The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-11-19

IS she SAT knitting, making the preLtieSI
picture you ever saw and made up my
mind TO pat my fate to the test before Christ
mas and didn't. You see when young fell
low is in love he loses courage. But one
thing vowed-Nellie should take sleigh
ride with me.
Tom Armstrong had said--I had heard
him---that he meant TO drive the prettest
cutter, the prettiest pair of horses. and the
prettiest girl at New Bridge. He meant Mel
lie by the prettie,t girl. His turnout might
be what he chose, but Nellie should never
90 with him. She should 60 with me.
The snow fell fast and by morning you
/ could see nothing for miles but great white
drifts. though the sky had grown as clear
| as though 1t had been summer. I 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 her
sunny hair was happier than had ever
been in my life.
Going out of the village we nae. Tom
Armstrong with his splendid cutter. He
looked daggers at us both-or at least |
thought so-and he went, as 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
everything on our way home,
"Man proposes and heaven disposes."
Things happened that evening that I had
not thought CT. We were going back, in the
moonlight, wien 1 put my hand on Nellie's
and made her turn her eyes toward me.
Il have been trying to say something
to you for long time," said; "perhaps
you guess what 1t is"
But before could utter another word,
my horses became frightened at something
and away they went like mad things. Mel
lie chung to me and screamed. I did my
best to stop them. They left the road
entirely and took their way across a field,
and strlkirg against stump the snow had
hidden, the sleigh was overturned and we
were thrown out together.
I was not hurt, but Nellie lay insehsble.
I lifted her in my arms and clasped her TO
my bosom, and begged her to open her eyes
and to sreak one word to me. But she
was like one dead, and in my terror dared
i not take her home. | carried her, instead,
to my sister who, frightened half out of her
senses, cams forth to meet me. She took
Nellie into an inner room and bade me
bring doctor and he was there soon.
spent an hour of agony, such as l had
never felt before but at last Jennie came
20 me. all smiles
There is no danger" sic said. ''She has
come to herself; she only tainted from fright
You haven't killed Der or even hurt her much,
you foolish boy"
And burst into tears. Jennie bent over
me.
"But to think that she should be SO ely"
she said. "a ger leman's portrait in her
bosom all the while aid not word to me
oft ! I'll punish her for it now"
And array she ran back to Nellie but my
tears were all dried up. my heart was gall
She was engaged to some one else, this girl
who was go dear to me. Some one had been
before me and she wore hts portrait next
to her heart. Fool that I was not to g1ess
it 4!
l never saw whose portrait it was-Tom
Armstrong; or Jack Mayden's did not care
When Nellie Vas well enough to go, in the
course of an hour or two, drove her home
and babe her good bye.
| said :-"L ragret that should have been
the means of alarming you SO, Miss Brodie."
And she looked up into my face with her
great blue eyes, and said, 1T was not your
FAULT you could not help 1t. 1t was so
foolish to faint away"
And thought to myself "what deceitful
creatures women are ~ for The look she gave
me was as sweet as though she had not worn
another mans portrait in her bosom.
| A week from that day ] went to New York.
aud sought out an Old ship-owner who had
been my fathers friend.
| Pm tired Of farming" L said, land want
to try The sea as q common sailor"
The old man would have laughed me out
of the notion but when he found me firm he
gave me what help he could.
| | went on hoard vessel bound for Chine.
and wrote to SISTER Jennie, telling her to send
for Uncle William and his wife to manage
the farm, which knew they wond be glad
to do but never told her where I was nor
what I had done. I meant to throw myself
away and be heard of nc more by any one
Of course was maa that is the only excuse
for me.
| SO led the sort of life sailor in the
merchant service leads-no very pleasant one
/ can tell you-for a year or two I grew no
better for 1t, and no happier The other
men had mostly some enc at home-mother
or sister, wife or sweetheart, to get letter
or message from at times I Of my own act,
had no one And all tie while Of uuo.i- -.