The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-29

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| where she might wear gold bracelets.
and display SNOWY silk without word Of
comment, was to be almost, il no. quite, .
lady.
II was one thing 10 he the head keepers
wife, whom every one called Mark, il they
did not call him Wilton; but il was another
thing ID marry her cousin, whom people
always called Mr.. dayton, NOT daring to
make too free with so Weil-dresed and pros.
porous gentleman.
Nellie's foolish head went round in those
days, when she dremps dreams and saw
visions, in way she marveled at later. when
the glamOr had faded.
She liked Willie's blue eyes and chestnut
hair, his comely lace and his toWn-bred
ways, better than the homely, honest lover,
Who had nothing in common With Willie's
dandyism and tine clothes and gold watch
chain, all OF which we're 80 many snares in
the way of foolish Nellie dayton.
At first Nellie's fiirtaiion vas kept out of
Wilton's ken, who came and went .s usual,
and from whom she stole moments to be
given when he was gone, to " lille Drayton.
But as her zest for Willie's society strength
ened, she grew careless and saucy to her old
lover, and leaving him with her mother and
Jessie for company, boldly went out Of door
with her cousin, and, in the short winter
CLEANING, while the clasp of the old love was
warm on her hand, yielded her lips to the
kisses Of the new.
"Nellie's only bit dazed with Willie's
talk about London" Mrs. Drayton would
cay, excusingly, when she saw Wiltcn's look
darken on his brow and 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 40 veil. Only, n time
vent on, and Nellie grew more needless Of
his silent patience, or his silent pain, he be-
gan coming LEGS frequently to the Oak Farm,
proceeding which very much disconnected
Miss Nellie, who was we'll pleased to sit n
queen between her two admirers.
''iou're like TO loose 4 good man with
your siddy-headed nonsense. and don't be
lieve you care pin for Will Drayton, Jes-
sic said to her, warningly. ''It's only the
folly Of gold bracelets. and foolish bits of
ribbon in your hair, that's lifting you OF your
feet"
For Nellie, not daring to wear Willie's
bracelets every day. had taken instead to tie
up her pretty brown hair with ribbons Of blue
and ribbons of scarlet, that Willie bought
in the village for her adOrnment, and to
which vanity Of the flesh Jessie scOrufully
alluded. Whereupon Nellie laughed sauci- |
ly, and told Jessie she liked Willie better
than she liked Mark, to which Jessie impo-
liiely responded that if she did she was
greater silly than she tooS her for.
'May be you'll take Mark, yourself, when
I'm gone up to London to be lady" Nell
lie suggested in reprisal.
"a lady" Jessie echoed in plying deri-
l. l. l.
lodging, living on Will Drayton's weekly
wages, which it is nv opinion, he can spend
the bulk on himself without wife"
Upon which Nellie walked out of the |
kitchen to the dairy, with her head in the |
air, full Of the nattering notion that Jes-
sic was jealous Of her coming good fortune. |
But when the cream was churned. and her |
def little hands were busy with the butter,
the memory of the old honest love, on which /
she had leant from childhood, came back to
her regretiully, and stood beside the guided |
shadow Of passion less real and less true.
Yet, when evening came, and she strolled
into the kitchen, after walk with Willie
Drayton, wearing Willie's ribbons in her
hair, and knot of Willie's buying at her
throat. the fitting regret had vanished, and
the light OF the new love shining in her mel
low eyes Of brown had killed the light of the
old.
As january closed in Mark Walton's
dropping visits 10 the farm had ceased total
ly. At first Mrs. Dayton bemoaned his abb
sence with Jessie, but grew reconciled when
she saw Nellie 80 taken up with her new
lover and the notion Of the fine lady life she
was to lead in London, where she was to have
nothing to do, only to dress and 60 out with
Willie when his days work was DONE
Drayton had no true appreciation Of the
pleasures of home, and filled Nellie's head
with the idea of theatres, and Crysty's min
strels, and summer afternoons at Kew or
Richmond, never pausing to think that the
salary he usually spent on his personal en-
ioyment might not afford the same delightful
to two. |
Looking at Willie's picture of their town
life, in its gilded setting, one cold February
while he was absent in the village, |
and her hands were busy washing up the
cups after their early tea, Nellie was startled
Dut of her day dream by a shadow falling
alhwart the open door way. CHANGING up
'he saw the stalwart figure of Mark entering
The kitchen, carrying his gun in his hand,
md bending his head as she had seen him
bend it many time under the old fashioned
'ntrance. The scarlet blood flew hot to Mel
les cheek.
"You frightened me with the gun, Mark" :
he said, in excuse for the tide which would
lot be stayed, although the small plump
,ands, Lusy among the tea-cups, never fall
cred in their work.
There's no need to be frightened" he
aid, tits not loaded; though, for all that,
shouldn't have brought it here, but carry
about with me for company like, because
Is the only company I've got now" c
There was world Of reproach in his voice, a
world of pathos in the simple sentence, to ),
Ipon the floor, and clasping his strong brown !
he girls face silently.
''Mother and Jessie are gone a.milking," d
ieilie said, forcing herself To say something, :.
nj looking down TO tea-cup she held in h
er fingers, rather than into the eyes fixed q
n her across the brown hands clasped upon =
be gun. se
81 Just came to have u word with you, q
,ellie," Wilton said, not noticing her re- "
,ark abou; her mother and Jessie "And if "
on don't mind Listening to me minute, I'D \
Ike to say il here" p
She made 10 answer, and Mark, lifting Il
is large hands away from the muzzle of the
IN, laid il in the corner Of the kitchen.
There was not much romance about Mark
'ilrOn, nor any show cf sentiment; yet what
e had to say to f;eliie he wished to say
ere, in the crimson glow OF the ire-Gght,
here he had told her of his love nearly
.ar agone. ''Where il began, let it end,'
, said to him-elf. Then he crossed the
ichen, and standing before Nellie on the
,arth, he spoke:
They be talking down in the village .,
out you marrying Will Drayton, and ! +,
It came up TO hc,r the truth of it, Nellie, J..
,m your own lips" ST.
But with scarlet cheek and dropping eyes, .
ellie stood still without answering him.
''Silence Is the same a. words, some
nes," Mark proceeded, after a moment;
d all have to say now, Nell, my lass, is .
at if you are going to marry Will Dray- Il
D, and want the promise you made me Cd
OK, Pm here to give it,"
"There's no hurry about it, Mark, Nellie
ID nervous!y, and-and-Pd rather you'd r
FAX to MOTHER
''Your mother has never come between us
O yet, and she won't now," he said, with
ct decision. "But, Nell, my girl. if 50
YOU want your promise, take it tonight,
may be when the time comes when you
wan, 1t, might not be here to give it"
Nellie felt startled, although she made no