Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-29

80
q He'd up stairs TO the shelter OF her room
i December dri(ted into January. ant
4 still Willie Drayton said never a word o
going back to London. seeming bW toe
/. content to spend his time in the society
0 of his cousin Nellie.
D Only her mother ana jess. he kept tell
ing himself, were on Mark Wilton's side
4 he had no part or concern in Nellie's un.
biased affections. So. when the day,
, work was done, he sat by her in the
glowing freight talking Of London. un
/ Ill the girls head grew dazzled with the
, notion that to be the vile Of Willie Dray.
Ton and live in the great city where she
might wear gold bracelets, and display a
snowy silk without word OF comment
was to te almost If not quite lady.
1t WAS one thing to be the hoad keep
er's wife. whom everyone called Mark, il
they did not call him Wilton; but it was
another thing 10 marry her cousin whom
people always called Dir. Drayton, not
daring to make too free with SO we'll
dressed and prosperous a gentleman.
Nellie's foolish head went round in
those days, when she dresmt dreams and
saw visions in way she lAarveled at
later, when the glamour had fadod.
She liked Willie's blue eyes and chest.
nut hair. his comely face and his town.
bred ways. better than the homcly, hon.
est lover, who had no thing in common
with Willie's dandyism and fine clothes
and gold watch chain. all OF which were
so many snares in the way of foolish
Nellie Drayton.
At first Nelle's Irritation was kept oct
oil Wilton's ken, who came and went as
usual. and from whom che stole moments
to be given. when he was gone, to Willie
Drayton. But US her zest for Willie's
society strengthened, she grew careless
and saucy to her old lover, and leaving
him with her mother aud Jessie for com.
pany, boldly went ont oil doors with her
cousin, and. in the short winter GIoa m.
ing, while the clasp OF the old love was
warm on her hand. yielded her lips 10 the
kisses of the new.
"Nellic's only bit dazed with Wilie's
talk about London, Mrs. Drayton would
say, excusingy, when sho saw WiltOn's
look darken or his brow lower at Nellie's
open detection.
But Wilton would answer never 4 word
of complaint or reproach to mother or
sister of the girl he loved SO well. Only,
] rs time went on, and Nellie grew more
needless Of his silent patience, or his 81.
lent pain, he began coming less frequent.
ly to the Oak Farm, proceeding which
very much disconnected Miss Nellie, who
was well. pleased to sit as queen between
her two admirers.
You're like to lose good man with
your giddy. headed nonssnss. and don't
believe you care pin for Will Drayton." !"
Jessie said to her warningly. "Its only
the folly of gold bracelets, and foolish
bits of ribbon in your hair. that's lifted
you off your feet"
For Nellie. not daring 10 wear Willie's
bracelets every day. had taken instead TO
tie up her pretty brown hair with ribbons
of scarlet, that Willie bought in the viii
lage for her adornment. and to which
vanity of the flesh Jessie scornfully NJ.
laded. Whereupon Nellie laughed
saucily, and told Jessie she liked Willie
better than she liked Marx. to which
Jessie impolitely responded that il she
did she was greater silly than she took
her for.
Maybe you'll take Mark yourself,
when I'm gone up to London 10 be
lady, ?" Nellie suggested in reprisal.
A lady :" Jessie echoed in plying
derision. "A fine lady you'll be in a
London lodgings, living. on wiz Dray.
tons weekly wages. which, it's my opin.
ian, hc can spend the bulk of on himself
without WIFE"
Upon which Nellie walked out OF the
kitchen to the dairy, with head in the air,
full of the aatlering notion that Jessie
was jealous of her coming good fortune.
But when The cream was ehurned. and
her def little hands were busy with the
butter, the memory OF the old honest
love, on which she had leant from her
childhood. came back to her regreifuHy,
and stood beside the gilded shadow of
passion less real and less true.
Yet, when evening came, and she
stroled into the farm kitchen, after a
walk with Willie Drayton, wearing VIII
lies ribbons in her hair, and knot of
Willies buying at her throat, the fitting
regret had vanished. and the light Of the
new love shining in her mellow eyes
of brown had killed the light of the old.
As January closed in, Mark Wilton's
dropping visits to the farm had ceased
totally. At first Mrs. Drayton bemoaned
his absence with Jessie, but grew recon.
cied when she saw Nellie so taken up
with her new lover and the notion of the
fne.lady life she was TO lead in London.
where she was to have nothing to do,
only 10 dress and 60 out with Willie
when his days work was over. Dray-
ton had no true appreciation of the pleas
ures OF home, and filled Nellie's head