The Placer herald., 1873-11-01
AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 1873.

he noticed that the Initials, n. r., which
had been in the ring and still were there,
the same as Nellie's.
"You are quite Fortunate" he said re-
turning it 10 her, "in having it SO neatly re-
paired. Besides the initials are just
right"
"Yes, just exactly" she answered care
leeely as she hurried back to her work.
Nellie Rcgan was a new servant in Mr.
Smiths household. But she was faithful
one, and had become a favoritc with the
boarders, the most popular of whom was
Mark Southwood, the village lawyer. But
| Of course, after all she was nothing to them
or any one else but Mrs. Smiths SER
want.
That same night, the first grand ball of
the season was TO be given by Mrs. Gray,
in consequence of which Mark locked his
office at P. NJ, and returned to his room
prnk, (your pardon, Lords of creation, but
gentlemen do prink as well as ladies) In
the meantime Mrs. Smith had be N sur
prsed at receiving a note from the fashion
able Mrs. Gray, asking her to send her SER
want Nellie Regan to assist at the tables.
Mrs. Smith was only to glad TO acquiesce
SO Nellie found herself neatly attired, and
busily engaged in passing ices, cakes, etc.
The evening had worn half away, when
the dancing ceased and supper was an
nounced. Mark Southwood, handsome,
prepossessing and witty, had been the gayest
Of the gay Lotharios present. Offering Miss
Lena Gray, the hostess's beautiful daugh-
ter, his arm, he led her to the table, The
repast being over, he escorted her to the
conservatory and seated himself on rustic
settee by her side. He had seen Nellie
during the evening, but did not deign to no.
tice her, neither did he when she passed
through the conservatory on her way to the
verandah. He was just saying: "Have
you heard from Nora Rathburn recently
Miss Gray %
Yes she replied, Sc and presume you
have. There was an engagement standing
between Miss Rathbum and yourself when
she left for Europe, believed"
"No. indeed! There was no such un-
dcrstandng; at least not on my part
think of Miss RathLum only as some silly
school girl, susceptible and Inexperienced,
who fitted across my path and whose men,
ory vanished with her presence"
Really, you surprise me, Mr.. South
wood. ! was almost confident that you
were engaged to Norre.'
Miss Gray. there ia but one person liv-
ing, whom could ask to be my wifc-and
that is yourself"
"Then am sorry for you for my heart
and hand have already been given to an
other lie stepped back, as if thunder
struck, but soon regained his composure as
she continued: "But | have something to
tell you of Nora. You know her rich uncle
with whom she and her father went to re-
side, was to make her his sole heir upon his
dcceasc"
"No, did not know it, he answered as
she paused a moment. He seemed TO
have overcome the agitation caused by her
subject under discussion. Without noticing
his remark she proceeded:
'Her uncle died some seven months
since, and eft her heiress to a million
pounds. You remember the Marquis of
NJ, who visited our village some
four years agoY'
eyes, | remember him well.
"He, it is rumored among the high cir
cles of English life, is one of many rejected
suitors"
"Indced," he said, astorsbed.
even so, and Nora retu MS TO us soon
heart wboe and fancy free as she states
in letter written recently
Now the conversation closed, and as the
two left the apartment, snow-white face
passed the glass door opening on the YER
andah.
As Mark entered the hall door, on his re-
turn home, Nellie Regain quietly entered by
the servants passage, and afterwards the
house was as silent as the midnight hours
themselves. But Marks was anything but
pleasant state of mind, as he tossed on his
bed. "W hat fool have been," he
thought, "bere is Nora Rathburn returning
to America a wealthy heiress. l suppose
she still has my ring, while l was fool
enough to break hers and then throw it
away. Well, must manage some way TO
get the ring back, and then fabricate story
to suit" So concluding he at last fell
asleep.
The next morning as Nellie did not ap-
pear as usual, he rang the bell. Mrs.
Smith responded.
"Where is Nellie this morning
"She left early, without warning"
"The deuce she did?"
"Did you want to zee her particularly ?"
eyes. Do you know where she went ?"
"No do not was sorry to part with
her, but could neither persuade her to re-
main nor learn what her intentions were.
You have not lost anything
"No."
A group Of ladies and gentlemen stood
chatting on the platform Of the depot in
Woodburn, as the train rushed in Nora
Rathbum was expected, and eager friends
were there to meet her, among their number
was Mark Southwood.