel of.
love alone.n
II have seen pictures Of love blind.fnlded,
but think love fase god"
LAS you will" said the friend. "But this
| know if my heart was interested in Nellie,
! would never abandon her on the plea that
you have advanced, at least not before was
well assured the false life, which, by kind
Of domestic necessity, she had thus far led,
had so fostered pride and vanity rs to de-
prive her understanding. BE assured, my
dear George, that in this you sin not against
| your own heart. but the maidep's."
81 spent an evening with her last week"
he replied. II went with my mind more
than half made up to let my lips Setray my
feeling. 1t so happened that she was not
alone. A young lady was her guest; very
sprightly, out-spoken, critical, rather sharp
| tongued girl of eighteen or twcnty-smart
enough for twenty, and thoughtless enough
| for sixteen. People and things we're talked
about with flppancy and freedom neither
charitable nor delicate. Among other sub
! ects, the marriage of friend came under
! discussion, and the well or i'll chances of the
case were settled in manner that made my
check burn.
81 never thought Amy the simpleton to
, get married in that mean sort of way re-
marked the young lady. She must have
! wanted husband y IF man cannot do
| better by me than that, I'd advise him to
! give my door a wide berth
Nellie laughed at her friend, and re-
turned a few asserting remarks that stung
Inc 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 no.
thing but a diamond would suit her ideas.
waited in uncomfortable suspense for Mel
lies response. 1t came in these words,
Nothing but diamonds for me-"
"Thoughtessly said, George" remarked
his friend. "You take too seriously the
light speeches of girls. who often talk with.
out. thinking"
"If it was jesting," answered Lane, "the
subject was unfortunate at the time. But
this was not all. My ears were quick. and
toos In every infection of voice. Nellie
said many other things connected with the
subject of her young friends marriage to n
poor young man who could not afford hcr
a respectable place in society, that it wOuld
be folly for me to forget. When l left her
house that evening, drew veil over her
image in nv heart, and have tried not to
lift that veil since. The pain it is costing
me have not been entirely able to conceal,
as witness your observation of change in
my appearance. But ] am strong enough
to do what reason tells me is right. No
word or intimaton of what was ia my heart
have passed to the young lady, 8" that
turn from her without dishonor Heaven
send her happy lot in life"
The voice OF George Lane fatered little
on the closing sentence. He was fully in
earnest, rs shown by his subsequent con-
duct More deeply than he had imagined
was the heart of Nellie interested as her
pale face witnessed. But he did not return
Two years aFterward she married, beginning
life with young husband just in business
who drew from his light capital two thou
sand dollars to furnish his house in style
suited TO the social grade in which he had
been moving. In three years extravagan
living had consumed more than all he was
worth, and under the pressure of "tigh'
money market" he had failed and was solo
out by the sheriff. Nellie being forced to 60
back with her two children 10 her father
house. The-husbandi in fit of desperation
went off to California and died from sick
ness and exposure among the mines.
.. In the meantime, George Lane, who coul(
, never o5literste Nellie's image from his heart
continued to live a single life. lie was nov
in business, and gradually accumulated pro
perty. The death of her husband, and in
, few months afterward the death of her father
awakened anew his interest. He knew sb
was poor, and dependent; and he Learned
incidentally, with pain, that since her father
+ death she was living in the house of brother
, in law, who was not able to support hi
family. That one still dear to him should
be dependent, and as lie felt, humiliated
hurt the young man. He could not bear tn
thought, and began turning over in his mint
one suggestion after another; looking 10 he
relief. But her considerations of delicac
, and propriety were in the way. lie felt h
could do nothing.
One morning he met her in the street II
was walking with his eyes on the pavement
thinking of Nellie, when, looking up sud
denly, he saw her at distance approaching
She was poorly clad, aud had bundle OF
, her arm, which Lane recognized at glanc
as work from clothing store.
: Their eyes met and rested on each Other
Lane made motion as If about to speak
Nellie dropped her veil over her face ant
moved on at quicker pace. Ere the vel
e fell he saw an expression in her eyes, an,
on her changed and wasted countenance
, that filed his heart with the tsnderest an
saddest feelings. What history of suffer
7 ing was revealed. The rest need not b
, told. If Nellie lost her lover when axle
were bright, she found him when the raj
, was falling into the dark abyss Of her life
: and when painful experience had made he
a vision clear.
On the lovers conduct in turning fror
e Nellie in her sunny days we give no opinion
E We only record the fact, and give the reason
! differences and opinions are with the reade
I and the lesson also.
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.,r -. ;,,st mat vour old acnuaintapa.