The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-12
II was going to say" said Nellie,
hat perhaps you could sing with


"that perhaps you could sing with
me-"
"No. no; excuse me, I can't sing
Nellie"
The word was uttered with gasp,
and certainly turned violently red in
the face. Joe was looking at me, and
I saw he had a desperate struggle to
control the muscles of his mouth.
/ was indeed fond Of music, but l was
entranced with her magnificent voice.
The evening passed on golden wings.
Joe ran on in his wild old ways; told
his Jokes and laughed just as bolster
ously rs he did when we roomed to-
gether at college. He did not give us
much chance to join in the conversation ;
for one comic anecdote reminded him
of another which lie must tell. We both
laughed heartily at his stories, and
talked volumes to each other with our
eyes.
That night dreamed I loved Nellie.
(Oh, truthful dreamy I dreamed she
reciprocated that love. con, vain
dreamD Then I dreamed intrigue be-
gan. We determined to .elope. My
heart bled for poor Joe, but felt it was
death to live without her. Now she
has met me under the old elm south of
Joe's house. Isee her pale. excited face !!
/ feel her nervous hand clasping mine!
Now we are fleeing! On, on, and now
we are pursued! Joe is on our track! .!
The scene changes, and we are on the
river. We glide along smoothly in a
light boat. Now we are safe, and she
is mine-mine forever! But no, Joe still
pursues us. Now he is close to us. Why
cannot we glide faster? Joe approaches
swiftly. Now he closes in on us! He
has caught her in his cruel grasp! Her
beautiful pleading eyes are raised to
mine! He raises knife aloft! Then l
catch his arm, we struggle silently to-
gether. / wrest the knife from his
grasp and plunge it into his breast, and
he drops from the misty boat and sinks
beneath the dark waves! How dark the
river has grown by the pale light of the
moon! The gaunt and ghastly figure of
Mr.. Long suddenly emerges from the
waves! I saw him catch my darling in
his long arms. and, before could inter-
fere, they had both disappeared beneath
the turbid waves of the river! This
awoke me! ! arose and resumed my
wearing apparel, bathed my feverish face
and went forth into the air to try and
exercise the evil spirits with cigar.
By the ensuing morning my dream
had ceased to trouble me, but the real
ity of things did not cease. There was
Nellie before me in all her beauty, all
her sweetness, to tempt me on to love
her. There was Joe, with all his exu-
berance of spirit, and as unsuspicious as
child. He seemed to do all in his
power to bring us together. He often
lured us into interesting conversation,
or managed to get us engaged in singing
and playing, and then leave us alone for
hours. Days passed away and lapsed
into weeks; in these weeks was almost
the constant companion Of Nellie Hall.
We were out riding, boating, and to in
Vulnerable concerts and entertainments,
all through the suggestion and planning
of Joe. I felt and knew well the dan.
ger: was fascinated at first-nowI was
irretrievably in love. The thought of
breaking away from this charming crea-
ture caused me pain like unto death. I
resolved to leave. No matter what it cost
me. the only honorable course for me to
pursue was to return to the city and for
get-no, not forget, for never could l
forget the only woman l ever loved or
could love.
Joe was absent on the day l arrived
at this determination. All the better l
thought it; It would be easier to get
away. I proceeded to pack up and get
ready to 60 on the evening train. l no
ticed during the progress of packing,
that the long body of Long was over
shade wing me He seemed determined
not to let anything escape his observa-
ton. At length, when l had finished
my work, he approached me. His long
arm was raised to his breast pocket, and
from thence he extracted q letter which
| he handed me. / tore it open; it was
from Joe, and read:
Thomas Tburston, you are traitor!
I no longer doubt your perfdity. Long
has watched you and Nellie closely. 1t
is useless to deny intention of eloping
with her. I demand satisfaction, and it
can only be had from your hearts blood.
Meet me on the river bank, and by the
light of the moon, and in the presence
of Long, we will settle our differences. "
looked up. Long had disappeared,
and in his place stood Nellie.
"Why, Tom, you're not going to-
leave US, are you?" she asked.
Ithough she addressed me in tone
of regret. locked in her bright eyes
such beautiful loving eyes! How could
I pain her? How could I drive the
blood from her cheeks and the light
from her eyes by showing her Joe's
letter and telling her all? She came
very near to me and said coaxingly:
Don't 60, Tom; I will be so lonely
here now"
Il cannot stay, Nell, / regret having
to leave you My words came fast and
almost inarticulate. II thought to be
on my way now. and can only stay long
enoug ii to bid you adieu."
but, Tom, what will Joe say?
Surely you will stay till he comes!" she
cried.
"No, no. cannot, Nellie; indeed I
can not. l can never forget the happi-
ness I have had here this summer: but
I must leave you now, and fear -it-is-
forever!"
My voice was unsteady, and I clasped
both her hands very tightly in mine.
"Forever!" she repeated. "Oh, Tom,
Forever!"
What world of tenderness, of regret,
in her intonations, 1t died away rs q
wall of woe.
"No, Nellie; never shall I see you
again; never shall l clasp these little
hands III mine, never hear the music of
your sweet voice. | shall never see you
again-never!"
"Neverw the moan died away and
the beautiful eyes were raised to mine in
speechless agony that wrung my heart
with pain.
"Oh, Nellie, do not break my heart!
My grief, my wretchedness is beyond
bearing now. Your beloved eyes look
into mine will haunt me in coming
years. You know my secret. Rccrimi-
nate me if you will, Nellie, my darling" !"
A light sprung into her cyes-strange,
dazzling light that spread over her beau
tiful face-:hc light of measurcless
love, of transport of joy. "Fare-
well, cried, in husky voice, not dar-
ing to stay longer; farewell" and
turned to 60. when her fingers closed
over mine. I turned to her again and
she threw her arms about my neck.
"You must not 60! You shall not 60,
for I love you" and the beaming face
was hidden on my breast.
A chuckling noise from behind startled
us. It broke into laugh, then into
loud shouts and frightful roars, inter-
mingled with hideous outlaws and a
woman's musical laugh, till the hills
echoed and re-echoed the sound. Mel
lies face was suffused with bushes and
she drew away from me: but clasped