Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-02-15

Should he come here to visit us, W
will receive him with due courtesy.
And the old man raised his hea
proudly, as if conscious of his own dis
nifty.
His helpmate regarded him for me
ment with fond smile.
"This young Robert Moreland was
winning child" said she, at length
''His bright roguish face often come
back to my recollection. Do yo
remember, James, how, when bonn,
lad, he used to come and tell you al
his plans and hopes, and persuade yo
to make toyes for him? And do yo7
recollect how fond we grew of him?"
Eyes, yes" answered her husband
shaking his head doubtfully. 'Bu
then he was guileless boy. Now he i
man and the owner of property. Per
haps he has grown as naughty and ore
bearing as his fathezs was. i asssro-
wish that he would not come here"
Then turning to his grandchild, h,
continued:
Nellie, child, promise me never t.
cross the heights again on your wa,
home from the dairy; 1 have a reaso,
for not wishing it."
Every well, grandfather" she re
piled, in disappointed tone, at tn,
same time wondering what the reason
might be.
But without yenturing to ask, Sd,
took up her pail and entered the house
followed By the fond eyes Of the ole
couple. She was the darling Of thei
old age, and the only descendant Of ;
large family. Her father, a brave youn.
soldier, had been killed IN the Mexican
war, and his widowed wife had die,
shortly afterwards, leaving her orphan
child to the love and protection of it.
grandparents. Little Nell was tn,
light Of their home, and they coule
scarcely bear to have her out Of thei
sight.
In spite Of all her efforts to the Goa
trary, nellie could not forget the gen
tleman on the heights, who had giyer
her the nosegay. As she prepared til,
evening meal, his form arose constantly
before her MIND, and his admiring gazt
seemed following her everywhere. she
wondered, over and over again, how il
was possible for him to notice her. He
had even remembered her name! As
she went about the olG-fashioned kitch
en-, setting the table for supper, she
glanced out Of the window whenever
opportunity allowed, as though she ex.
pected to see the gallant form OF Rob.
ert Moreland riding past on horseback;
but she saw nothing, save the tall trees
that shaded the road ; beyond which
stretched the horizon, Illuminated by
the setting sun.
Supper was soon ready, and after the
little family had partaken Of the meal
the old Bible was taken down from the
shelf, and Nellie read aloud from its
pages. The evening prayers were
said, and they retired for the night
Through all the religious exercises, and
in her dreams, Nellie could not banisl.
from her mind the image Of her neigh
Dor on the heights.
The next evening, when returning
from her errand to the dairy, which
was a good mile and half from lie.
home, Nell was frain to take the road
that led to the heights but calling to
memory her promise to her grandfather
she took the lower road and trudged on
with her little pail, wishing with all
her heart that she could get glimpse
Of the delightful gardens surrounding
Mr.. Moreland's abode. She had not
gone far before she was startled BY the
barking of a dog; and in few MON.
ents a great shaggy amin al came bound.
ing out from behind some shrubbery,
and stood on the road before her. His
fierce eyes and threatening grovls dlled
her with terror; she did not attempt to
run or to scream, however, but stood
still and looked the ANIMAL intentlv in
the eyes he crouched down and re-
NAMED immovahic.
"a brave girl, by Joye :" exclaimed
voice from the adjoining wood, and
presently Mr.. Moreland approached
go home, Sport :" he cried, in loud,
commanding tone, and at the same
time pointing in that direction.
The dog obeyed, and crawling along
the ground, with his tail between bis
legs, he was soon out of sight.
Oh were courageous to attempt tc
COW that huge fellow remarked the
young man, at the same time regarding
Nell with look of undisguised admira
ton.
1t was some time before she found
voice to reply, but at length she an
swered, falteringly, ''Grandfather, you
know, was once quite a hunter, anc
he has often told me that to look an
animal steadily in the eyes is the tes'
mode Of mastering him."
"You must have great presence O
mind to heed your grandfather's words
at such critical moment. Does the
old gentleman remember me ?" he ask
cd, after pause.
"Oh, yes" was the reply; 'ant
grandmother does too"
A long silence ensued, and Nellie
felt awkward and bashful. Her LITTLE
sunbonnet did not conceal her bushes
The gentleman perceived her EN-
barrassment, and endeavored, by de
grees, to win her confidence. He be
gan to talk III pleasant. familiar wa,
about topics Of common interest, an,