Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-12-03

looks matter for man
| meant, you see, to give Nelli'
one for her album, but | thought if
looked like that it was not best. Pv'
heard other people speak the same
feelings since, in regard to photo
graphers and l am not sure, now
that they are always perfect.
Waiting and watching, hoping ap6
fearing, let the time slip by; anc
winter came with its frost and snow
and old Mr.. Brodie told his storie;
by the fire, instead of on the porch
and the lamp light fell on Nellie.
yellow hair, as she sat knitting, and
made the prettiest picture you ever
saw and | made up my mind TO put
my fate to the test before Christmas,
and didn't, You see, when young
fellow falls in love, he loses courage.
But one thing vowed-Nellie should
take a sleigh ride with me.
Tom Armstrong had said-l heard
him-that he meant to drive the pret-
tiestcutter, the prettiest pair ofhorses,
and the prettiest girl in New Bridge.
He. meant Nelly by the prettiest girl.
His turnout might be wha; he chose,
but Nellie should never 60 with him.
She should 60 with me.
The snow fell fast, and by morning
you could see nothing for miles
around but great drifts, though the
sky had grown as clear as though it
had been summer. | called for Mel
lie In the afternoon, and she was
ready, and away we went. She look
ed charming, with her rosy cheeks,
and bright and sunny eyes, and sun
ny hair; and | was happier than |
had ever been in my life.
Going out of the village we met
Tom Armstrong, with spend'd cut
ter. He looked daggersat Us boGh-
or at least | thought so, and he went
as | heard afterward. to invite Sue
Nichol 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, but Heaven dis
poses. Things happened that even
inc that had not thought of. We
were going back, in the moonlight,
when put my hand ON Nellie's, and
made her turn her eyes toward me.
81 have been trying to say some
thing to you for long time" | said.
"Perhaps you guess what it is.'
But before | could utter another
word, my horses became frightened
at something, and away they went,
like mad. Nellie clung to me scream
ing. | did my best TO stop them
They lett the road entirely, and took
their way across the field, and strik-
ing a stump he Snow had hidden, the
sleigh overturned, and we were
tnrown ou; together.
was not hurt, but Nellie lay in
sensible. / lifted her up in my arms,
and clasped her to my bosom, and
begged her to open her eyes and to
speak one word to me. But she was
like one dead; and in my terror ]
dare not take her home. | carried
her, instead, to my sister, who, fright
ened half out Of her senses, came forth
TO meet me. She took Nellie into
an inner room and bade me bring a
doctor, and he wes there soon.
spent an hour of agony, such as l
had never felt before but at last
Jennie came to me, all smiles.
There is no danger" she said /;
"she has come 10 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 ne.
But to think she should be so sly"
she said "a gentleman's portrait in
her bosom all the while, and not a
word to me oft. I'll punish her for
it now"
And away she ran back to Nellie,
but my tears were all dried up, and
my heart was gall. She was engaged
to some one else, this girl who was so
dear to ne. Some one had been be-
fore me, and she wore his portrait
next to her heart. Fool that | was
not to guess It.
never asked whose portrait it was.
Tom 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-by.
said, 81 regret 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,
at was not youi fault you could not
help it. 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
il she had not worn another mans
portrait in her bosom
A week from that day | went to
New York, and sought out an old
ship-owner, who had been my fathers
friend.
"Tm tired of farming" said, "and
want TO try the sea rs a common
sailor"
The old man would have laughed
me ont of the notion but when ne
found me firm, he gave me what help
he could.
went on board 4 vessel bound for
China. and wrote TO sister Jennie,
telling her to send for uncle William
and his wife to manage the farm,
,..L.ol. I y,noxr -, ,-o,,ll H. LII o,