The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-09-04
NOW y EsCA PED BACRELORDOM.

can't describe her; perhaps were I TO do
40, or even could place her picture be-
fore you, you might not see her as I did
and do. Every eve makes it, own beauty,
and to me she was more beautiful than
any other living creature. Nellie Bro
die, whose father was the sexton Of our
church, good old man, but prosy, and
prone to tell one or two good stories
about ghosts, proved to be no ghost az
ter all whenever one found him. Many
and many time have ! listened to them
out on his little porch of a summers
night, with the moon bright above us,
and mysterious chirps and cries in the
bushes, and the smell of the evening
primroses growing far swecter and sweet
er, and Nellie, still and quiet as mouse,
sitting with folded hands between us.
We are busy folks enough by day, but
we idled away the long summer evening.
together and thought no harm Of it. II
is good to be idle sometimes in that hap
py sort of way; and to tell the truth
like it. No man could say that I ne.
elected my duty. A better farm no one
ever had, and larger crops none gathered,
and no starved cattle grazed in my mead
ows. As for my dairy-but that was sister
James doing. A good house, pretty,
bright eyed girl with warm heart, and
n laugh that seemed TO be catching.
Alone together we two were, and we
were fond of each other.
never tsld her liked Nellie Brodie,
but did not hide il from her. Nellie
and she were great friends. Over and
over tried to find out from Jennie what
she said about me-Nellie, | mean-but
the girl never would let word slip out.
A true woman hides another woman
secrets. / knew that, and built ON it.
"For," said to myself "if Nellie dis
liked me, Jennie would give me hint,
sister-like, and save me from mortifica-
ton. Either she knows nothing, or she
knows Nellie likes me-"
After that, may say courted Nellie.
She knew l loved her, I'm sure of that
even if had not said 50 out and out, she
could not help knowing it.
But there were other youno men in
the place. of course. and many willing
enough to listen to old Brodie's stories
for the sake of looking at his daughter !;
and many Jealous pang had in those
days; for Nellie had the same pretty,
kindly ways to all, and the same smile
for every one.
used to think that "no" from Nell
lies lips would go straight through my
heart, like bullet, and | found it hard
to risk the hearing of it. She must saw
it to all but one of us, and was not 50
handsome as one, and not so witty As an
other; and not 50 rich as third.
think | never knew how plain was, until
j had my photograph taken, one day, by
a man who had gallery in our village.
i thought at first he must have made too
much of my wouth and too little of my
eyes; but he showed me plainly that the
machine mdst take a good Likeness, be-
cause it was a machine, and couldn't
make mistake. Itook the things home
and put them in drawer, and showed
them to nobody; but they took the little
vanity had out of me, though | kept
saying over and over again, What do
looks matter for MANI
! meant, you see, to give Nellie one for
her album, but thought if looked like
that it was not best. I've heard other
people speak of the sane feelings since.
IN regard to photographers; and ! am
not sure, now, that they are always per-
iect
Waiting and watching, hoping and
fearing, ] let the time slip by; and win
ter came with its frost and snow, and old
Mr. Brodie told his stories by the fire, in
stead of on the porch; and the lamp
light fell on Nellie's yellow hair, as she
sat knitting, and made the prettiest pic
lure you ever saw and ! made up my
hlii'd TO put my late to the test before
'nr'S'hlas, ana didh l. ion see, when a
young eliow ialls IN love, he loses cour-
age but one thing l vowed-Nellie
should take a Slelgh-ride with me-
Tom Armstrong had said-l heard him
that he meant To drive the prettie-t
cutter, the prettiest pair Of horses, and
'ne pre.''s'' glh IN New bridge lie
meant Neiiy ny the prettleSt girl Ills
turnout might he what he chose, but Mel.
lie should never go with him. She should
go win me-
The snow fell fast, aud by morning
you could see nothing for miles around