The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-06-28

NlTA.
BY Lillian LESTRANGE.

Ii was growing late In the afternoon
when my sister Addie and | stepped
from the train which had stopped at the
pretty little village of Cedar Grove,
where had not been since my childhood,
aud now looking around me, everything
was changed. The old-fashioned farm
houses had given way to the newer and
.prettier cottages.
Addie and | had spent many happy
days in the dear old Grove, and were
now coming back after ten long years
TO visit 1t again.
As we walked towards the house
where we intended to stay, we passed
by neat little trimming store, and Ad-
die, glancing in, said admiringly,
Look, Percy, what a beautiful wO-
man."
looked, carelessly enough, and saw
a face which had once been dearer to
me than all others, and now, when
thought | had forgotten it, it appeared
HSHiIi1 anu my pdoHlOlldt' NHllll vi JOY
told me that still loved it.
Such an exquisite, sad face, framed
in with masses ofdark auburn hair. A
complexion pure and white as the
drifted snow, dark eyes, but oh such
weary, weary look in their brown
depths. | knew the possessOr of all
this beauty we'll, and now will tell her
sad history.
Nita Douglass in her younger days
had "all that beauty, all that wealth
e'er gave" loved the girl wildly, but
was afraid she did not return my pas
sion, and so waited to see what time
would develop. AT length Nita, tired
Of my trifllng, as she called it, was al
lowing a rich Mr., Ashton to visit
her.
In the meanwhile Mr.. Douglass had
been losing very much money in specu-
lations, and so encouraged this suitor
for his daughters hand in every imag-
Unable way, as he wished to see her
comfortably settled before he lost all,
which would certainly happen if things
went on as they had done for the last
month.
Nita, who was very proud, and also
piqued and angry at my silence, though
she must have known that loved her,
led Mr.. Ashton on, while he, all uncon-
Scious that ga smiling face may shine
above a broken heart" was fascinated
by her beauty, and also-mOney, for
as yet no rumors other fathers reduced
circumstances were known.
OF course | thought Nita loved him
and was not surprised when heard of
their marriage.
Only few months after the wedding
Mr.. Douglass failed, and the people
said Mr.. Ashton did not treat his wife
kindly.
Afterwards we found ont that the
man had only married her for her
money, and finding she had none took
his revenge in this cOwardly treat
ment
~ ldSl Ilt Nulut lbIllC tlC uIShb III
toxicated, and when Nita, who had
waited up for him asked him trifling
question, he struck her in the face. The
next day Nita had fled with her five
months old baby and we had not heard
of her since; and now, after all these
long years had met her again.
Dut I ,.ynp roool1oJ fro,, rnao1lan
tions ofthe past by Addie saying, laugh
ingly, "Well, Percy, have you done
gazing at ''la belle amie," for such she
must certainly beY
"You are right" replied, "she is
friend of mine; surely you have not
forgotten Miss Douglass?"
"Nita Douglas !" said Addie, turning
around in astonishment. "Was 1t really
her, Percy? l did not recognize that
sad-faced woman as the beautiful Nita
of old" Then she added, "We must
make her visit tomorrow"
The next day Addie and | walked
down to the pretty little store.
Addie wished to see if her old friend
would recognize her, so when we went
in she asked for some ribbon,
At the sound of Adde'S voice Nita
looked up, and glad surprise came over
her face and lightened the great dark
ewes wonderfully as she reached out
her dainty little hand and said, "Why,
Adde Hall, is 1t possibleH" Then, as |
came forward ! saw her blush rosy
red as she turned to me and went on,
"And Mr.. Hall also. Itreally does one
rood to see a familiar face, for since /
have been here, nearly a year now, |
have met no one whom knew" Then
she led us into the tasteful little sitting
room behind the store. We stayed
little and then went away with cordial
invitations to come soon again, which !,
for one, certainly availed myself OF,
spending many pleasant hours with her,
learning to love her more and more
every day. would have told her of
my love, only for the one torturing
thought perhaps her husband is still
alive" but as she never alluded TO him