Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-12-21


days, we re- catered the house.
"Nel!ie," cried Joe, opening the piano,
favor Tom and me with tune. He
has a passion for music"
perhaps Mr.. Thurstou-" began she,
but was interrupted by Joe.
mo, Nellie, protest. No mistering
around here. It's plain Tom, Do you
hear, Tom ? She's to cali you Tom, and
you're to call her Nellie. Violation of
this rule will incur my eternal dis
pleasure. Govern yourselves according
ly."
Perhaps he will object" pleaded
Nellie.
mo, no." l exclaimed, " it will
please me very much. and-I will feel
highly honored to be allowed to address
you by your Christian name"
Pshaw, Tom it1l please her.
Won't it Nell ?"
She laughed and gave me a bewitching
look accompanied with nod.
" l WAS going to say" said Nellie,
that perhaps you could sing with me-"
"No, no excuse me, / can't sing
Nellie"
The word was uttered with gasp,
and | certainly turned violently red in
the facs. Joe was looking at me, and
saw he had desperate struggle to con-
troll the muscles OF his mouth.
was indeed fond of music, but was
entranced with her magnificent voice
The evening passed on golden wings
Joe ran on in his wild old way told his
jokes and laughed just as boisterously as
he did when we roomed together vt col
lege. He did no. give us much chance
to join in the conversation, for one comic
anecdots reminded him Of another which
he must tell. We both laughed heartily
at his stories, and talked volumes to each
other with our eyes.
That night dreamed | loved Nellie
(Oh, truthful dream y dreamed she
reeiprocated that love. (Oh, vain dream }
Then | dreamed intrigue began. We
determined to elope. My heart bed for
poor Joe, but felt it was death to live
without her. New she has met mo un-
der the old elm south of Joe's house. |
see her pale, excited face ! / feel hor
nervous hand clasping mine ! Now we
are heelng On, on, now we are pursued
Joe is on our track The scene changes
and we are on the river. We glide along
smoothly in light boat. Now we ARE
safe and she is mine-mino forever But
no, Joe still pursues us. Now be is close
to us. Why cannot we glide faster
Joe approaches swiftly. Now he closes
in on us. He has caught her in his cruel
grasp. Her beautiful pleading eyes are
raised 10 mine. Joe raises knife aloof.
Then / catch his arm we struggle 81.
lently together. | wrest tho knife from
his grasp and plunge it into his breast,
and he drors from the nasty boat and
sinks beneath the dark waves How
dark tho river has grown by tho palo
light Of the moon ! Tho gaunt and
ghnstly figure Of Mr.. Long suddenly
emerged from the waves. | saw him
catch my darling in his long arms, and, ,
before | could interfere, they had both
disappeared beneath the turbd waves of
the river. This awoke me. arose and
resumed my wearing appsral, bathed my
feverish face, and went forth into the air
to try and exercise the evil spirits with II
fragrant Havana.
BY the ensuing morning my dream had
ceased to trouble nae, but the reality of
things did not cease. There was Nellie
before me in all her beauty, all her
sweetness, to tempt me on to love hor
There was Joe, with all his exubernnce
OF spirit, and as unsuspicious as II child,
to tempt me on to love. Ilo seened to
do all in his power 10 bring US together.
He often lured us into interesting con
yersation, or managed to got US engaged
in singing and playing, and then would
leave US alone for hours. Days passed
away and lapsed into weeks in these
weeks | was almost the constant com
panisn Of Nellie Hall. We were out
boating, riding, and 20 nnumerabe con-
certs and entertainments, all through the
suggestion and planning ofJee. felt
and knew wei. the danger; j was fasci-
mated ut lrst-now / was irretrievsbly in
love. The thought Of breaking away
from tn is charming creature caused me
pain like unto death. / resolved to leave.
No matter what it cost me. the only
honorable course fer me to pursue was TO
return to the city and forget-no, not
forget, for never could l forget the only
woman | ever loved or could love,
Joe was absent on tho day arrived at
this determ instion. All the better,
thought; It would be easier to get away
| proceeded to pack up and get ready to
60 on the evening train. l noticed dur
ing the process of packing, that the long
body Of Long WAS overshadowing me-
He seemed determined not to lei anything
escape his observation. AT length, when
/ had finished my work, he approached
me. His long arm was raised to his
breast pocket, and from thence he alb
stracted letter, which he handed me.
I tore it open it was from Joe. and
read
Thomas Thurston, you are q traitor!
/ no longer doubt your perfidy. Long
has watched you and Nellie closely. 1t
is useless to deny your intention OF elop-
ing with her. | demand satisfaction,
and it can only be had from your heart s
blood. Meet me on the river bank, are, ,
by the light of the moon and in the pres
ence Of Long, we will settle our diieren-
ces. JoE."
/ looked up. Long had disappeared,