The Republican journal., 1871-09-14

eXultation which was undutiful toward
her parents, and unchristian towards ol,
Brownlow, ''Do you mean we are t
elope?"
"Yes," and he nodded gravely =
'.elope." He enjoyed, he delighted il
the idea amazingingly. "Listen, darling
have thought of everything, and though
| am now as good a match as Rrownlow
still they could never consent, after al
the fuss, and talk, and bother; so think
stay away till the time, and you shal
meet me, when have arranged all, earl,
one morning; and we will be quietly
married, and be off to some watering
place, and then write and tell them
The knot will be tied, so storming won
be OF any use" That was a long speecl
for Egerton to make. lie didn't tall
much as a rule.
"Very early in the morning ?" she ask
ed.
"Ten or eleven, | suppose
She was rather disappointed again.
Her idea of an elopement consisted of es
Gaping in the dead of night out of win
dow. down q ladder, with lace hand
kerchief tied over her head, and her low
er waiting below with large cloak tc
wrap her up in, and noiseless carriage
hidden in the distance, to convey hel
away. Bertie's ideas were rather com
mon-place, she thought
"1ou can manage it, cant you, Nell?''
he asked.
"Yes; 0 yes; Lucky thing I'm of age
though, Berthe" she remarked important
ly. She was twenty-one and month.
Every much so," he returned APPROX
ing. Nov darling" ne whispered,
'tell me when-one day next week, dar-
ling. Let's see; to-day is Tuesday now
darling, tell me when it shall be p''
Then she looked very demure, and
turned away her head, and said she didn't
know but after much coaxing and blush
ing, it was finally fixed for the Thursday
SO she had ten days to get ready. Her
marriage with old Brownlow would have
taken place two days later. if it had been
going to come off.
Tell you what, Nell; | shan't come
again, and so you won't see me till the
morning. Can't you pretend to 90 and
spend the day with Maggie Greton p''
Maggie Greton was Nellie's crony. "Put
her up to it, and you can meet me at the
end of the square,
Yes, BERTHE" she said obedently. 81
shan't wear my wreath after all, she ad-
dod, little regretfully.
'No; it wouldn't be quite the thing in
the street. Besides, they might render
the ceremony null and void on the plea
of insanity?" he remarked.
u shall certainly leave it behind me" /"
ebn ra,1inI Il
"All right. You bring Maggie, and l
will bring Welsh - first rate fellow,
Welsh; up to any thing. Those two
will do famously. What a dear little
girl you are Nell! You don't plague a
fellow at all, You've got so much sense
more than | have, ever so much"
''ltather pity, on the whole, we made
Nell accept Mr.. Brownlow. ."remarkedMrs.
Vince, when she heard of Bertie's acces-
sion. ''lIe might have proposed to you,
Clara; and Nellie liked BERTHE, l fancy
''Too late, now" said Clara.
"Oh, of course. What would people
say? | would not do such Il thing for the
world Besides, consider all the expense
we have gone to-"
Il never liked that young Egerton, -
remarked Old Brownlow that evening
"Ic's q puppy"
"Ihat he's not" exclaimed Nellie.
She didn't fear her elderly betrothed
much now. and felt inclined to serve him
out.
"Oh." said old Brownlow astonished,
and he put up his glasses, which were
double. with q thick gold rim. "Ah
really my dear young lady, You are very
"My opinion. Ishould think So Why,
| have known BERTHE Egerton century
and he's Il brick (which was altogeth-
er an improper speech for a young lady
to make. 1t wasn't respectful to old
Brownlow. 1t wasn't truthful; for she
hadn't known BERTHE for century. |,
wasn't ladylike; for ''brick" is slang
word. Therefore, it is not to be wonder
ed at that astonished faces turned to-
wards her Indignantly, and that scandal
lied eyes bent down upon her sternly.
Maggie Greton enjoyed the idea amaz
ipgly, and was quite willing to help. She
was her own mistress, and could do as she
liked. She had 10 mother; and her father
was book-worm, and did not trouble
much about what went on around him
which was convenient.
The morning came, and Nellie wen
round to Maggie's early. She kissed then
all very aflectionately before she left home
She felt frightfully wicked; but sh,
thought OF old Brownlow and could no
repent.
"There they are, Nellie" said Maggie
as a brougham with Egerton and Welsl
came round the corner; and they got il
and all tour went to church together
which, of course, was not etiquette; bu
that could not be studied in an elopement
Nellie was uncommonly grave.
''Believe you are frightened, Nell,
whispered Maggie, who had been doing
a side Irritation with Welsh, and seemed
to enjoy it.
sWell, you see, l never was bride be
fore," she said slowly, which was true
''It is not the least bit romantic" sh
thought, as they stood at the altar rails
| waiting for the clergyman, who was SLOW
in putting on his surplice-''not the least
l always thought, for an elopement, on
| had post-chaise, with four white horses
two post-boys, both grinning; and rose
colored blinds to draw down the momen
the bride and bridegroom were inside
Suppose it is not fashionable now; 10
Bertic knows, of course.n
Just then the ceremony began; and S,
she looked very frightened and subdued
A whole church and parson to one's-sel
is enough to subdue one
They went off to the railway static
directly the ceremony was over; ther
was no wedding breakfast. They woul
dine at Worthing, they said, as they sen
Maggie and Welsh away together, hun
CRY, but seemingly very well satistie
with each other, which they were.
Il think I'd better write home now,
said Nell, when they were comfortabl
arrived at their destination. and sitting q
the window watching the boats whc
jumped about on the water. 'sThey'll &C
it tomorrow early"
"All right, darling" he said; and sh
sat down, and didn't know what to say.
"Do come and help me, Bertie!"
"DEAREsT MAMMA-Please, forgive me.
know, of course, am very, very wicked; br
] have'-
II don't know what to say next"
This morning been married to BERTHE Egel
ton. You see he is rich now'-
''Cool," said BERTHE. "Pray, did you MARI
me for f, that reason? Very worldly young pc
SOM" but he didn't look afraid of her motive
Very" nodded Nellie, in Burleigh-liI
manner: "Wish you wouldn't interrupt. You