The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-11-12

pOcI A>clllc IIisloH W HedF from 0eT aD-
sent lover, Time after time had she writ
ten to him, and only ceased to write
when she learned by inquiry that he had
crossed the ocean with his uncle.
In the little world about the Eastons
affairs went on about The same as ever;
heart was breaking in their midst, but sc
yuietly did the operation proceed that
cry few took note Of it. There were
he usual amount of quilting bees, wool
picklnss and apple. cuttings
AT all these Nellie had before been tn,
reisnlng belle. Good Mrs. Eastop wa.
at loss to know Why herneighbors of lat,
50 often forgot to inch1e her daughter.
IN their invitations to her.
"Its sheer envy, / believe she woult
say to Nellie, because that young Whit
low picked on you ont above 'em all te
wait on
"Wish to mercy,' she would add te
herself, "that she'd never sot ewes or
him, though for / never did see such 8
change in girl, She's mourning her
self in the grave after him
Mrs. Easton decided to go to quilt
ing and log rolling one day. to which hei
daughter had not been invited, in order
that she might tell her friends what she
thought of their conduct She could not
get a chance she wanted until they sal
down to supper.
"Have piece of cake, Miss Simpkins 2
she said, passing loaf to her neighbor
=" 1t looks enough like the Kind Nellie
bakes to be good Tnnt many that can
beat my girl. if | do say it myself, about
doing most anything.
The mother looked up and down the
table, expecting to see shame depicted oil
her friends faces for having sighted hei
daughter; instead she read only looks oil
pity from some, and of confusion from
the rest. Their looks provoked the moth
er still more
"And tell you, one and all, y she con
tinued, wrathfuly, "if do say it my sell
agin, that Nellie Easton is jest as goot
as any of yer girls, if yer did forgit tc
invite her to-day
There, there, mother Easton,' sale
Mrs. Simpkins in soothing tone, 81
wouldn't say any more about it. We
all liked Nellie, and used TO think well o
her"
And why don't yernow % she asked
showing back from the table. :" Is it be
cause yer all envy her SO 2
Come here a minute, Mrs. Easton,
called the hostess, getting up and going
into the next room
the mothers ear. wii'ich sent her staggcr
ing across the room like one drunken
Not one word did she utter, hut went K
the door, beckoned out her husband, ant
hurried on out of the house ahead of him
When he caught up to her and asked wha
was wrong, he scarcely recognized TIT
voice that answered.
Our Nellie has gone astray !!
It's le!' Numbered the old man.
The mother was silent, Incident alte
incident came thronglng back to her
which, put together. made an unbro
ken chain Of evidence against her daugh
ter.
Farmer Easton went up alone to hi
child she was lying on the lounge asleep
A picture of Lloyd Whitlow was on thu
floor beside her, where it had fallen GU
her hand
NelIie" called the father, shaking
her: "Nellie, wake up!'
She opened her eyes, and looked aroun'
bewldered.
Say, Nell" said the old man, in
high, harsh voice, "do you know wha
people are saying about your
An ashy pallor crept over her face, bu
she made no answer
They say, Nell, that you are to be
come a mother to Lloyd Whitlow's child
It's not so, is it, Nell I"
There was chord of grief in the oil
mans voice that did dot escape Nellie
notice. 1t added to her unutterable an
guish. With moan of pain, like
wounded animal at bay, she threw hersel
II on the floor, hiding her face over th
picture of the man that had brought a
this upon her.
why don't you speak, girl Is thi
thing true: !"
Still no answer.
j" You needn't lie groveling there,
it is. This house can't shelter sucl
as thatn said the old man, white wit
rage. ..
Tnc words reached the poor, half stun
ned creature, who arose ana passed fror
her fathers presence out into the darkness,
out into the raging storm and piercin
cold, alone and unprotected.
Mrs Easton heard the loud tones o
her husband, and, determined to shell
her daughter, hurried to her room. Tn
father was alone.
Where's Nellie 2"
Mr.. E.ston pointed out to the ope
door
"Oh, father, how could you turn on
child out on such night as this fo
and | could scarcely make it home, an
we came such little way. And sh
will seek no shelter. She will be dea
before morning. Oh, my child M
child y
"Nellie! !" she shrieked, running out G
the house, down the lane to the highway
"Nellie, come back.
In vain the mother called and called
| Hurryine back to the house, she graspe
her husband by the arm aud said, in
voice that he felt compelled to obey;
1--WE must 90 back to the house "
lust came from and get the men to scare
for her She can't get very far away
this storm"
And so, within two hours, she VIZ
found: found on the road side, insensibl
and found not many minutes too 500