The Republican journal., 1871-09-14

she said dolefully; ''vou don't know how
! dread it. | am sure | don't mind povert,
in the least; indeed, | rather like it !" bu
her tone was doubtful when she added tn,
latter clause, and her thoughts reverted tt
the bills in the letter-clip on her papa'
writing-table, and the foot notes append
ed to many of them, to the effect tha
"Messrs, So-and-so must request" &c.
Doesn't do nowadays, darling" hi
said. He called her darling now ant
then, and Nellie pretended not to hear it
He only did it now and then.
81 am sure money isn't everything" she
remarked sagely.
'lt's great deal though"
''Oh, of course it isl she answered 8
little Grossly She was a shade vexed, tC
tell the truth. .'Of course it is something
always to have nice house. and servants
and carriages, and big fires, and four-and
siXpenny gloves, and new bonnets, and
not to have to turn ones frocks, nor eX-
tinguish half the wax-candles the moment
ones guests are gone-and-and.' But
she stopped, and shook some rose leaves
oH her muslin dress, which looked more
crumply than usual.
You know all the itivantag ges, Nell, y
he said; ''you have evidently learned
them by heart, as children learn the multi
plication table in the days of their infancy
Go ON
"And-and" was nearly crying,
his foolness was so provoking and
some one--a husband'-and she gave a
great gulp at that word; she couldn't have
brought it out if he hadn't been so disa-
greeable-''to love one, and take care of
one"
"There are others willing to stand in
that relation to you besides Brownlow."
"Oh !" she said, waiting for him to
proceed, but he didn't, only went on strok-
ing his moustache-in an insane manner,
Nellie thought; so she wished she had said
Where ?' instead of ''Oh - which might
have induced him to be more explicit.
''Wish | wasn't such a pauper," he re-
marked presently, and he sighed.
Nellie heard the sigh, and was delight
ed. He had left off stroking his moustache
now, and was looking into her eyes; she
felt her turn had come.
''What q delightful couple we shall be ~
she said teasngy. ''IIow we shall yawn
at each other from each side of the fire.
place; and how superbly polite we shall
be to each other; and how he will hate
me III siX months, when he finds | fulfil
all my duties properly, except that of
loving him; - and She was q little bitter
now.
"You don't love him. then ?N he asked
eagerly.
Didn't | tell you detested him2'
"Nellie'-and his face was very close
to hcrs-''Nellie, how happy we could
have been "
eyes" she whispered, and she didn't
move her face.
''No use, darling;" and he kissed the
lips which were so temptingly close to
his, and wasn't reproved. Very shock
ing, wasn't it?-es especially considering
that diamond ring on the third finger of
her left hand. Perhaps she had forgotten
it though. for she hadn't taken of her
glove. ''You see there would be such q
fearful row, and we have no money"
Yes" she said doubtfully.
Just then the waltz ended; and little
knots of heated dancers strolled in, so
their tete-a-tete came TO an untimely end
BERTHE was quieter than usual when he
reached home that night, and stroked
his moustache more than ever.
Dear little grill" he said to himself.
''1f old Moneyba@s would only do some
thing, or something would only turn up,
I'd risk it-dcclarc | would. She's much
too good for Brownlow.''
And when Nellie reached home, she di-
vested herself OF her tinery in five minutes,
rolled her muslin frock up in 4 ball in her
excitement, and cried herself to sleep
There wasn't any hope left for her; it
only wanted a fortnight to the time; and
the cake was ordered, and the bridemaids'
tinery bought. and the guests invited.
Nothing turned up. Moneybags was
alive, Bertic out of town, and, altogether,
the whole thing was certain.
''Ugh" she said to herself, chow l
hate him y She was trying on her
wreath, which had Just come from
Madame de Blanks "Ugly old thing !"
That was not at all q proper expression to
make regarding her future spouse; but
she madeit. 'Nasty, pompous old thing
to insist, too, on our spending the honey
moon at his mouldy old country seat,
when l wanted TO go to Paris, and see
all the shops" Nellie had weakness
for shops, and a partially for spending
money in them. honeymoon, indeed
o, Bertie, if it had been you, darling y
and she began to cry. After all, she was
only woman, and women are very fool
ish.
Now chance played Nellie that day a
very good turn. The Colonel had gone
into the country to see an old friend
Mrs Vince, and Clara, and Arthur, had
gone OUT and so Nellie was alone in the
house. At that moment the housemaid
entered. She was Il good-looking house
maid, and a good-natured, and a good
tempered one, and she was very fond of
Nellie, who sometimes told her her Sc.
crets.
f "Miss Nellie" she said, sMr Egerton
is in the drawing room, and they are all
OUT" and Mary Jane looked as il she
/ knew all about it.
"You don't mean it !! Here, take this ;
J and she flung aside her wreath, gave a
hasty look in the glass, and rushed down
stairs came to full stop at the draw
ing-room door, and walked in, in very
composed manner.
) "Nellie," he said, meeting her as she
entered, ''they are all out, are they not p
And he took her two hands in his, while
, she wondered if anything could have turn
} cd up, and almost thought it had.
"Yesr
} "That's jolly want to talk to you Sc
, much, dear Come and sit down on the
sofa by me-" he said caressingly; ant
she went
2 "Well P" she asked.
l "Well," he said, show is the wedding
getting on? ?"
ooh" she exclaimed disappointedly
sis that all ?"
t 'All! Why, don't you know wed
! ding is the most important thing in tn
q world, in young lady's eyes9"
''lt isn't in mine," she said gravcly, 70
l. she was disappointed, and could not hel]
: it, and her eyes began TO fill with tears
and he seeing them was merciful. Be
4 sides, she was looking wonderfully pref
i ty Just at that moment, and he longed tC
| kiss her, but wasn't sure the proper mo
| ment had arrived for that performance.
: "Nellie," he said, ''Uncle Blake i
dead" Uncle Blake was old Moneybags)
Q "died a week ago; and he has left me al
/ his money-all, every penny"
t "Oh !" and she opened her eyes yer,
: wide-''O Bertie Well ?" and she wait
L ed.
\ $50 shall be able to give you some
= | thinp iOllv for a bridal off shan't 7 2n