The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-10-02

uNunCular eXcnange, " Nellie Lee is q
capital girl, and it's sometimes as well
that she should be away from her faith
er. He and here he made an ex-
pressive pantomime suggestive of rum.
l looked at Nellie. Her large eyes were
filling with tears.
Don't be angry with me, Nellie, +"
continued the pawnbroker, kindly.
I" You know that he has very bad hab-
it's or you would not be here. NV wife
is very fond of her, Mr. Papillote, and
for that matter her father adores her,
and as he never will finish any of his
pictures without the spur of some ter
rible necessity, we contrive to put Mel
lie in what he calls pawn, and then he
is sure to work to get the money to re-
deem her. Nellie, child, don't cry"
went up to the poor child, and took
her hand gently in my own.
&C Nellie Lee, 1 said, "you love your
father very much.
She nodded her head, and shook off a
tear or two that fell upon my hand.
1t is but right you should do so.
But you are in a strange position here.
Your father is not fit to be your guar
dian, and you will not always meet
with pawnbrokers as kind as Mr.. Levi.
Now what you ought to do is to ihtrust
yourself to the care of some man who is
young and strong, and who, with your
fair face and good influence to stimu-
late him, will work for you day and
night, and love. you as dearly as ever
your father did,"
She shook her head gently, and still
the tears fell.
{" You think such one cannot be
found. You are wrong. If you could
bring yourself to accept his protection /;
if you could persuade yourself that a
love suddenly born could be as vigor-
GUS and lasting as one that takes years
to mature, you never would repent of
it ; L swear. itl''
"And where is there such a one ?"
demanded Levi, with a mingled in
credulity and curiosity twinkling in his
black eyes.
"Herel' I answered. "I want but
such an object rs this to become indus
trious. l have abilities, if turn them
to account, of that 1 am convinced
and, after all, if the worst should come,
nothing under heaven can keep me from
inheriting a portion of my uncle's
estate. If Nellie Lee will take me for
her husband, L call God to witness that
L will cherish and love her until death. "
The little head shook no longer, and
/ felt slight pressure from the small
hand in mine. 1t may have been a
tremor, however.
Her father would never consent" "
said Levi, rehectively. .....
Never" echoed Nellie, in a low
murmur.; che loves me so."' ......
I could have said. What love is
this that puts its idol into pawn
brokers' shop ?' but / dared not insult
the pure heart beside me, and 1 re-
mained silent. There was long pause.
No one seemed to know what to say,
and Nellie's hand still remained in
mine. Then we all heard sudden,
violent ring at the hall door bell. Levi
started and left the room, and still Nell
lie and 1 remained silent. But invol-
UNFAIRLY [ drew her close to my side
my arm stole gently round her small
waist. felt the throbbing of her lit
tie heart, and then our lips met. The
compact, knew, was sealed.
In few seconds Levi re-entered, pale
and agitated. He stopped on the
threshold when he saw us locked in the
embrace, and, leaning against the edge
of the door, he said:
81 am glad of it. She has no guardian
now but you"
"My father % and with a shrek Nell
lie slipped from my clasp and fled to-
ward Levi.
"Poor child !" he said, laying his
hand dreverently on her head, as if mis-
fortune had rendered her sacred, sit is
so. He has left you alone" t.
There was a wild burst of grief in
that dingy pawnbroking parlor, and
tered like q bird vainly beating against
the IRON wires of its cage. The old
artist was dead the wretched man, I'M
able to resist temptation, had expended
the money he obtained from Levi ia
drink, and was found by the police in
Washington Park, stretched dead on
one of the walls. He had killed himself
with rum.
For many hours my poor child was
distracted with her sorrow and good
Mrs. Levi came down stairs, adorned
with unredeemed jewelry, and the
black-eyed Miss Esther, her daughter,
was also there, smelling of patchouli,
and Levi himself was continually
coming in and out of the shop with bot
ties of cologne for the childs temples,
and vinaigrettes to hold to her nose.
They were all so kind and so gentle to
my little Nellie IN this her great sorrow
that L made vow on the spot never to
speak i'll of pawnbroker again as long
as lived.
But in time the tempest wore itself
away, Nellie came at least to listen to
the few words of consolation I cared to
utter; for 1 am an unbeliever in verbal
anodynes; and late that evening I might
have been seen sitting on the old hair
bottoDed sofa with a fair, round face
somewhat flushed with weeping, nest
ling on my bosom, while Mr.. Levi and
Miss Esther sat round the fire and oc-
casionally turned round to admire us.
Need 60 much further? Need des-
cribe the quiet wedding, where vowed
to be true husband to Nellie Lee? II
would not interest you very much; for
there were no orange-blossoms or brides
maids, and no reception and German
cotillion afterwards. =. -gs..sf .EfF
But l may as well inform you that all
1 predicted has come to pass. I am now
industrious and independent Nellie is
the dearest wife that ever wore a ring;
and when visit Mr.. Levi, which dc
often, for old friendships sake, walk
boldly into his house, and have no pc.
cuniary object in SO doing. 0f 'a..,,t
On an inlaid table in my drawing
room stands an ivory chess-board. II
belonped to the Raiah of Gundarcool