Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-13

smile for every one.
II used TO think that "No" from Ncllie's
lips would go straight through my heart
like bullet, and found it hard to risk the
hearing Of It. She must say It to all but one
of us, and was not so handsome rs one
and not so witty as another, and not so rich
MS II third. think never knew how PLAIN
was though, until ! had my photograph |
taken one day by man who had gallery |
in the village. l thought ut first that ho |
must have made too much of my mouth and |
too little of my eyes but he showed me |
plainly that it must -bc u good likeness be- |
cause il was machine and couldn't make n |
mistake. l took the things homo and put |
them in n drawer and showed them to no.
body; but they took the little vanity had |
out of me, though l kept saying over aud |
over again, "What do looks matter for a
man?"
I'd meant, you soe to give Nellie ono for
her album, but thought If l looked like
that it was best not. Two heard other peo-
pie speak of the same feeling since, in re-
gard to photographers; and am not sure
now they are always perfect.
Waiting and watching, hoping and fearing,
let the time slip by; and winter came with
its frost and snow, and old Mr.. Brodis told
his stories by the fire instead of in the porch
and the lampight fell on Nellios yellow
hair us she sat knitting, making the pretti.
est picture you ever saw; and l made up my
mind to put my fate to the test before
Christmas and didn't. You sec when
r. 4. l..
But one thing vowed Nellie should take
II sleigh-ride with me.
Tom Armstrong had said-I heard him
that he meant to drive the pretticst cutter,
the pretticst pair of horses, and the pret;iest
girl at New Bridge. lie meant Nellie by
the prettiest girl. His turnout might be
what he chose, but Nellie should never go
with him. She should go with me.
The snow fell fast; and by morning you
could see nothing for miles but great white
drifts, though the sky had grown rs clear us
though it had been summer. l called for
Nellie in the afternoon and she was ready
and away we went. She looked charming,
with her rosy cheeks and bright eyes and
sunny hair; was happier than had ever
been in my life.
Going out of the village we met Tom
Armstrong with his splendid cutter. lie
looked daggers ut us both-or at least
thought so--and he went MS | heard after
ward, to invite Sue Nicol to ride with him.
As he drove out of sight made up my mind
to ask the question that would settle every
thing, on our way home.
"Man proposes aud Heaven dispOses.n
Things happened that evening that had
not thought of. We were going back, in the
moonlight, when put my hand on Nelies
and made her turn her eyes toward me.
IL have been trying to say something TO
\ you for long WHILE" l said; "pcrhaps you
\ guess what it is"
But before | could utter another word, my
horses became frightened ut something and
away they went like mad things. Nellie
| chung to mo and screamed. | did my best
to stop them. They left the road entirely
and took their way across field, and strik.
ing against stump the snow had hidden,
the sleigh was overturned and we were
thrown out together.
| was not hurt, but Nellie lay insensible.
| lifted her in my arms and clasped her to
my bosom, and begged her to open her eyes
and speak ono word to me. But she was
like one dead, and in my terror | dared not
take her home. l carried her, instead, to
my sister who, frightened half out of her
senses, came forth to meet me. She took
Nellie into an inner room and babe me
bring n doctor; and he was there soon.
spent an hour of agony, such us | had
never felt before; but mt last Jennie came to
me- all smiles.
There is no danger" she said. "Shc has
come TO herself; she only tainted from
fright. You haven't killed her or even hurt
her much, you foolish boy"
And burst into tears. Jennie bent over
me.
"But to think that she should be so sly"
she said. "A genllcman's portrait in her
bosom all the while and not II word to mo
of it! I'll punish her for 1t now"
And away she ran back TO Nellie; but my
tears were all dried up, my heart was gall.
She was engaged to some one else, this glrl
| who was so dear to me. Some one hal
been before me and she wore his portrait
next to her heart. Fool that Was not to
guess it!
never saw WHOSE portrait it was-rom
Armstrong; or Jack Mayden's | did not
care. When Nellie was well enough TO go
in the course OF an hour or two, drove her
home and babe her good bye
said: IL regret that | should have beer
the means of alarming you so, Miss Brodie. "
And she looked up into my face with hei
great blue eyes, and said, at was not youl
fault; you could not help it. 1t WAS so fool
ish to faint away"
And | though! TO myself "what dcceitfu
creatures women areln for the look she gave
me was rs sweet rs though she had moi
worn another mans portrait in her bosom
A week from that day | went to New
York, and sought out an old ship-owne
hwho had been my fathers friend.
I'm tired of farming" said, land wan
to try the sea us II common SAILOR"
The old man would have laughed me on
of the notion; but when he found me firm
he gave me what help he could.
. went on board II vessel bound for China
z and wrote to sister Jennie, telling her T.
y send for Uncle William and hls vile t,
manage the farm. which knew they woulC
| be glad to do but | never told her where
! was nor what | had done. | meant +
/ throw myselfaway and be heard of no NOR
! by any one. OF course | was mad; that i
!, the only excuse for me.
i So led the sort of life n sailor in the
c merchant service leads-no very pleasant
+ one l can tell you-for n year or two;
S grew no better for it. and no happier. Til
5 other men had mostly some ono Mt home
mother or sister, wife or sweetheart, TO g
It Il letter or message from at times; l of III
IS own act, had no one. And all the while, Il
s work or at mess, in the hours when waite
y was kept on deck, l thought of Nellie; say