The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-23

IL ouC III new 1orK ratner imam 90 Dack
forsaken to Madame De la Vigne.
So all the bleak'winter days that fol-
lowed, and through the driving snow,
and in the piercing cold, of which the
girls previous life had had no similar
experience, Nelly went up to Mrs. PEN
nington's, growing to like that lady
and her own duties, and winning the
affection and confidence of the girls, as,
indeed. she won those of everybody
else. And all those months, though
rshe didn't perhaps fully realize it, the
society and presence of Ralph Haw-
thorne were lining with silver the bleak
and cloudy days, averting the storms
from Nelly's fair young head, and i'm
parting to her life generous glow that
tempered, if it did not altogether dis
pei, the outside cold. Until spring
came, and the roses blossomed, and
one day Nelly and Ralph rode over to
Brooklyn, and through Prospect Park,
and down to the sea-shOre, where the
fresh ocean breeze brought back to each
the memory of their earlier acquaint-
ance. So they sat down on the beach
and looked out toward the horizon,
where passing steamer left long line
of smoke in its wake.
What would you think" he asked,
idly gathering up a handful of the sand
and letting it trickle through his fin
gers, "of going back next month to
Madame De la Vigne?'
Nelly looked at him with wondering
eyes. Ito give up here?" she asked,
in bewilderment.
Ralph nodded.
And to leave Mrs. Pennington?''
Another affirmative nod.
"For good?"
Il trust not for bad"
But, Mr.. Hawthorne, is there any
reason whyP'
81 think, perhaps, you had better,
Miss Egerton."
And then, with all her perplexity,
there came sudden sense of how
much this going away would cost her,
and a little spirit of rebellion against
his proposition.
But l can't think of it, Mr.. Haw-
thorne," she expostulated, without
: knowing just why. If there's any good
reason" And there she stopped, with
an unspoken invitation in her puzzled
face that he should give her more light
"Well,n he said, looking up some.
what amusedly, 8" there is a reason"
But Nelly did not ask for it, and hel
face grew hot, and the blue eyes droop.
ed beneath his steady glance.
| s. am going myself" he continued
"and l thought perhaps you would like
company"
And then the old pain, which Nelly
thought she had lain away with hel
faded memories, comes back. All
Nelly! How dismal now the thought o.
, staying at home! and how YEARLY Mel
q. ly, impatient with herself, and trying
t all she can to keep from crying, turns
away her head and looks out across the
, water, wondering in vague uncertain
way what it all means!
r But it was short-lived trouble. anC
t the tenderness of his next words tool
: half of the pain away.
"Do you suppose" he asked, Sc
e quietly that her timid eyes sought hi
t with the confidence of child, that
1 am going to leave you here all alone
4 You don't want to be left alone, do you
: Nelly?"
J. 1t was the first time he had ever call
: ed her that; the first time, indeed, sh,
S had heard the name in months ant
G the novelty of it so startled her that sh
t quite lost the sense of what else he hat
said. So amid her bushes she CAV
e him quick uncertain glance that LEI
S him to repeat:
a "You don't want me to leave you her
n alone, do you?''
S And then it seemed to Nelly as though
u all of sudden the sun had grown yer,
It hot, and all his rays were concentrated
: on her cheeks.
e cit will be dreadfully warm here il
d the summer" he continued, "anC
t every body will go away ; and even i
you go to the country, you'll be shut VI
:. in some stuffy boarding house, and hav
/ an awfully stupid time. Indeed, Nelly
o even if you don't care bit about me
you'll have to marry me in self-de
n Tense"
n "But, Mr.. Hawthorne, "-hesitatin;
:, and speaking very low
d "Well, Nelly?"
S co." she exclaimed, bravely, TO
: all her bushes and her tears, "your
II so good, how could help caring?'
}, "And then you will go?" he asked
iU I'LL dI'
y kissing away the raindrops from tn
Z: flushed cheeks.
eff you say so, Mr.. Hawthorne "
e shyly.
: "Well, do say so, and won't trus
" you to go alone, either. l am going t.
d make sure of you, Nelly, before go
; and there isn't any odious law that
:, know of here to prevent it. Though
: oughtn't to revile the French law" h
is added, refectively, touching her chez
It lightly with his lips, as if in acknowl
g edgment of all the law had done TO
n him, since it has provided me with
wife. And what lucky thing for me
;, Nelly, that you never knew where yo
h were born?"
d And Nelly, whose beating heart ha
g no longer any room for soreness 0
l. wounded self-respect, responds with tn
gladness of her eyes, and the happ
l. smile on her half-averted face t
It Ralph's emphatic sentiment. Harper
g Weekly.
g Small Farms.