The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-01-02
NELL.

NELL.
"Here l am--Elinor Royston: my
education finished and myself ready to
commence life, with fortune Of three
hundred a year, a large and varied as
sortment of old valentines, a canary
which cannot sing and pug dog with
bad temper. Oh land a heap of hide"
Gus dresses and an adorable new ulster. "
So exclaimed a young lady as she stood
In momentary stiffness upon the hearth
rug, after breathless burst into the
drawing-room of Oaktree Hall. The
master of the mansion, Graham Dag
ish, had been reading in the PEACEFUL
enjoyment of sp ,endid fire and n lux
urious arm chair: which, upon the
girls entrance, he had quilted, and
came forward few steps to greet her.
"Well," said Miss Royston, after a
moments pause, in a tone of wonder,
and gazing frankly into the eyes of her
companion, care you not going to ask
me how ! ann"
'How do you dO?" Daglish nodded
cooly. 81 thought you were too much
engaged in taking that inventory Of
your property for such ceremony as
shaking hands,"
"How do you like my ulster? Don't
you like itg It's all pockets" she said,
thrusting her hand into one resceptacle,
then into another.
"What silly baby you are" Dag!ish
cried, trying very hard to frown, and
not to smile, at the lovely glowing
face now raised to his.
''Do you want everybody to be the
Methuselah that you are?" ElinOr
pouted.
A shadow crossed his countenance at
the random words. Elinor Royston
was nineteen; Graham Daglish nine
and thirty; and as the dew and sun
shine are necessary to the life of the
flowers, so seemed this waywaTd, winn-
ing girl to Graham Daglish to be essen
tial to his cxi stance. When twelve years
ago she was left an orphan to their care
both Daglish and his mother regarded
the trust as serious and unwelcome
responsibility, but time had changed
their views. The old lady called Elinor
her sunshine, and Graham had grown
TO love the sweet variousmOoded girl
with all the strength and devotion of his
resolute nature.
Elinor's late absence at school was a
source of deep regret, and now upon
her return home for good, high festival
would be held in the hearts and in the
mansion of Oaktree.
care you not glad that ] have fin
ished with that detestable school ?" she
continued after short pause.
at depends upon how much you
know. What can you tell me conscien-
tlously you have learnt, Nell?"
She took her stand Immediately be-
fore him, and checked off her accom-
pllshments on the pretty fingers of her
left hand as she spoke.
"Music," she answered. CD
"Voice and piano gymnastics, ]
should rather say"
"German, the whole of the French
language. Drawing and Painting.
Geography"
could you stand a good examination
on the capital cities of Europe? 2" he in
terrupted.
81 should not like It," she frankly al
lowed. "But what does it matter?
Everybody is not an old bookworm like
you. Perhaps when am your age I
shall know nothing else"
III have yet to learn that ignorance is
interesting" said Dagish, GROSSLY, un-
der the irritation of her illusions.
$50 | am ignorant now, and was
silly before; you need not have told me
so In the first hour that am at home
at Oaktrce, mean," she said, In proud
correction of herself.
Occupied with his own bitter renec-
ton, Daglish did not notice the halt
and change of expression. But his in
difference was differently construed
by the girl, who gathering up her hat
and gloves, swept from the room in
anger.
"He gave me no welcome, although
offered HIM so many opportunities"
she said to herself, as, brushing the hot
tears from her eyes, she closed the door.
However melancbolic, though, the
effect was upon his intellect, Mr.. Gra-
ham Daglish had very soon to witness
the terrible process; for next day the
mansion oaktree filled with Christ
mas visitors, and one Of these, Mr., Ar