Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-10-21

yer availed himself Of the opportunity
TO give faint groan, with his eyes stiii
fastened on Nell.s74
''And he left good bye for you and all
the girls" continued Aunt reggv; ..he
said he had no time 10 go round among
I them. The next morning saw him
60 of in the stage. lie was as white
as the wall. He pQt out his head as
he passed, and just gave one wave of
MS hand, and then sunk back as though
he couldn't look a minute losgsrF
| NellSnnnriS lsA.gone. After a
moment sht rose from the table and
briefly saving. II am going to run over
TO Maggie's, mother" disappeared.
..AAsoQa,as the door was shut Uncle
Peter exclaimed. with mournfu shake
Of she- head. MY poor Nelly ! my
! poor little Nelly"
Aunt Peggy surseyea him with sur
prise. ''Why. what in all this world
has taken the mani Whv. father it
can't be that you think Nell cares for
Fred Bailey more than a friend! You
can put that out of Your mind, and
don't 20 worrying yourself for moth
ing. Then, in lower tone. Nell
What bats men are after all j.
Uncle Peter having unboundcd faith
in Aunt Pcggy's wisdom anil truthful
ness, was much console,i, and applied
TO his share of it and Nell's too
Meanwhile Nell made her way to
her friend. Her heart sank rs she ap.
preached the house. She expected to
find Maggie pale, dropping, heart
stricken but as she stepped on the
broad piazza to her anazement she
heard a burst of laughter, in which
Maggic's clear notes rang out. With
wonder she entered the room. aud
found her, listening To- some joke Of
Tom Harding. ) VINO sat near her, she
with bright eyes aud brilliant color,
laughing mcrrily with the rest Nell
had nothing to 10 bnt join the circle,
all receiving her with n hearty wei
come, The evening passed on, Nell
vainly trying 10 exchange word apart
her the more uneasy she felt. The
faithful irienl could look more deeply
into that tender soul than the others
could, anl she was not satisfied.
Maggie" she whispered at last.
will you come over and STAY all night
with me. or shall stay herc:
Maggie gave one glance, saw the de-
termination written in Nelrs face aud
yielded. II will 20 with YOU" she re-
piled, family.
Alter the other. had departed, and
Maggie aud Nell were on their way To
tue house of the latter. Maggie walk
ell 50 fast and asAe 50 many questions
relative to Nell's visit that there wa,
no opportunity fpr aught else. When
they reached the AoI,e. MA-5.e kissed
Aunt Peggy ~ ! laughing way, telling
her one oi Ions JOKES, and then ran
up 10 Ne!.'s room but wh.n Nell went
up, ten minutes later. she founI de
spairlng figure kneelins by the low
window. the head resting on the arms.
A. Nell approached Maggie raised
I her head. On, such pale wan face
| she showei-thc color gone, the light
| qucnchcd, Nell said not one word ;
slc slt down on Al ottoman by her and
! gathered her TO her warm bosom. Then
the bitter grief burst forth. not III kid
I cries. but ia heavy sob, and tears like
rain, till at last she lay quiet and ex-
.lAansted in Nell's loving arms Then
/ Nelrs voice gently broke the silence:
Maggie know he loves YOU dear
| ly. Why did YOU let him COZ
Trembling, creeping closer to Nell's
bosom she replied: On Neil too
thought he loved me! But il he did.
why did he leave me 80. lie never
/ said rord-no. not word"
| Nell started in surprise There
must be misunderstanding" said she
Think, Maggie, and try to tell me all
what did he say on sunday"
Nothing" replied Maggie II
never saw him, though heard some
one say he went up the choir stairs
just before service began but he was
| not there
Tell me what happened in the even
ing" said Nell, he took you to tea.
/ ''les, but after that we were not
together at all and before We left the
tea-table he seemed different; and all
he SAID TO me about going 10 China
| Was something at the table about au-
other deciding for him; if he got the
| button-hole bouquet. he said it would
mean stay but didn't know what he
| meant
But you gave it to him." cried Nell,
pushing Maggie back to look at her
eagerly.
Gave him what asked Maggie,
trembling and trying to draw nearer.
.Do YOU mean to say" exclaimed
Nell, THAT you never gave him the
moss-rose bouquet made. and told
you how to draw out? told him you
would give it to him, and that it was
made for him.
Maggie uttered sharp, cry, and
both started TO their feet she looked
wildly at Nell ,..
Tell me-" she gasp.d. II knew
nothing Of this"
The Nell told her, told her with .
shrinking heart, for she guessed that
Maggie had slumbered, and that her
well-meant act had caused much sor-
row to both hearts. When she finish
ed Maggie wrung her hands.
II knew nothing of IT," she moaned.
'.Oh my love. You did care for me,
and thought nv heart was cold to you,
SO YOU have left me and gone on your
weary way alone. Oh my love. my
love! And knew it all too late, too
late"
She sank by the window and gazed
! with straining eyes toward the distant
| hnrizon as thnuuh tllp sItt moon Ii uht pd