Connecticut western news., 1877-04-13
VOL. VI.

1 W yAuo, CuS SoCOuO WOuldu WuO AONSu Montague Garthorn, met him now for the first time, with her bright baby face covered with bushes, and with her tiny hands held out to him to help her lift on to the seat large parcel she had with her.
 "It is new dress have bought at Westbourne Grove," she told him, ''and am going to sit up to make it to go to ball."
 He was charmed with the simplicity of the child, as he considered her, and condescendingly asked her her age. Seventeen, soon," she answered. And then all the color seemed to die out of her cheeks and leave her very pale. He watched her for some time, and then her merry voice broke his reverie by saying: ...-
 'I have been ill; this is the first time I have been out. Father would scarcely let me come; but wanted my dress so much;" and then, without waiting for any remark from MT. Garthorn, she asked him if he had ever been to ball,
 
 "Yes, child. many. Goodbye. This is my station."
 ''It is mine, too," Nellie answered i; ''and father said he would meet me and carry my parcel home."
 What less could Montague do than assist her to alight and carry her par eel up stairs? and then, not finding any one waiting for her, he could not And in that little walk how his heart went out to this child, who had not an idea beyond the moments pleasure, who found life so bright, although her father kept chemist shop in a back street and let lodgings! Why not leave her as she is-happy, young, heart whole and in smooth water? Why force her into stormy weather when she is now so safe? But already the harm is done, and Montague is fascinated fa- tally by this child, in whose nature there is no depth, and who could never feel anything, whether of pain or joy, with half the keenness that Opal can.
 The beautiful blue eyes look without fiinching into his as she warbles forth an invitation to come and have supper.
 ''We are not grand; we only have water-cresses in the shop-parlor. He goes in, and Nellie Wylde's father thanks him, and the back parlor is pa- | radise, the watercresses food for the gods, the theatre forgotten; and as he looks at and listens to Nellie, Opal, in the cool back drawing room has become a thing of the past. 'What ball are you going to, Miss Wylde?''
 "At Aunt Mary's; their first floor is empty, and they are going to have 8 dance. Call me Nellie-every one does !; it seems too grown-up to call me Miss Wylde?"
 "That is not real ball, but if you would like to go to one of the best balls in London, will take you to Willis Rooms tomorrow night"
 70, father, say 'Yes!'" said Nell, as she threw her arms around his neck.
 ''I don't know what is right to say," ruminated MT. Wylde; ''only as you have very. little pleasure and no mother, perhaps it would not be any harm"
 So it was settled that beautiful, bright Nellie was to make her first en- try into London society.
 | Montague at last tore himself away from the enchanted chemists shop. Now came the time to think-to think of what he had done. Of course, it was too late to go to. the theatre; in fact, everything seemed too late now that the door of Mir. Wylde's house was shut. What had he done? Promised to take Nellie to ball, and he was engaged to go to a dinner-party with Opal. What should he do? Go home and make the best of his dilemma. Next morning Montague knew something must be done; so he got his writing materials and intended to write to Nellie to tell her he could not take her to the ball but directly he began the vision of those blue eyes filled with tears and that smiling mouth pouting was too much for him, so he changed his mind and wrote briefly to Opal 'sthat unforeseen circumstances prevented him from go- ing out to dinner with her tomorrow Opal is so good natured she won't mind He thought little of her breaking heart though he thought so much of her tear. full blue eyes.
 Nellie and MT. Garthcrn went to the ball and enjoyed it. Nellie looked lovely in her fresh white muslin dress anc Montague's gift of real flowers. Wher he left her at home, he longed for tho On his return he found letter iron Opal, full of tender regrets at his ab sence, and assurances of her love. Ht resolved never to see Nellie again, ant to marry Opal as soon as possible. How easy 1t is to make resolutions at nigh and how difficult to carry them out il the broad day.
 The following afternoon MT. Gar thorn called at Opal's and left his card , for he found her out. Then, what nor, natural than he should see how Nelli, was after her dissipation Pile found her a her home-beautiful, blushing, charm ) ing, full of gratitude for the pleasure O 3 the ball, and winning as only thos, childish women with big blue eyes cal 5 be.
 l Her father was in the shop; so they g were alone, and before Montague knev g what he was doing, he had avowed hi passion to Nellie, and she had confesse, ? that she was every fond of him and o l balls at Willis Rooms.''
 l Opal, driving in the Park, was strain r ing her eyes to see the beloved form O . Montague Garthorn among the crow, 9 of men leaning over the railings.