Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-07-30
IFrom the 81. James Magaziue.I
A TR u E Low E R.
IN THREE CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER Ill.
SOS nrylrN1 rouJouRs. =.

Ia
"r,,hl upon him Nelly saw that he was
.,dlrnel, and sclf-reproachfully tried To
rnrrr him. pctting him about his headache,
oWd asking him to take u quiet walk with
her lie accepted the proposal with II smile;
Int with none of the still and deep delight
no. would have manifested II day before. lie
lur,y The spirit was not there; what did the
I"ttcr matter? The weary time passed, and
,lrv went up 10 town: Nelly to her fathers
h,,,se Shafto to bachelor-quariers in Plea
Iily The furnishing of his house was so
namrly finished, he had allowed 1t to be com
neted, only saying to his AGENT
.lt could be sold, furnished, suppose, II
did not want 1t, after all? p lie had ceased
IN lease Nelly about carpets and chairs, and
hnl. when taken out once or twice TO assist
in the selection of her wedding tinery, the
feeling of choosing faggot for his own fu-
neral pyre
him al times, aud at others, when Nelly was
al MI tender, grew painful almost beyond
hearing. 1t was so hard to be near her, and
ferl her lost to hm-even harder TO lose one
of those dear looks or touches which would
soon be taken from him forever For he be-
leycd most earnestly that Kilcourcy would
come back and claim his bride-so earnestly,
indeed that he sometimes doubted the neces-
sity OF keeping up the show of his engage
ment any longer but his tender care for
Nelly conquered, and he said to himself, with
A manly sigh, "lt's little enough to bear for
her sake: and ought only TO he grateful ii
has come in this way SO that may believe
in her and love her still. II is not her fault
II her hearts too true
Sumrh for his thoughts, which influenced
hi, dcmran0r unCons,iuIIsly 10 himself. Over
attention, ycarning for lis return, were al M
end Nelly lover did not iidget by his clumsy
caic,ses blind praise, uneasy anxiety now.
He still cared for her comfort and pleasure;
Int calmly, and without the wistfu glance,
the shaken voice that used 20 say, in answer
To her remorse(ul, Z" How shall | thank you
enough drar!" o Nelly, only give me IA
little love"
''lou behave as if you were my father"
She said, once in these latter days, half-piqued,
halfgricyed at the change; and Shafto had
answered sadly, 81 thought the other leased
You, my darling.
The day originally fixed for the wedding
was drawing near; but another day was
nearer still, as Elphinstone knew-that on
which the Calcutta mail-steamer was cX-
pccrd in
For week or so he had been grave and
almost cold, fearing lest his selt-command
should give way altogether; but now, on the
morning before the dreaded day, he thought
he might he himself once more-might let his
love speak, since, in honor, ii would be for
tile last time.
He went early to the Westerns, to ask IL
Nelly would ride with him, as she occasion
aly lid he wanted to have her to himself
and was glad TO find her alone in the drawing
nom, sitting by the window, resting her head
against the sash, looking dreamily over the
bon Of mignonette at the long morning
shadows across the sunny street
Early summer was at its brightest: all the
world in bloom, the scent of great nosegay
Of roses he had sent her filled the room, soft
red light cleaned through the half-drawn
blind On her cheek and her white dress, and
Il iAint breeze shed the leaves from rose she
l@D stuck idly in her hair in crimson drops
nu her neck Slafto was not generally
imaginative; but the pathos of his position,
Sd near its climax, made him so, and he
Thought the red leaves were like drops of his
hearts blood which fell unheeded by her-by
all. Its mg flower that's falling, SAID he.
Wy hope just when- all the world is in
hloom
Nelly was sorry to see him, for il happened
That today was the anniversary of her first
meeting with Denms, and she had wished to
kOp ii as il We're, sacred to him, for the last
luri sinrc, when she was NhaltO'S wife she
Nn"d have no right TO any such memory
sue lmi dreamed, too, the night before, one
"l lluSr dreams vague as To plans and cir
tin,anCts; but so keen, so real in the sense
ol presence and ncarness, that they leave an
impression for days, and seem almost to be IL
contact Ol souls whose bodies are miles apart.
~ She looked up from visions of her lost
an aui tn, hgr nj tNh at Il
rIdniiycly regarding her.
'Oh! its you, dear, in a slightly petulant
TOME adding, after moment, "What is the
EaltcrT'
She thought that lie had no right to be un-
happy lie was rich; he had got, or was 10
gcI what le wanted, at her Dennis expense,
Aai gained by his loss and hers
GENERALLY, think, the uncomfortable pa.
lhos of Shafto troubled face, with It's almost
hcatl-brokcn smile, would have shocked and
touched her; but to-day her own anguish,
Wakoncd afrcsh, mastered ALL
S1e repeated her question little irritably.
What is it2 Whit has happened, dear ?
Nothing" said Shafto patiently, COMING
up taking her listless hand and kissing it il
meek and reyerential manner, and ther
STOPPING to pick up, with sort of fellow
l'eillg, ihe rose leaves scattered round her.
HVll why 40 you look so
- didn't know looked anything particu
I'r' dllu't mean to. came to ask whcthc
You'd take Il ridc?
NO, dear said she wcarily; ''not thi
morning"
"Its 50 jolly out, remarked Shafto, plead
.linEy. And you liked the new mare las
time
know did, but don't want to ride"
WIN you take walk then, in the Row !?
I'm, 4o, cried she, starting up, and fol
EIilhS his ignorance of her night vision
li9w can you ask me p
Do, pleaded he, taking her languid han
III IN nom his and pressing it hard. 81 want yo
"' :" myself to day, my pet. Do come.
"h' ShJtol' cried she, standing uprigl
anu pushing him from her Indignantly, "can
l"u SEE I'm miserable this morning? An
9eI you go ON teasing me so"
ne was tempted to reply that he was mis-
'ao' loo-to be cold and stern; but his hab
VI making allowance for everything weak Q
PASSIONATE that crossed his path, conquered
.u'l ne only said, with an attempt at a smile
'ough his lips twitched little
1"Ine out with me, my treasure, and te
Inc about it "
me smile of complacent ownership, q
H,r ill'ught his importantly, his suggestiO
W. H'rlscIt us contidant for that sad and ST
n,'N n memory were too much for Nelly in ht
lts,ill temper to endure.
L.n i' you! Lose the poor happiness hay
,,a lrS' l mill tell you, then, though
T.i'l. T&nV,- wanted to spare you too. l al
"''aNlns OF him-of Dennis, Of"
r passionate sob choked her, the tea
i.Slled over her flashing eyes, and she dartt
Of e..