Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-21

the principal clause OF the note.
Nell, with a heavy heart, went
to her room, to ask for tie speedy
return and safety Of her noble low
er. Meanwhile Cecilia had heard
all and had been planning against
Nell. In the course Of week or
more nothing had been heard OF
Capt. Dolwell, and Nell waited
patiently for some tidings OF her
lover, but alas none reached her.
The next morning poor Nell awoke
with a heavy headache, and was not
able TO leave her room for two days,
and then she determined TO go
home. She wrote to her mother
that she would leave for home next
day, which she accordingly did, and
was met at the depot by her mother,
who was, in the course OF an hour
informed Of everything. Nell was
in turn, told that letter had Just
been received from her long lost
brother, who had joined a small
body Of troops bound for his native
birthplace, and would soon see his
dear old home and be clasped in
the arms Of his dear mother.
1t was a dreary December day,
gray and overcast, the chill atmos-
pbere thick with fine snow, wild,
wailing blast tossing the maple
boughs, and whirling the dead
leaves in every direction; but de-
spite the cherries day and her own
sad heart, Nell lit a fire in the best
room, and made the old house at
Ampton as CHEEKY as possible.
There was no one to eat the din
ner but the old people and herself |;
but unselfish Nell, hiding her own
sorrow, strove to make the day
bright for them. She heaped the
fire place with dry logs until the
flames scared up the wide chimney,
and looped the curtains with ever
greens, and filed the vases with
scarlet berries.
She brought out the square Ia
BILE and covered it with sweet,
linen, and dainty store OF good
things Of her own making. Poor
little Nell! Who that saw her
pretty brown dress and fluted white
apron, with a geranium leaf, and a
scarlet blossom in her brown curls,
and such a tender smile on her lips
and in her eyes, would have dream
of the heart ache she was crushing
down! The winds wbistled, and
the tall maple boughs clashed, and
the snow began to grow thicker as
the afternoon waned.
"Come, father and mother" said
Nell, in a voice like linnet's, "lets
sit down to our Christmas dinner
it is quite ready"
The old father rose and took of
his glasses.
ga cherries day for Christmas
he sighed, and it will storm before
night. Aye, wife, it's not like the
days we've SEEN"
The old wife's eyes filled; she
was thinking of her dear boy.
"Come. come, the turkey is grow
ing cold" urged Nell, struggling
to keep back her tears.
The lawn gate closed with clang'
and there was sound of horses on
the gravel. Who could be coming
Nell flew to the door. Two men
in blue and brass. One of them
she knew in an instant. "Oh, Will,
Will! Mother, Will has come
home !" she cried out. In another
instant their dear son was in the
room, and bad the old woman in
his arms. The father clasped the
dear boy in his arms and wept.-
"Nell," said the second one, ad.
vancing, sis there pardon for me
toop "Capt. Dolwell!" "Let me
tell the story; the command which
I Joined was no other than Capt
Dolwell's, and once, when he wa:
dying, he told me his story. ! saw
how the land lay in q trice; anf
here he is, willing to trust you
now. You must forgive him, Nell.
"Will, you, Nellr whispered the
captain.
For answer Nell put her hand'
in his. He carried it to his lips
The mystery to them both wa
made known, the Captain had writ
ten according to his promise, bu
never received any reply, but b,
continued to write, and he wrot,
eight times. but he never received