Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-14

You are in strange position here Your
father is not fit to be your guardian, and
you will not always meet with pawn
brokers as kind as Mr.. Levi. Now, what
you ought to do is to entrust yourself to
the care of some man who is young and
strong, and who, with your fair face and
good influence to stimulate him, will work
for you day and night, and love you as
dearly as ever your father did.
She shook her head gently, and still
the tears fell
"You think such one cannot be
found. You are wrong. If you could
bring yourself to accept his protection;
if you could persuade yourself that a
love suddenly born can be as vigorous
and lasting as one that takes years to
mature, you never would repent OF it. !
swear it
"And where is there such one?' de-
manded Levi, with mingled incredulity
and curiosity twinkling in his black
Jewish eyes.
Heref" / answered. =" want but
such an object as this to become indus
trious. have abilities, if | turn them
Il
and after ALL if the worst should come,
nothing under heaven can prevent me
from inheriting a portion of my uncle's
estate. If Nellie Lee will take me for
her husband, | call God to witness that
| will cherish and love her until death.
The little head shook no longer, and ]
felt slight pressure from the small
hand in mine. 1t may have been a
tremor, however.
Her father would never consent,
said Levi, reAectively.
Never" echoed Nellie, in low mur-
mur. He loves me so.
could have said, What love is this
that puts its idol into pawnbroker
shop?' but dared not insult the pure
heart beside me, and | remained silent.
There was a long pause. No one seemed
to know what to say, and Nellie's hand
still remained in mine. Then we all
heard a sudden violent ringing at the
hall door-bell. Levi started and left the
room, and still Nellie and | remained
silent. But involuntaeily | drew her
closer to my side; my arm stole gently
round her small waist; | felt the throb-
bing of her little heart, and then our lips
met. The compact, know, was sealed.
In few seconds Levi re-entered, pale
and agitated, He stopped on the thres-
hold when he saw us locked in the en-
brace, and leaning against the edge of
the door said:
al am glad of it. She has no guar
dian now but you.
Ny fatherl and with loud shrek
Nellie slipped from my grasp and fled
toward the jew
Poor child, he said, laying his hand
reyerently on her head, as if misfortune
had rendered her sacred; it is so-he
has left you alone"
There was wild burst of grief in that
dingy pawnbroking parlor, and poor
little Nellie Lee sobbed and huttered like
bird vainly beating against the iron
wires of its cage. The old artist was
dead; the wretched man, unable to resist
the temptation, had expended the money
he had obtained from Levi in drink, and
was found by the police in Washington
Park, stretched dead on one Of the walks.
! He had killed himself with rum.
For many hours my poor child was
|
Mrs. Levi came down stairs adorned with
unredeemed jewelry; and the black-eyed,
thick-lipped Miss Esther, her daughter
was there also, smelling of patchouli;
and Levi himself was continually coming
in and out of the shop with bottles of
cologne for the child temples, and vim
aigrettes TO hold to her nose. They were
ali so kind and so gentle to my little
Nellie in this her great sorrow, that
made q vow on the spot never to speak
i'll of pawnbroker again in my life.
But in time the tempest wore itself
away. Nellie came at last to listen to
the few words of consolation cared to
utter, for | am an unbeliever in verbal
anodynes; and late that evening ] might
have been sitting on the old hair-bot-
toned sofa, with fair round face some
what flushed with weeping, nesting on
my bosom, while Mr.. and Mrs. Levi and
Miss Esther sat near the fire, and occa-
sionally ventured to look around and ad-
mire us.
Need 90 farther? Need / describe
the quiet wedding at ST. Thomas, where
| vowed to be true husband to Nellie
Lee2 il would not interest you very
much; for there were no orange blossoms
or bridesmaids, and no reception and
German c0tillion afterwards.
But | may as well inform you that all
! predicted has come to pass. am now
industrious and independent. Nellie is
the dearest wife. that ever wore ring |
and when visit Mr.. Levi, which | often |
do for old friendships sake, / walk
boldly into his house, and have no pecu-
MARY object in so doing.
On an inlaid table in my drawing-room
stands an ivory chess-board 1t belonged
to the Rajah Of Gundarcool, and was
taken from the royal table by relative
of mine in the Albicore Fencibles, after
the siege Of that place In short, it is
the very identical chess-board which led
.. 80. 6n1insr Nallia loo IN nawn