Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-30

walking in dreamland with the hanG
some stranger until day dawned.
Nearly every evening, on Nellie's n
turn from the dairy she met Mr.. MOI
land, whether by accident or design sh
never paused to consider. Sometime
he was on horseback, and would simpl
pass her with bow but oftener he wa
on foot, and not seldom he persisted II
carrying her milk-pail as far as to tn
angle in the road. v5
She became so accustomed to meetin,
him at last, that sne always looked 70
his coming; and II, by any accident, b
failed to appear, she was sorely disap
pointed. She did not at first heed th
curious stare of passers- by (; but at las
she began to fear lest their being seer
together so often would give rise to GOSSIP
which might reach her grandfather
ear. and this thought filled her with ap
prehensi0n; besides, her conscienc,
troubled her, for she realized that sh,
was deceiving her kind grandparents il
noE telling them the truth.
After many anxieties and temptations
she determined to try to avoid Mr.. Nor
land by going home through the wood.
instead Of walking on the highway. Ont
evening. to her dismay, she met him liz
the woods.
Neliis Ys.hs 3 isdhifsd, : laughing ii I At 'iss he,
confusion.
"Yes, sir" was the honest reply "be.
cause I know that grandfather would
object to my walking 50 often with you. y
"You are right, Nellie; he would oh.
ioof and n vvOo RON for 40 n<,,,
age you to do anything that would meet
with his displeasure. But somehow /
feel very lonely up In the old mansion
yonder, although the house is full oil
company. Your society has been asolace
to me. I am going away to stay for q
couple of weeks and I sought you out in
the woods to take leave of you. Good
bye, Nellie;" and before she could pre-.
vent it, he snatehed q kiss and was
gone. ~.
That evening, when Nellie went home
to the old folks, they noticed that she
looked sad but they did not suspect the
reason, and they felt deeply concerned
for she was naturally as gay as a bird.
She complained Of not being well, and
went early to bed. Her pillow was soon
wet with tears, for little Nell's heart was
inexpressibly heavy. The following day
her cheerfulness returned, and all anx.
iety on her account was quickly Danish
ed.
One morning, two weeks later, as
Nellie was watering the flowers in the
garden that fronted her grandfather's
house, she was startled by hearing her
name called by familiar voice. She
glanced up and saw q gentleman stand
ing st the gate, watching her.
"HowdO you do, Mr.. Morland? Will
you not come in ?" said Miss Nellie, in
a calm voice as though her heart was not
beating wildly.
THANK you," and he pushed the gate
open and entered. rs your grandfath-
er at homer"
mo, sir; he is taking his morning
walk, but will be back directly. Will
you be kind enough to step into the
house and wait ?"
II would rather remain here with you,
if you will allow me-" Then looking at
her reproachfully, he continued, in a
soft voice, "You do not appear glad to
see me have you not missed me at all ?''
A deep scarlet flush mantled her brow,
and her lips trenbled in spite of hersel i
as she answered, ibid you expect me to
miss your"
''Yes; but I see that you did not :" and
he laughed lightly"
Poor Nellie had not thought Of any
thing else since he left e..ss-4s.-,- ssss.s-s
"Will you give me one Of those fow-
ers ?"
Certainly; but you have so many
lovely ones in your own garden, that I
do not see how you can admire these"
Variety Is the spice of life,' you
know" andhe stuck the flower careless
ly in his button hole, as carelessly as he
trifled with the heart of its giver.
The girl fastened her large, penetrat-
ing eyes on his face, aud their expression
was grave and serious. She read in his
countenance something that panied her.
Her scrutiny annoyed him and making
some trivial remark, he turned his head
the other way, and saw Mr.. Woodville,
Nellie's grandfather, coming up the road
between them. Hesoon reached his side,
and welcomed the visitor politely.
Mr.. Morland was apparently glad to
meet the old gentleman, of W hom he had
in boyhood been very fond; but Mr..
Woodville's stiff, formal manner rather
repelled than otherwise.
The Wis tor accepted the invitation to
enter the house, and his reception by the
old lady was warm and hearty. She pre-
vailed upon him to partake of some re-
and she patted him on the
head and called him "bonnie laddie,n as
she had done years before. He thought
her the most charming old lady he had
ever known, and remained chatting with
her long time. After his departure,
grandma was loud in her praises of Rob-
ert Morland, and even grandpa had to
admit that he was fine young man.
Mr.. Morland found the farm house an
place, and he often wended his
way thither. The old couple always
welcomed him cordially, and grew to
like him better each time they saw him.
He never failed to remember them in q
delicate manner. Many rare plants
found their way to grandma's garden,
and grandpa was supplied with fruit
trees, tobacco, and various nicknacks.-
Whenever he rode past at sunset, and
saw the old folks sitting on the porch,
he always called to mind the touching
words Of John Anderson, my 10 john"
The long summer drew to a close at
last, and the time came for Robert Nor
land to leave his country residence, and
the home of his childhood, to enter on
his business career in New York. He
~ ASANVA w OAV0h tuC SWCCt spell Iudt
pleasant circumstances had woven about
him, and he felt that the most delight
full period of his life was drawing to a
close.
1t was with sad heart that he went
to the old farm house to bid farewell to
its occupants. They seemed equally
sorry to part with him, for his genial
society had been a source of enjoyment
to them. He took leave of Nellie with
a gentle pressure of the hand, for he dar
ed not trust himself to speak.
When he had gone, she took her milk
pail from the pantry, and, tying on her
bonnet, she started on her errand to the
dairy. 1t was bleak November day,
and the wind was sharp and chill. The
leaves that had lately worn such gor-
geous hues lay sere aud withered on the
ground. The sky was overcast with
sombre clouds, and nature seemed in her
gloomiest mood. When Nellie reached
the angle in the road where she had so
often parted from Mr.. MorIand, she
could continue no further; 80, sitting
down on stone by the roadside. she
wept as though her heart would break.
All at once a hand was laid upon hel
shoulder; the touch sent wild thrill
through her frame, and looking up, hel
eyes met those of Mr.. Morland, and they
were also filled with tears.