The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-24

thanks Of tho parents for my kind
ness. / mechanically put on my hat
and gloves, and went through tho
ceremony of saying goodbye; but
still in drcm, with my eyes seeing
nothing but u "facc," with Ncllio her.
self filling tho whole. of my Door
heart. 1t was all up with me. l
was mad in love!
What was tho good of struggling
with myself? My love for Nellie
was absurd but gigantic hopeless
yet a painful joy to myself: The
onco or twice week that
went TO Spa.road were white days in
the calendar Of my life. 1 was no
longer bluff in speech, honest in pur-
pose. Lovo had cnticcd Inc into q
state of dcccitfulncss of which 1 was
thoroughly ashamed; and many an
hour was passed in. finding prctcxts
or concoctHg purely imaginary reas-
ons for. calling on the Listers. The
only salvcs L had to my rcproachlul
conscience was the sight of the inva-
I'D fathers genuine enjoyment of the
hothousc grapes and other comcsti-
blcs that l invariably carried with me
to insure my presence being acccpta-
bic; for in spite of the earnest. cordi-
ality with which l was ever wclcom-
ed, passions timidity dispersed all tho
little scll.rcliancc had and made me
doubly distrussful of my own cavita-
tons. Ono afternoon, on entering
the little sitting-room, l was surpris-
cd to find visitor whom had never
met beforc-a tall young man whose
proportions were more strapping than
elegant in my eyes; but the dawn Of
jealousy probably made mo survey
him through q sort Of yellow glass.
f. "Mr. Fleming, Mr.. Urling," in Mrs.
Listers gentle tones and and my rival
for an instructive feeling told me
he was Ncllic's lovcr-wcrc formally
introduced to each other; and then I
sat down with an "all-ovcrishncss"
about me to analyse his defects. I
did not like the young giants looks:
there was q decided boldncss about
his countenaLco which was positive
ly rcpulsivo to me. Physically he
was fine animal, but with no thor
oughbrcd points about him. There
was a rcpellant familiarity in his ad-
dress too that irritatcd me and made
me pugnacioucly inclined towards the
cane with a shewy knob which he
aggravatingly "twiddlcd" round and
round in his broad red hand. 1 was
either det,op or else / had the misfor-
tune TO be a wet blanket; for convcr-
sation Jagged terribly, and after few
minutes the gentleman made his
adicux, accompanied TO the door by
hostess
L remained sole monarch of
all [ surveyed for while, hoping
that Nellie would. put in an appear
ance; but not.a bit of it-"hope' had
only "told a fattcring tale" and
when the door rc-opcncd it was to ad-
nit Mr.. Lister.
"Nelie is out, Mr.. Fleming. Very
provoking, for she knew Mr.. Urling
might call, as it's Saturday. and the
city Offices close early. What do you
think of him?" And the good lady
folded her hands quietly in her lap,
and looked me full in the face, as she
placidly asked tho question. And
there l was, conscious that I was, at
tivc-and-thirty year Of age, blushing
like great awkward schoolboy, who
was being catcchised before q room
ful of people. So Nellie had some
thing in common with this handsome
Goliath, or else her presence or alb
sence on that particular afternoon
would scarcely have been a subject of
pleasure or regret to her mother. L
felt that l hated the fellow with
hcathenish hatred. But had to re-
press the feelings. that kept bubbing
up worse than any eruption of O. vol
canic mountain, and to say calmly
IL think he is very fine young man,
ma'am."
"Ycs." she answered mildly, and q
little disconnectedly, "a very fine
young man-so good-loolzing, and in
love WITH Nellie for two years. lie
is son of Crling and Coat least
of Urling himself-the great Jewel
lers in Oxford-stret, you know; re-
tired, of course. And largo fortune,
keep their own carriage in nice
place at Staines. Alfred is the eldest
and is in an "oil'' business, likely to
become partner in few years. But
Nellie, though am her mother, and
shouldn't say it, is very good girl,
but SO strongheaded."
Strong-headed! What on earth
did that mean? Had Nellie deter
mined for or against the match with
the oily young man?
off Miss Lister likes him, and he is
eligible, why doesn't sho marry him ?"
That's tiff she likes him; but
she doesn't seem to know moro than
the babo unborn her own feelings.
You see, Mr.. Fleming, my husbands
health is not very good, and I am not
strong. 1t would be comfort and I
am not strong. 1t would be q COM
fort to US both to know Nellie had O
good kind husband, who had taken
care of her if wero taken away. She
has q great respect and liking for
you."
o, how I WINGED at those words!
They made me feel 30 much as if I
was her godfather.
"And if you would advise her to
marry Mr.. Urling, she might think
seriously over it. Now, stay and
have cup of tea; and when she
comes in I'll leave you to do your
best"
ftNJ.k L. L. 1r