Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-04-28
ever saw her again. But business had
its demands, and L was compelled to

|
ming desire came over me to visit the
orchard where | had last beheld the
woman who, l now felt positive, could
henceforth be enotbing-even in friend
| ship-to me.
/ approached the spot-her favoritt
tree! Its trunk was between me and
the place where Nelly loved to linger
/ made a circuit, through idle curiosi-
ty, to get view of it, and beheld-
| Nelly herself-seated as of old. HeI
book lay closed at her feet. Her face
was buried in her hands, and the heav-
ing of her bosom denoted that she
was struggling with hidden grief
1 stood over her-could have touched
her-but forbOre.
"Nellyw
She started with a slight scream.
and trembIed like leaf. / discovered
| that she had been weeping. Her first
me familiarly; and then, Tecollecting
herself, she drew back, and her man
! ner became reserved.
"You have returned, Mr.. Rolf?'-
She had never said Mr." before
&" And of course, you have had glori-
Gus time among the mountains, where
nature exhibits variety, as well as
grandeur"
AS she spoke, she picked up her
book, and started for home.
lone moment, Nelly !"
The sight of her had brought back
the old feeling. More than ever, l felt
how truly | loved heI.
1.-THE conditions, Neily?"
"Well, on my part they have been
kept-on yours, no doubt, forgotten" T"
This she said with a sm lie OF irony,
Not so, Nelly, not TO-"
Absence sometimes works great
changes"
"In me it has but strengthened re-
solve. and proved affection" | took
her by her not unwilling hand, and
pressed il with a fervor that could not
be misinterpreted.
ard the conditions ," said she.
a have complied with ihem-am
ready to keep them. If my absence
was prolonged, it was from a belief
that my case was hopeless. | could
not bear the thought of coming back
to find you anOther's. My yearnirg
heart led me here; not that hoped to
find you, but TO gaze once more upon
a spot that must henceforth be dear to
me for its evcntful, though they may
prove painful incidents,
"And you doubted ME, Fred ?n
Fred! Joy for that word. | could
have caught her in my arms. l made
a motion to clasp her; but Nelly an
ticipated the thought, ana drew back.
"And the conditions are unchanged,
Nelly ?"
" Unchanged-ifyou dcsireit And
now we must part. In two weeks Ed
gar Gait is to have an answer. You
will hear from me at the same time.
Meanwhile, the original stipulations
remain to be complied with 2"
Nelly returned my pressure slightly,
withdrew her hand and glided way.
The weight of a milestone had been
lifted from my heart.
My visits to Nelly for the remainder
of the probationary period were Of al
most nightly occurrence. Her man
ner was cordial as ever. l was an ar
dent woOer, but obtained no privilege
or answer that could be determinately
construed. She was more abstractcd
in her mind than could have been her
custom. But when / accused her of
this, she rallied ard INDUCED spirit
cf playful raillery.
1t was six o'clock in the afternoon
of the third of July. The apple bios
SONS had all been cast, and the bOughs
displayed their abundant tribute of
newly-fOrming fruit. 1t was within
a few minutes of the hour appointed
for Nelly's conclusive reply. My i'm
patience caused me to be ahead of time.
| stood uLder the spreading branches
of her favorite tree, and awaited her
coming.
She soon made her appearance. Ed
gar Gait was by her side!
An impulse of anger, mingled with
apprehension, shot through my brain.
But this was cowardly, and by an eff
fort dismissed it and was composed.
Nelly, true To her frank nature, was
the first to break silence.
Gentlemen, this meeting, as you
are aware. is held at my request. You
have both promised sacredly to abide
bv my decision, whatever it may be.
/ have now further condition to i'm
pose. Here are two articles of agree
ment to besigned by you, respectively,
each witnessing for the other. They
embody in written characters, the oral
pledges you have given"
Nelly produced a book, and spread
ing the documents-onea at a time-on
its cover, received our signatures.
=" We shall all continue to be friends.
will we not-let the issue be what it
may? Promise me this much, gentle
fasen-"
Assert was given by mutual nod
in silence.
Nelly folded the papers, slipped them
4 iratr
coin with which we were both famil-
ar, said:
= Edgar. you had the choice of the
last. Now it belongs to Fred. Head
she said. as she cast the coin into the
air.
Edgar sprang forward to note the
result.
HEAD IT WAS!
A gush of transport filled my soul.
Nelly stood in an attitude OF eXpec-
tation.
| was about 10 rush forward and clasp
her TO my bosom.
| Wba nrevented? \ litter rcilcc-
| fiol, orcurred me 20. No said Il re-
coiiinc from her side. his. after
all. j. a piece uf bgartiys,noss. The
woman is not worthy oi wearing,
whO.e affections are controlled hy tht
cast of die. Nelly, We must part,
| and foreverw
| A benignant expression on her coun'
teIance puzzled me-
Fred - said she, with an accent
sof;er and sweeter than she had ever
uttered before: bring me the coin )"
| picked i; up and handed it 10 her
No" she said; turn it over, ano
examine it,"
l did so, and the mystery was eX
planned.
Nelly's gaze now fixed upon th'
ground. / caught her 10 my arms. ant
i'm the excess of my happiness calle'
upon Edgar TO congratulate me; bu
he was gone.
What followed may well toe imag
ined. 1t is now ten years since j frs
called Nelly wife, and the return .
her birthday is never celebrated with
out some joking allusion to the double
headed coin.
A company !as been incorporate
II. VTolc.,J Co. tho n,opuf1 r