The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-26
Farmer Browns Story.

so, or could L place her picture before
me, you might not see her as 1 did and
do. Every eye makes its own beauty,
and to me she was more beautiful than
any other living creature. Nellie Bro
die, | mean. Lovely Nellie Brodie,
whose father was the sexton of our
church, a good old man, but prosy, and
prone to tell one or two good stories
about ghosts, which proved not to be
ghosts after all, whenever one met him.
Many and many time have l listened
TO them out in his little porch, of sum-
mer's night, with the moon bright
above US, and the mysterious chirps
and cries in the bushes, and the smell
of the evening primrose growing far
sweeter and sweeter, and Nellie still
and quiet as a mouse, sitting with
folded hands between us.
We are busy folk enough by day, but
we idled away the long summer even
ings together, and thought no harm of
it. 1t is good to be idle sometimes, in
that happy sort of way, and, 10 tell the
truth, like it. No man can say neg
lected my duty. A better farm no man
ever had, and larger crops none gath
cred, and no starved cattle grazed in my
meadows. AS for my dairy-but that
was sister James dOings. A good house,
and a pretty, bright-eyed girl with a
warm heart, and a laugh that seemed
to be catching. Alone together we two
were, and we were fond of each other.
/ never told her | liked Nellie BrOdie,
but l did not hide it from her. Nellie
and she were great friends. Over and
over again tried TO find out from Jen-
ME what she said about me-Nellie,
mean-but the girl never would let a
word slip out. A true woman hides an
others secrets. l 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 mortiiica-
tiOu. Either she knows nothing, or she
knows Nellie likes me-"
After that | may say I courted Nellie
She knew l loved her, Pm sure of that;
even if had not said so out and out,
she could not help knowing it. But
there were other young 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
many a jealous pang l had in those
days, for Nellie had the same pretty
kindly ways to all, and the same smile
for everyone.
1
lies lips would go straight through my
heart like bullet, and found it hard
to risk the hearing of it. She must say
it to all but one of us, and / was not Sc
handsome as one, and not so witty as
another, and not so rich as third.
think | never knew how plain | was
though, until / had my photograph
taken one day, by a man who had 8
gallery in the village. l thought al
first he must have made too much o.
my mouth, and too little of my eyes
but he showed plainly that the machine
must take a good likeness, because il
was a machine, and could not make &
mistake. 1 took the things home, anC
put them in a drawer, and showed them
to nobody; but they took the little van
ity out of me, though | kept saying
over and over again, "What do look:
matter for man ?" I'd meant, you see
to give Nellie one for her album, but
thought if looked like that, it was best
not. I've heard other people speak o.
the same feelings since, in regard tC
photographs; and l am not sure now
that they are always perfect.
Waiting and watching, hoping anC
feeling, l let the time slip by, and win,
ter came with its frost and snow, anC
old Mr. Brodie told his stories by th,
fire instead of the porch, and the lamp
light fell on Nellie's yellow hair, as sh,
sat knitting and making the pretties
picture you ever saw; and / made uI
my mind to put my fate to the test by
Christmas, and didn't. You see whel
young fellow is in love he loses cour
age. But one thing 1 vowed-Nelli
should take sleigh-Tide with me.
Tom Armstrong had said-I hear
him-that he meant to drive the pref
tiest cutter, the prettiest pair of horses
and the prettiest girl. His turnou
might be what he chose, but Nelli
should never go with him; she shoult
go with me.
The snow fell fast, and by morning
you could see nothing for miles arount
but great white drifts, though the SIX,
had grown clear as though it had beel
summer. / called for Nellie i'm the af
ternoon, and she was ready, and ava,
we went. She looked charming, witt
her rosy cheeks and bright eyes ant
sunny hair, and / was happier thai
ever [ had been in my life. Going ou
of the village we met Tom Armstrong
with his splendid cutter. He looket
daggers at us both-or at least I though
so; he went, as 1 heard afterward, T.
invite Sue Nichols to ride with him
AS be drove out of sight made up N.
mind to ask the question that wOult
settle everything on our way home.
Man proposes and Heaven disposes
Things happened that evening that
had not thought of. We were goinj
back in the moonlight, when l put m,
hand on Nellie's and made her turn he
eve toward me-
81 have been trying to say something
to you for long WHILE" | said. "Per
haps you can guess what it ISL
Before | could utter another word, IN,
horses became frightened at something
and away they went like mad things
Nellie clung to me and screamed.
did my best to stop them. They lef
the road entirely and took way across
field, and striking stump the SNOW
had hidden, the sleigh was overturned
and we were thrown out together.
was not hurt, but Nellie lay insensible
lifted her in my arms and clasped he
to my bosom, and begged her to opel
her eyes and say Que word to me. Sh
was like one dead, and in my terror
dared not take her home. / carried he
instead to my sister, who, frightene,
half out of her senses, came forth t
meet me. She took Nellie into an in
ner room. l spent an hour of agon,
such as L never felt before; at last Jen
ME came to me all smiles.
"There is no danger" she said. "Sh,
has come to herself; she only tainted
from fright. You haven't killed her
4 4 l. 4