The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-11-12
MISCELLANY.
BOTH LOST AND FOUND.

"Joshua said Farmer Easton's wife,
looking up from her knitting, hadn't
you better fix up the fire littleY It's
getting low. and we ought to keep it
warm tor Nellie: she'll be well nigh froze
agin she gets home
j." i tell you, MOTHER said the old man,
laying aside his weekly paper, over which
he had been nodding tor some time, and
ttssaise1hsf Aqa ttts putting Oh IF 55gJ;"@i
don much like the idea of our Nell a
galavanling around the country with that
young city chap. 1t must be nigh on to
ten O'Clock aud they not come from sing
ing school yet
clark Joshua | believe | hear EN- a
coming now said the wife, inclinng her
head forward, aud listening intenlly while
the silpery chime of the s,eie il-bels. ring
ing out upon the still night air. came
nearer and nearer, and stopped at last in
front Of the house.
g Yes, that's them go unbar the door,
father, and let EN- in
Nellie Easton was the only child of
these plain but well-to do people. They
had gwen her every advantage, and she
was now an accomplished, fascinating
girl She was Of medium height incln-
ed to he petite in form, had an allurlng
face, with low, broad brow, tnom which
were pushed back clustering masses Of
nuthrown hair. Her eyes were gray, and
possessed the power of showing to a
wonderful extent the feelings of the
owner.
The "city chap was Lloyd Whtlow,
who was n model Of masculine beauty,
was Thoroughly educated, and passed
among those who knew him as "a very
good sort Of fellow" He had come in
the early summer. time to fish and hunt
in that wild and quiet country place; he
had met sweet Nellie Easton, won her
heart and had given her the keeping OF
his own His home was in distant
city, with an aged. eccentric uncle, who
had made him heir to his vast estates ,
threatening however, to change the will
if he heard of Llovd's attemting to marry
before he, the uncle, died.
Nellie was one of those kind of women
who would be true to the death TO the
man she loved, so, for fear Of running
Lloyds prospects, she would not even let
her parents know how affairs stood be
.woen them. The moon was shining
brightly, and Mr. Easton opened the door
in time to see Nelle's lover kiss her
good night, jump in his sleigh and drive
off. The girl stood aud watched him
down the lane, out into the high-road, up
the little hill and out Of sight.
My goodness! Nellie, do come in, .
called the father, impatiently. you IL
freeze to death out there"
The girl TUNED and walked slowly
down the narrow, snowy path to the
house, went in, sat down before the
blazing fire in listless sort of way,
SO unnatural to her that the mother
asked: ..
"What's the matter, Nellie?"
Nothing, MOTHER" with an attempt
to smile. and added, in the next breath
"Mr. Whitlow is going home to.mor-
row.
Hope he'll stay there growled the
old farmer. This thing of having q
beau" he went on, viciously poklng the
fire, "that can't never marry yer till he
steps in dead mans shoes, don't suit
me You'd enongh sight better take
Hez Sambatch. He'll do a good part by
yer" go
I" Father" said Nellie, going behind The
old mans chair, and putting her al ms
about his neck, "l'il never marry Hez
why need | marry any one2 Cant stay
here with mother and you "
"You needn't talk that way, little girl
said the father, kissed the face so close tc
his: "you'll never end yer days on Thu
farm. But 90 to bed now; its getting OF
toward midnight"
=" So Nellie went: went and dreamed o
the letter which she was to get from Lloy'
next mail-day; of the letter which dix