The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-14
A RIVALS VENGEANCE.

my charming sunny friend aud cnmpan-
ION, How l loved herI laughing away
the long hours that else had passed
drearily. When all of heaven was one
mass OF gray-Ahen the rain came drlz-
zling, paItering down, IRON "early dawn
Till midnight hour" we used to sit in the
eozy little parlOF, dazzling Nettte and L,
chatting SO merrily that we ala not
know the day was dDne IT'LL Jennie
would bring in lights and put new coals
in the CRATE.
But one day when the sunshine was
bright aud merry birds chanted sweet
roundelays to the fignt OF day Nettie
came in from school, anl throwing down
nat aud books, flung her white arms
about my neck, and laying her nushed
cheek against mine, whispered:
go, Maggie! Pm 80 happyH
"Why, Netile, are you not always
happyw
my dear mothers place right well, and
nave made me very, very happyF
:" hat makes You so much happier to-
day; was your essay supefior"
"Ye-, the go den tribute is mine, and
more| and she held up the token. Then
ner curls nestled still closer against my
neck, and felt her cheek grow warmer
L
was, but some thing made my heart stand
still. and drew her closer to mo lest l
might lose her.
"WeIl my child, what is itW
"Masgie, ouremem Der tall, handsome
Harry Flol d, with whom half the girls
IN school are in love, and who ffifted SO
desperately last winter with that little
coauette, Sue Morton, and naughty Az
mes Stanmore, whose heart was supposed
TO be one soliu tiintW
"Yes, Nettie."
"N ell, one day l was sitting in the
little cave, by the river side, my portfo-
lilo on my lap, just ready to begin my
prize poem, when l heard footsteps and
voices approaching me, and peeping
Through the vines l saw Harry Fluy u
and Ned Wallace. MADAME de Vincent
has offered prize Of golden chain and
medal TO any young lady who shall write
The best poem on given suLjeet--one
| which all hearts, sooner or later, bow
before-One which makes fools Of wise
men and angels Of demons! was Ned's
very emphatic speech. You know Sue
| Tilted hlm last winter. 'Well, Ned,' an
swered Harry, you know Pm to gradu-
ate and see my twenty fifth birthday on
the same day, and Pve determined to
marry the glrl that takes the prize, for
she must know how to love, who can
write on such q them ~ And Wallace
said some tbing that sounded like 'con-
ceit,' and l heard no more, but went to
work with zeal l never knew before, 10
write my poem. Well, Maggie, when the
glittering chain was thrown about my
neck to-day, l locked over to where Har-
ry was sitting, and as met his APPROX
ing gaze, l think the crimson on my
81 lad a no ~ ao
in my hair, and l did not dare to raise
my eyes again. But Tonight, when l
" as coming home, 1 met Harry at the
door, and we took the shady walk thro'
the grove-the path by the river. We
walked very slowly, and Harry bent
down to whisper i'll my willing ears
| Nettie, will you be my vie? and 0
NJ agg e! dear Maggie! what could l say
but 'yesP since he was bound to have
ms own wayW
brushed back her curls, and kissed
my gentle Nettie, and tear-drops woult
gather in my eyes; tor l thought OF {
sunny day day, six years before, whei
Arthur Fay asked me that same ques.
liou, anu l said "yes," ana wonuereC
why he never came back from the eas
TO lulhl athe edge.
| The days went by, and lovely Nettit
|
her happy heart.
| 1t was mild, beautiful Indian summer
I fell asleep in one OF the deep-curtainet
| windows OF the library, when Nettle'
| voice awoke me, and l heard her sin
that beautiful "Ewilight Hour" ending
thus:
.'Haste haste DER the summer-tide,
SwifUly our boat Will glide.
| Thou my fond trust and guide,
Uer the blue sea"'
And, looking up, l saw Harry lay hi
hand upon her mead; and gazing up"
her happy, smiling face, slowly an
sadly-so sadly, that it seemed til
funeral knell to my darllng-he said
"Nettie, you must pardon me, but
not love you! l thought did, but nov
you must forget me! You are too brigh
and lair TO be my wife, and you vii
soon see some other far more worthy c
your guileless young heart than /, an
you'll be happier than BEFORE"
Nettie looked calmly into his eyes
! while he was speaking, and when h
said "sood-by," 1 heard a wild, ma
laugh ring out upon the evening air, an
saw u lace-as white as the marble slat
in the village church-yard, marked
.My mother'-hit away from sight. ]
was too sudden for her thus to awak
from her happy dream; but did not fol
: low her, for knew thai she would pre-
Ter solitude there, and when tea wa
brought in, took it alone.
The night was Wretchedly sleepless
line. Ii seemed as though the mOrnin
suould never dawn; SO ! got up, an
pushing back the dark curtains, DIRE,
my great armchair up to the window
To- watch the stars fade from the cas-
How miserably slow the world SCENE
to turn? lnever knew but one nIgnt {
: long, before! "But all things must bay
an end l sighed, as shifted my pos
ton, ana noted u little belt OF gray span
ming the horizon. At last, the cloud
lvreW golden and ruddy, and making
hasty toilet, l walked quickly along th
= corridor, and putting my ear TO Neltie'
: door, listened TO The rustic OF turniD
leaves, and went back with lighte
heart, lor / knew that she was safe, an
al her studies.
We met at breakfast, aud Nett
looked brighter than ever,Only there Wa
a little wlluness about her eyes that di
not quite like. Ana when Nero came
.or his morning greeting, she laughed
How, vacant laugh that made the Gt
Hook up with wistiul il quiry tia
. seemed to ask:
5 "What ails you, NettieW
Al Breakfast over, she took up her boo
0 and swinging her hat over her arm wei
L cha . h.t