The Republican journal., 1869-11-04
NELLIE'S SURRENDER.
By MRS. ANNA JAMES.

bi dfJ ANNA JAMES.
Il DO wonder if Mr.. Gray is engaged p'
cried Nellie Clifton, with CLEAN of mischief
in her brown eyes, which hoded no good to
the subject of her wonder.
~ hope SO for his own sake" replied l !;
''but somebody has discovered that he is still
in manly meditation fancy free"
"What a mercy it would be to him then, to
make him think of something besides his
books" returned Nellie, with the air of a
good Samaritan
''Nellie, Nellie, yca must respect the clothr
1t isn't lawful to fiirt with a minister"
"a mans man for a that, and a that"
she sang defiantly, as she twirled round like
ballet dancer ON the toe of her boot.
Nellie Clifton was originally cut out for a
firt Of the most unmerciful kind; but nature
had given her a warm heart, which went far
to save the mark. She had often made me a
little call in the morning, staying in one spot
about as long as a butterfly does to rest his
wings; and as the substance Of a woman's
letter is always in the postscript, she usually
said the thing which she came to say Just as
she was leaving our doorstep.
AS she reached the gate with whirl, it was
suddenly opened for her by young man
coming in; he put out his hand to keep her
iAOhi oiSa eaClI CJC5 uloG lOT one
long instant if their souls met, too, in that
glance as young souls have habit of doing,
only one of them knew it. Nellie walked
slowly across the street to her own door, and
Fred Olnev. my sailor cousin, came in.
II am 50 glad to see you! When did your
ship get in?'
"Who is shep he exclaimed, without so
much as how-d'ye do, by way of greeting,
after his two years cruise.
80, that's Nellie Clifton She was at
boarding school when you were here last, and
in pantalettes before that. She has more
beaux than she knows what to do with now,
so she don't want you"
"Well, l want her. which is more to the
purpose. That is the girl l have been look
ing for for years"
Chow many, Fred? Iremember when you
wore long dresses, and am not in the sere
and yellow leaf yet myself, 80 you can afford
to wait long while tor wife. Nellie needs
an elderly husband, or perhaps minister, to
train her continually in the way she would
go; for she would wofully depart from it if
you left her for a long voyage.
"Never you fear but am elderly enough
for her. Youth is fault that mends every
day, and do you see that moustache ?" said
Fred, pulling at some very soft down which
nestled on his upper lip
"The fact is, you're jealous that have eyes
for any woman but yourself; but will gra-
ciously forgive you, if you Will give me a
chance to make love to that little beauty over
the way"
"If you are really in earnest, Fred, your
one chance is to court her by contraries In
difference is the only phase in a genteman's
manner that she is not familiar with"
| Then half a dozen more cousins, hearing
90 49,
welcome and took possession OF him for the
| day.
| We either choose mission, or have one
put on us, and if people call me matchmak
er and have reason for it, I still find some
| compensation in the happiness which has
| grown out Of one or two marriages which
have helped to make
| Before Fred's arrival, had made I'D nv
mind that Nellie Clifton was precisely the
| person to tascinate studious young minister
| like Mr.. Gray. A minister must have wife
| (most OF them have two or three before they
! die) and rs Mr.. Gray had been wonderfully
| preserved from feminine snares through his
| college and seminary life, it did seem to be
foreordained that he should find wife in oul
parish.
When DR.. Percival, after a very long pas
torate, left our flock without shepherd, we
SAT so long under the preaching Of "candi-
dates,' that it began to look as if our fastid
iollsness would never be satisfied with any
mortal minister. A. last Rev. Ernest Gray
"came. saw and conquered" US with one ser
mon. 1t was sermon full Of thought and
promise; but did think it was really his
paleness which won the motherly hearts OF
ems, and settled him over the first church in
Weston.
He had seen Nellie Clifton in his pastoral
call on her father, at the Sunday School, in
which she now felt, renewed interest; and
in church there was no swoeter face in which
to read the impressions of his preaching.
At their first meeting In the sewing circle,
it surprised no one to see the minister lingsr
all the evening in her neighborhood, talking
earnestly, while she listened with sweet hui
mility. There was tender, sympathising
tone, and dash Of sentiment in her low re.
plies, which brought q new look into Mr.
Gray's expressive face. She had already made
him think of something besides his books.
He gave her his arm ON the homeward
walk, and as passed them ut Nellies door
she let her hand rest in his, while she said
with eye-lashes lying thick and soft on her
checks:
II am so glad you think there is some good
III ho' VIII I" J w 10 ooou IL YOU Will nell
me-"
my dear Miss Nellie" the minister be.
gan. And then I realized that was lis.
tencr, and fled.
Vanity is not less fourishing in tue minis
terial breast than in the rest Of the sex, and
there is nothing like humility for striking il
the right way, which Nellie knew by instinct
Woman generally fall in love with mon whom
they believe to be great deal better or
great deal worse than themselves. In the one
case, they set up an idol and worship it te
their hearts content; in the other they are en-
listed heart and soul to win the loved one
from the error of his ways. am inclined t.
think that the reprobates, of the two, have
the most chance Of success
Fred Olney was not by any means repro
bate, yet like tS every other sailor there wa