Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-10
NELLIE GRAHAM;
1Hencssueth We Are Strangers.
CHAPTER III.
by w. A. IRSUEUR.

heavens and mingled It's warm anu
cheering rays with the chilly breath of
approaching winter.
But Nellie still slept, ever conscious Of
the misery that weighed upon her re-
pontant heart.
At last she was awakened by her maid,
who came for the usual purpose OF
assisting her with her morning toilet.
This was her third approach to the cham
Der, and having been Nellie's nurse
from her infancy, enjoyed many prlvl-
leges IN the household. She loved Nellie
dearly, with al affection equal to that
Of o mother.
Entering the room silently, she stood
surveying Nellie's troubled features for
moment, when sigh escaped the lips
of the sleeper. She knew that something
was tho matter, and awoke her, saying
gently:
Cup, my dear, it is past ten O'clock"
Nellie hid her face in the pillow and
moaned.
"Wby Nellie, dear, are yon sick -
ooh, Nurse, Nurse, my head---it aches
like it will burst"
"Ah! You know Nurse advised you
not to indulge your fondness for dancing
to much, for it might make my pet ILL.,"
and Nurse bathed her aching head with
ice-cold water until she felt much bet
ter.
Half an hour later, she was seated ut
the breakfast table. But she tasted
nothing except mouthful of coffee, and
listlessly gave attention to her father as
he read aloud the morning paper.
What u change! Her usual bright
and cheerful face, ever aglow with plea
SAINT smiles, had q settled gloom end
haggardness about it. Her large blue
eyes, red and swollen, had lost their
beauty and expressive lnstre in the
CLASSY stare caused by the constant wei
ling Of tears. Her low, broad brow was
pale, and her cheeks sunken and color
less. Her dark chestnut hair wasj hang
ing in graceful disorder around her fair
and exquisitely rounded shoulders, as
her head ached too badly to allow it to
be dressed as usual.
Truly she had changed to an object of
suffering. The day was one of mclan-
choly for her, and mechanically she
performed her customary duties.
Early after tea, pleading that she was
indisposed, she left her father alone in
the library, and retired to her room.
But not to rest.
Through the long might she struggled
YEARLY with the spirit that would crush
her; in fits of slumbcr frightful dreams
would tear away the bliss of momentary
forgetfulnoss. At last tho approach of
day gave her partial relief from the
ghostly shadows ofnight.
The next evening Hampton called to
pay his urbane respects. The change in
her countenance rendered iteasy for him
to detect tho suffering she had expo
ricnced, but further than keen strike
at his vanity it had no effect.
He only suppressed an oath, while his
eyes cleaned with a malicious satisfac-
ton at the success Of his plot in other
respects.
The role he must play now was the
part of q friend to the eart-broken girl
at least, that which would appear to
her as such--and he set to work with a
will.
Nellie was not inclined to talk to him
at first, but he soon caught her atten-
ton and eager conversation. He gave
Ills theory in explanation Of her lovers
silence. He stated that the poor fellow
had been confined to his room with a
slight attack of the neuralgia, which
caused her heart to nuttcr with grateful
emotions, as she had watched through
the tiresome hours for the coming of his
tall, manly figure.
Hampton suggested that he would
be well on the following day, and then
she might reasonably expect him. With
oily tongue that well suited his tlatter-
ing words, he assured Nellie that she
was boon too precious to be surren-
dercd without an effort on the part of
tho highly favored one, and that James
would not least of all--if he did then
his love amounted to nothing, and she
had better east him off entirely.
Hampton had good conversational
powers, and he knew well how to use
the advantage they gave him. Although
he spoke falsehood and represented
vague and Aimsy theories, he had so
we'll assumed an expression of sincerity
that not only Nellie in her unhappy be-
wildcrment, but the shrewdsst ideas of
human deception would have been
deludcd by the looks which accompa-
MED his words.
After remaining long enough to arouse
Ncllio's most hopeful aspirations and
creating no small interest in himself, he
took his departure with an invitation to
call again.
Two days later he exercised the priv.
lege, and called. His department and
bearing was about the same as on the
former occasion. He gave another reason
for James prolonged absence, closing
with cunning thrust at the purity OF
his motives if he made no effort to bring
their troubles to loving adjustment.
He had played his hand well upon g