The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-05-30
ELFIE LEIGH.
III will be tine, Ellie ?"

ELFIE LEIGH.
"You will bo true, Elfe?"
Scan YOU doubt me, Jacob 2
Jacob Arlington shook his head, and then,
drawing his pretty, little golden haired tSancee
to his breast, gave her parting embrace:
Years ago, a woman had come to the Leigh
farm, one cold, stormy night, with an infant in
her arms. She begged for shelter; SAID she
was q widow, her name Arlington, and was on
her way to her friends. Mrs. Leigh gave eIr ner
the "spare room" with many misglvlngs. Shc
could not turn her out to perish, and yet she
was afraid she would steal something II she
trusted her in there alone. 49,,
The next morning, as the strange woman did
not make her appearance, they went TO see
what had happened. She was dead her
babe nestled beside her cold inanimate form.
The Leighs had Just buried their only son, and
their hearts we're tenderer than usual.
ave will let the town bury the woman, the
old farmer said, "and we will keep the boy.
He may grow up to be great help to me-
Mrs. Leigh very gladly acquiesced IN her
husbands plan, and so Jacob Arlington became
an inmate Of their home.
Years afterward, Mrs. Leigh had baby-a
little, blue-eyed, golden-haired infant.and she
called it Ellie. The babe was Jacobs pride
Every leisure moment he spent in fondllng and
caressing the pretty little thing.
More years passed. Ellie grew to young
womanhood, and Jacob loved her. The old
farmer was informed of the state'o affairs, and
grow enraged.
sVYou. a nameless nobody, and dependent on
NV charity, to dare think of loving my daugh-
teri he exclaimed, angrily. Leave my roof
Jacob bowed, and prepared to obey. He
packed up his scanty wardrobe, told Ellie, and
then bade her goodbye.
Seven wears later, Jacob Arlington returned.
erich or poor, my love will be yours all the
same.
These we're Elhe's words before he left and.
uncalled, they flashed through his mind, az he
stood once more again at the we'll known door
Mrs. Leigh admitted him. She looked into
his face for moment, and then exclaimed:
"Jacob!"
eyes, it is Jacob" he replied. "Al are
well aYsa'S ! hSSps?"
She ushered him in. A young lady with all
vanced to meet him. She gave him her hand
languidly. H. ;a
"but what a surprise you have given me"
Jacob felt his heart sinking. Was this the
light hearted, pretty little Ellie he had thought
of 80 many years? He was disappointed, and
vet he would not admit it, even to himself. He
glanced down to her finger; He had M gwen her
the ring-a curious shaped, serpent lie ring,
that had been taken from his dead mother
hand, but it was missing.
"She NAV have lost or broken it, he said
consolingly, to himself.
That evening foppish young man called on
Miss Leigh, and showed her particular, atten,
tion. For week he continued his calls, and
T..o1 FIEn closely
"I wonder what the girl means? he unused
to himself. "Changed as she is, she surely
cannot love that little, insignificant snob, with
his downy mustache and incipient drawl !
will settle the question, anyway"
After tea he followed her into the sitting
room." -,
"Do you intend to 60 to the city with me,
Ellie, when 20, next week?" he inquired.
She dropped her eyes and hesitated.
"Please Yourself" he continued. II will
not say one word to influence you. believed
-you loved me, and have lived in that belief fol-
seven years but, if you have changed. all
we'll"
II have changed" she said, at last. ~
have promised to marry Charlie. He is clerk
in railway Office in New York; and-and--
you know" she added, desperately, 81 am not
fitted for poor mans wife, and one must
think of the future"
"I wish you very much happiness, am
sure !" he responded, and then left the room.
Going into the garden, he encountered a
pale, delicate girl bringing some sewing to
"Miss Leigh" He had been introduced to her
once, in the twilight, but had not noticed her
particularly. Since then, Mrs. Leigh had told
him that the young seamstress was an orphan,
and dependent on her own exertons for a
livelihood. -.
81 am very sorry, Mr.. Arlington, she said,
impulsvely, az he spoke to her.
"For what? Oh, know. You were COM
ing past the open window, and heard my ex-
planation with Miss Ellie. Thank you"
~ did not mean to listen," she added, quick
ly. "But you both spoke 30 distinctly, that
could not avoid hearing your remarks"
"All right he replied.
He followed Nettie Lee into the house
What was his surprise to see his ring glistenlne
on her finger! He made no comments, but
. when she rose to 60 home asked permission tt
accompany her.
II see YOU have q ring belonging to me il
your possession, Miss Lee, he observed, whei
they reached the door OF her home.
She blushed crimson.
"Have I? Ihope you will pardon me Mis-
Leigh gave it to me for piece OF work hae
done for her."
"Sold it to you?" and he laughed.
She commenced to draw it from her finger
."Miss Lee, wait ~ he said, quickly, arrestint
her movement. II was betrcssFd to the woman
that wore tho other. belisvet;, should eve
wear the only relic I had left Of my mother
You are the one that wears 1t, and, according
to nv theory, you must be my betrOthed.
esteem you highly, Nettie; and IL you vii
marry me week from to-dsy-strangcr as
am to you'll give you my word Of honor that
as far as lies in my power, you shall never hav
cause to regret it. '/-a-
His proposal came SO unexpectedly that i
startled her. She looked up into his frank
omen face and clear brown ewes.
;" A woman can trust man with such 4 sou
shining in his eyes," she said to herself, ant
then, ~ will, Mr.. Arlington" she answered
aloud, .x
Charles Broad and his bride came to the city
and procured board ina second-rate boarding.
house.
aMr. Arlington wishes TO see you at his resi-
dence, No IT. avenue" o follow clerk sal
to Broad, when he entered tho Office.
"What, Arlington! the largest stockholde
!, in this line ?" he calculated. 81 hope he don
:. intend to discharge me! I'd be in bad ts
with wife on my hands"
az don't know what he wanted, returne
the other; "but You know he has the Who'll
control of affairs now.
Young Broad hastened to obey the summons
"Strange his name and E.lfe's old beau
should be the same ne muttered TO himself
He was quite overswed by the elegance o
=, his employers houss, and followed the butle
nervously to the library.
He flung the door open, and admitte'
Charlie.
"How do You do, Broad ?" exclaimed
voice, which he recognized at once.
"Mr. Arlington !" he stalnmered, "I-didn'
know you were-were =
"The same Arlington as in New York." h
suggested, pitying the poor fellows confusion
"When did you arriyeY'
"This morning, Sr"
"Why, you lave been very punctual. I tol
cl,-, 81 ar ,,o In },1r, rno 40 that Nettie rnoh