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

Beware how you follow the heartles
dictates of caprice, else you may one da,
be compelled to support the burden of
troubled conscience, and suffer the sever
, torture of self-reprDach.
AS she pronounced these words, th'
: expression on her countenance was al
most severe. Her companion had new
er before discovered that her innocent
childish face could express such power
ful emotions. She had hitherto seemed
giriish to him, but now he realized tha
she was woman.
"Mr. Morland, farewell"
Taking up her pail, she was about tt
proceed on her journey, when he seized
her hand, and detained her.
"Oh, Nell, little Nell, your words are
severe. ndthey have wounded me deep
ly; but don't leave me thus. This may
be our last meeting, and think how
wretched .IslJould sbo to know that you
despise me-! Qh.derlingl you do me injus.
tice in accusing nae of trifling with you,
for you are the only woman I have ever
loved. But g stern promise binds me to
another + see that you se0rn me the
/ more for this confession, for you think
I am false TO two women but am not,
for neither my betrothed nor myself pro-
| fesb TO love each other. 1t Is marriage
kof convenience that was arranged when
we were children. Perhaps you wonder
why never told you before? A hum
dred times it had been on the point of
my tongue, bat withheld the fact. for
was so happy with you, and felt that
as soon as you knew the truth you
would turn from me. Nellie, when you
know that love you with my whole
heart, you will surely beienientin your
judgment. I'll have made you unhap-
py, have brought down listing misery
upon myselfln e
His voice was so full of sorrow and
agony that she could not doubt his sim
cerity. She sat down on the stone again,
and buried her facein her hands.
BLESS Jou, dearest"
Smoothing the waving locks back
from her brow, heimprinted a kiss there !;
then, with one last, wistful look, he
hurried away, and soon disappeared in
the dim November twilight.
Three years passed away, and Robert
Morland's experience in the world was
full of bitterness and disappointment.
He had become q widower and nearly a
bankrupt within that short period. Life
had lost its former charm, and the world
was not as bright as it had been. He
had grown weary of the giddy whirI of
the metropolis, and longed for the scenes
of his boyhood, and a glimpse of the old
farmhouse. His soul thirsted for q word
Of welcome from her whom he still loved
better than all Others. The soft blue
eyes, the tender smile, the cheering voice
of little Nell had haunted him since they
parted. He often he saw her in imagina-
tion as he had seen her long ago on that
bleak November day, sitting on q stone
at the roadside, weeping. and he smiled
when he remembered that he was now
free to love and comfort her, and to share
with her the life that without her was a
burden.
On his journey towards her home, he
was troubled by painful doubts.
Perhaps she has forgotten me-" he
thought, land is welded to farmers
son or, maybe, some traveller has dis
covered this rare flower in the wilder
ness, and has transplanted her to anoth-
or soil.
But as he approached nearer to his
destination, these doubts gave place to
hopes and longings. Bright pictures
arose in his mind of a future home,
graced by the presence of little Nell.
At last, after travelling for several
days. hor arrived at the heights; but
without entering his owA home, he
fastened to the farm house. He took
the lower road. and when he came to its
angle, and saw the stone where Nellie
had sat down when last he saw her, he
could with difficulty control his feelings.
He sat down and waited, as though he
expected to see her coming down the
lane as of old, her sweet face shaded by
her sun bonnet, and carrying q tin pail
in her hand but he waited in vain, and
with a heavy heart he arose, and con-
tinued on his way until he came to the
farm house.
But what change was here! The
garden, that once was filled with flow
ers, carefully cultivated and tastefully
arranged, was now Overgrown with
weeds and shrubs, and the fence encir-
cling it was sadly neglected. The house
itself presented fOrlorn aspect. The
paint was all worn off, and the window
panes were broken. One glance was
sufficient to assure Robert Morland that
the place was empty. Where, then,
were its former occupants? Where were
the venerable old couple who had so of
ten sat side by side, with smiling faces.
on the vine covered porch? Their abode
was deserted and forsaken; they must
have been called to another home. But
where was little Nell? Had she, too,
gone with them?
Three graves in the churchyard reveal
ed to him the resting places of his form-
er friends. Poor Robert Morland! Had
he broken little NeIl's heart?
A DRUNKEN FARM.-Often and often.