The Republican journal., 1871-09-14
A Girls Romance.

Mabel" waltz, and the dancers were
whirling like mad
YES" she said, and she said it little
ruefully, as if she still carried her heart
about with her, and had not given it to
the keeping of her future lord and master
81 don't believe you care for him. Nellie
Vince, though you are going to marry
him.
NC" she answered slowly; II don't.
Indeed, on the whole" she added candid
ly, 81 think l detest him."
The Ninces were miserably poor
those most unfortunate of beings, poor
gentlefolks-the sort Of people who, in the
course of Il season, suffer dozen martyr
doms from petty notifications, with an
endurance which, if known, would excite
the envy of the ghost of the never-to-be-
forgotten Spartan boy, and extinguish his
glory forever; the sort of people who
have an appearance to keep up, and moth
ing to keep it up upon. They gave dinner
twice a year, and starved tor q fortnight
before. and grumbled for fortnight after
it. They never went to q theatre unless
they had orders given to them, and then
they hired q brougham, because cabs cost
nearly rs much and were more vulgar;
and they stinted themselves for Il week
after the Indulgence. The girls went to
all the parties they were invited to, "be-
cause" explained polite Mrs Vince, to
Colonel Vince, who, ifhe had little money,
had much pride, because" said Mrs.
Vince, they might get Off" Besides,
going to parties We're less expensive than
giving them; so the girls went in their
everlasting muslins, which were ironed
when they were tumblcd, and washed
when they were dirty. IIeigh-ho! They
were so poor, though they did not show it
much that is, not much, considering.
They wore cheap gloves and common
dresses, and made the latter at home and
they passed by the bonnet-shops, which
they were never allowed to enter, with a
sigh. They pretended to like walking
better than driving and to dislike all
wine (that is, at home), excepting claret,
which was twelve shillings u dozen. And
they kept small fires, and threw up the
cinders; and didn't feel inclined to 90 to
church on collection Sundays-that is, the
Colonel and Mrs. Vince didn't, Nellie,
and Clara, and Arthur went to high
church, where there was always Il colec-
ton; but they ignored the bag altogether,
and when 1t came round, sang very loud
ly and looked at their hymn-b books very
attentively; so they didn't notice it.
Nellie was the eldest girl, pretty rather,
and decidedly spirited-clever too, and
lively and amusing. She was twenty-one
all but a week, and looked younger and
felt older. She had been in love with
BERTHE Edgerton all her life; but he had
nothing besides his handsome self and
pretty name to boast of; so, though they
understood each other rs perfectly as if
there had been q dozen proposals between
them, they bowed to circumstances. He
was supposed to be barrister, but he
had never held a brief in his life. He had
an uncle rolling in money, who had sent
him to college, and promised to do some
thing for him, and who had paid the fees
for his entrance at the Temple; but Ber-
tie, though he had acquired great knowl-
edge Of the world, he had acquired little
knowledge Of law, so his uncle was not
best pleased. Now, ''Money- bags" as
his nephew irreverently called him, was
seventy five and not amiable-so he would
not have been lamcnted; but he showed
no signs of dying, and if he had, perhaps
there might be nothing in his will for Ber-
tie, though he was his nearest relation.
Altogether, therefore, things were hope
less; they could not marry on love and
live on air; besides, BERTHE had q righte-
Gus horror of poverty. Nellie was roman
tic, very decidedly romantic, though she
pretended to be matter-of-iact. In her
heart, she was horribly disappointed that
BERTHE didn't propose Gretna, or its eouiva-
lent, (since that useful institution was
abolished). She was in love, very much
in love, and If he would have only asked
her, would have married him, and settled
down to gentle poverty, for the rest OF
her days with the greatest satisfaction
but he didn't. On the contrary, he be-
walled his poverty, and said he thought
he should propose to '' Plantations"-
Plantations being West Indian heiress
with plenty Of money and little beauty
Therefore. Nellie, after being talked to-
and having all the advantages explained
to her by her polite mamma, and being
lectured and called my dear daughter
by her proud papa, had accepted old
| Brownlow. They were to be married in
July, and this was May so she had two
months freedom yet, and then-but she
resolutely forebore to look any farther.
| Old Brownlow was as rich rs jew sc
it was an excellent match, people said
end they were more attentive to the Vim
ces in consequence, especially to Nellie
He wasn't handsome. He was tilty-fivt
and rather gray. He wasn't over heat
and ears in love with Nellie-he adore(
himself too much for that. The fact was
he wanted a mistress for his house, and
some one to head his table, and he though
she would do. He had hesitated between
Nellie and her younger sister Clara Clar;
was prettier, but Nellie had more spirit
and that had decided him. He liked he
independence and spirit, though he intend
| ed to curb it as far as he was concerned
Clara would have accepted him mucl
more willingly; she liked the pamps ant
vanities of this iniquitous world, ant
rather envied Nellie on the whole, an(
admired her diamond engagement rims
particularly.
Nellie had not seen BERTHE since til,
evening that ring had been placed on hel
not at all willing finger, till they met Il
the Wilfords' party. Luckily, old Brown
low was not there; so they had it all thei
own way. They had danced about ;
dozen bars of the 'Mabel," and then be
taken themselves to that dimly lighted ant
remarkably convenient conservatory.
"Detest him!" said Berthe; "pleasant
certainly" but he seemed rather pleased
on the whole, or at all events, decided
not sympathizing, as he ought to hav
been.
"Indeed, do, Berthe" They were sit
ting down now in the cosiest corner Q
that cosy Irritation harbor.
"Why do you marry him, then p"
| ts0b hole ca rich - cba rop1;aJ n 1;ttl
scornfully.
"Worldly young person you must be,
he said, looking as if he considered her
curiosity, but there was look in his eye
as he bent them down on her which Nelli
didn't see, OF her heart might have fluttel
ed unpleasantly-" very worldly youn
person." he repeated, " but not at a
singular, though