The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-02-06

via, gfaVely. "Ihat girl, Nelson, may
yet make good and lovely woman"
Elizabeth never forgot those words,
nor did she ever forget him who spoke
them.
She little dreamed just then, how
ever, that In a few months more she
would leave Mrs. Marks forever, and
begin new and less shadowy sort OF
life. But so it happened.
Early in the following winter sister
of her dead mother came for her and
took her away.
Mrs. Bardolph was wealthy, fa-
shionable woman, and had up to this
time ignored her orphaned niece, whose
impecunious and ignoble father she had
thoroughly despised. But when she
learned that the father was dead, she
adopted Elizabeth, and treated her in
all things as daughter.
Ten years brought many pleasant
changes to the fortunate girl, who at
twenty-five was a very beautiful and
elegant young lady, idolized by Mrs.
Bardo'ph and loved by many friends.
During season at Newport, she met
again for the first time since that long
ago summer-night Mr.. David Raymond
and Nelson Marks.
In the admired belle and heiress.
neither recognized the little barefoot
girl whom possibly both had utterly
forgotten.
Nelson Marks was a not unsuccessful
barrister, widower, and quite a bril-
liant and distinguished person.
Elizabeth facinated him from the
first, and he fancled that she was not
averse to his devotion; nor was he dis
couraged when Mr.. Raymond became
his acknowledged rival.
And yet she puzzled him; for young
lady superior to coquetry, her behavior
was certainly tantalizing, and caused
him often to fear that his attentions
were not felicitous, however agreeable
to her they might seem.
"One can't always understand her."
he said to Mr.. Raymond one day. "If
one could know just what she likes and
dislikes, he could be sure of pleasing
he. One don't know whether her most
gracious sayings are ironical or bante-
ring.
But each day he loved her more and
more, and ultimately became so bitterly
ealous of Mr.. Raymond aS.tO deeply
pain that gentleman.
"You are wrong" said he; although
love Elizabeth Bardolph as + never
thought I'd love any woman, and as /
never can another if she prefers you.
Nelson, shall be your friend and hers
just the same. Let us be fair and
friendly rivals, Old friend"
Friendly certainly, though |
fair we can scarcely be" demurred the
other, ''Our positions are too unequal.
have nothing but my profession, while
your wealth is quite as great as hers"
"And you are brilliant and honored,
while am prosy sort of fellow with
out any social distinction, smiled Mr..
Raymond, as he left his friend, whose
mood was not enviable.
Hate was already working in his
heart, uprooting the friendship of a
lifetime. It
81 think it is about an even thing
between u.s." was his mental conclu- |
sion; "and if | know myself [ can yet
gain the advantage, shall gain it too.
Fair or unfair | shall venture risk to |
win or lose ALL"
lie visited Elizabeth that afternoon.
The young lady was unwontedly |
gracious, and he was gratitied and flat
tered when he saw she wore the flowers
he that morning had sent her.
But his satisfaction was spoiled when |
he saw lying near her small exquisite
portrait of his rival.
"The artist has battered our friend |
has he not?" he observed, while hate
full expression disfigured his handsome |
face. "Poor David | left him COM
fortress an hour ago."
"Tudeed?" returned Elizabeth, els
he troubled ?--and why?"
81 ought not to have mentioned it,"
answered Mr.. Marks, assuming the con-
fidential and sympathetic; "but the
truth is. David is in quandary, He |
has lost his heart, and doesn't know
how to find It,"
"Why should he wish tO?" asked
Miss Bardolph, smiling at the words so
suggestive of not particularly elegant
nursery rhyme.
40, David, as j suppose you know, Is
very. an absurdly, proud man, andhe
has discovered that the lady, although
at present wealthy, believe, comes of
n disgracefully poor family, or some
thing of that kind really did not
quite catch the whole of the story. lie
wishes to retract, but feels that he has
made his attentions too pointed ~ do so
without unpleasant comment. did
not ask who the lady is.
lie uttered the fiction gracefully !
enough. but somehow Elizabeth's cool
eyes made him uncomfortable, and he
mentally wondered is she guessed how
basely he was falsifying9
81 think know the lady," asserted
she slowly. "Years ago, when she was
u child, she lived with your Aunt
Marks"
81 remember no such child" he re-
turned, sincerely, surprised but pleased
that she seemed so readily to believe
him. ''Do you know Aunt Marks.
"Mrs. Bardolph does" she answered,