The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-22

Mr.. Cheimont soon made himself known to
all the families for ten miles round. BY means
of tact and address he got up a great many
social gatherings, and was the lion at all. He
appeared to forget all about the quiet and re-
tirement he had come to seek; for he took
Nellie to a party or ball two or three nights
every week. 'Tme," as he often said, seemed
to fly like the wind"
One evening John Mortimers jealousy
reached a crisis. He brought Miss Jennie Bell
to party when Nellie was to be with her
usual attendant, hoping to irritate his betrothed
into some decided action. He succeeded put
in very unexpected manner, for Nellie, Win
contemptuous laugh, said:
"John, you are only making goose OF your, y, >,
SELF I don't care pin whom you fiirt with /"
He saw that she was speaking truth, and the
next minute, with rare dignity, replied:
"Nelie, you are right. I have been playing
the fool, it is true. love you-God knows
do-better than my life; but you care no long
er for me. Mr.. Chelmont has won you from
me. Something tells me to warn you against
that man; but shall not trouble you with
sai{:a aaY saV''S' sA''p' 70 ''A' p''p'' '"' v '
That very same night, coming home, Mr..
Chelmont declared his passion, laid his heart
and fortune, such as it was-he did not know
how much, he said-at Miss Tyrrel's feet. She
accepted him, and it was the happiest hour OF
her life.
A little while afterward Mr.. Chelmont's book
was finished. He announced that he was
obliged to 60 down to the city to put it 70
press.
"No end of bore, my darling" he remarked
to poor Nellie, pale and crying; but such
things are inexorable as fate. l shall return
as soon as can you may expect letter from
me every day"
The next morning-train bore him away, and
as he passed Chestnut Farm in the train, ne
waved his handkerchief from the window /; and,
for the first time, Nellie felt an interest IN the
cars that so regularly sped by to and from the
city Of A.
Then came the old dead blank again. To
Nellie the reaction was terrible. There were
no more parties, no delicious love-maklng'
nothing but a dead calm.
Mr.. Chelmont did not write so regularly as
he had promised, nor were his letters very long.
He said that business took up nearly all his
time but soon he hoped for better things; and
this, with many ardent protestations of love,
was the burden of his correspondence.
John Mortimer came to the Farm sometimes,
but Nellie was very cool to him, and he seemed
almost as miserable as herself.
After some weeks he unexpectedly stopped
on his way from the village with letter.
Nellie recognized the handwriting, and tore it
open with beating heart. 1t ran thus:
My DARLING-Look for me every day
This is the last word you shall have from me
uuLil we are face to face. l..
She watched as patiently as the unhappy
Mariana in her moated grange. When ne
came he would take her away from this horrl-
BILE place, and they would be married, and she
should never set eyes upon the scenes OF her
wretchedness again. She counted the very
minutes.
But after many more tiresome days the tor.
ture of delay grew uncomfortable. Spring had
come, and all nature was lovely as it rose out
of the winters slumber. Nellie found no
charm in it for her, but shuddered with dis
gust.
One beautiful afternoon she was sitting on
the porch, melancholy and angry, and John
Mortimer, full of pity and affection, stood by
her. Her little brother Frank was there, too,
and, breaking long silence, he said
"Nellie, why are you always so cross 2"
because am tired to death Oh, how I
do wish something awful would happen-just
to create an excitement and give us a chance. u
"Nothing very awful could happen herea-
bout Nellie" 81 ghed John, ruefully, as if he
would like to get up an earthquake, or some
thing equally TERRIBLE for her special gratitica-
ton.
"No," snapped the young lady; eve can't
even have railroad accident. The trains have
been running by here for ten years, and never
yet have they failed to pass on time to the very
minute. do wish somebody would put some
thing on the track, and throw the next train
off,"
"Nellie p' cried John, much shocked.
"She laughed and blushed, and perhaps re-
GREETED that silly speech, and penitently began
to be more agreeable. She even offered to 60
into the parlor, and sing Johns favorte ballad
for him. He insisted eagerly, and presently
was in the seventh heaven as he leaned upon
the old piano and listened to his darling's an
gelic music.
In the midst of one of Nellie's songs she
and her companion were both startled by the
sudden and shrill screaming of locomotive
whistle.
White, tremulous, and with beating hearts,
they ran quickly out upon the porch. Suffer-
ing such anguish of fright as people feel but
once in lifetime, and without knowing for
what reason, they instinctively glanced up the
railroad track.
The train was rushing down the rails at ter
rife speed The whistle shrieked again. Di-
rectly in the path of the engine lay huge
rock, which had rolled down the embank-
ment.
The next instant the pilot of the locomotive
struck it, the train jumped from the line and
zigzagged a little way further, there was ter
rible crash, the cars crowded together, forming
chaotic mass, cries and shrieks of agony went
up, and for the first time in its history there
had happened an accident on the A rail-
road.
John Mortimer hurried quickly to the scene.
From a cloud of steam and debris, where lay
the shattered locomotive, human being