The daily gazette., 1879-08-05
FIRST EDITION.
NELLIE.
BY ID. PARKE CUSTIS.

The scene before me was simply beau
tiful. The house stood In an open re-
cess too shallow TO be called cove, and
yet removed from the mouotony of the
straight line. This arose rocky and bold
above the beach, and the house, with its
brick walls, ivy covered, was only few
rolls from the cliff Looking over this
saw the bay and ocean sparkling and
basking In the serene light Of that
August afternoon. had reached clus-
ter Of trees that were grouped around :
messy rock. Here sat down to rest.
To my ear there came only the sound Of
the insects humming, and the cry of
swallow as IL passed and repassed, now
elancing low, now fiashin. higher as IL
flew onward 10 its nest. II,,r sa; I'M
Ill felt rested, and then arose AMI went
forward rapidly. Following a well -trod-
den path came to stile, over which
passed into a lane that led me to little
gate. This admitted me TO a-smai gar
den in winch the house STOOD II rang
the bell and was shown by tidy servant
to a nicely furnished room. - "a
In few moments an elderly lady en-
tered. This was Mrs. Tempt /, and When
mentioned my name she received me
very kindly, expressing regret that had
been obi ged to take 80 long walk. !
explained that circumstances made it
advisable for me to enter at once upon
some sphere Of action, and as soon as
had rece we'd her sons letter in answer
to my advertisement for a situation as
teacher, had accepted his offer without
waiting for formalities. Mr.. Temples
family cons sted of two besides himself,
his mother and an invalid daughter of
eighteen, to whom he wished me wished
me to be at once teacher and companion.
After some further conversation Mrs!
Temple led the way TO an apartment, on
the other side of the front entry. She
opened the door and we passed into q
room the elegance Of which and the taste
of Its arrangements pleased ME very
much. asia H. ir. a-t.4. r
The carpet covering the fi,or looked
like golden brown mass sprinkled with
hare bells, and the furniture was covered
with damask to correspond with these
colors. There were baskets filled With
| flow ers that filled the room with their
fragrance, and OIL the walls there were
many fine paintings and engrayings. On
sofa, propped with cushions to half
slit ng exposure, lay the idol for whom
love had decked this shrine She had
ht ard my voice and suspected who was,
and her face turned eagerly to the door
as we entered. With difficulty / sup
pressed cry of admiration. Was she q
mortal or an angel, this girl VIII ,se per-
feet head and face were united to Grip
pied and suffering body? took her
hand which she he'd out to me and, the
| sleeve falling back, saw an arm so white
and perfectly formed no sculptor could
hope to equal it. I.-t ..4...l .i.r
For moment looked into her sweet
face with its transparent complexion like
rose-tinted alabaster; its, large brown
eyes that the dropping lashes shaded into
blackness its broad, low brow over
which the parted chestnut hair rippled
back in heavy curves that cleaned golden
in tho sunshine; its mouth full of carved
beauty opening its scarlet lips to reveal
| tiny pearl graius of teeth Ofrare brill:an-
cy, aid then stopped and kissed her,
kissed her lungeringly, for loved her
loved her before she had even spoken my
name. She was to me, from the first,
like dew, like moonlight, like whatever
| there is in nature TO soOthe and bless.
Well, months passed away, Autumn
| changed the green helis tee gold sspd
brown then iii erixrApped 4 il,enf Gl.A
pail. Slowly, impercepLibly these changes
were wrought, and Summer came again
Since my advent in Mr.. Temples
family Paul Gray, our clergyman, had
also made his home there. His church
was not far away. Over the hilf TO the
right we could see the guilt cross at the
| - ho ov,tra I mi III nof of nv.t
to describe Paul Gray's character, be-
scription seems like exaggerat!on. lie
was preacher who wept in secret over
his congregation He was strong in pa
tience, and eager to labor even when
that labor seemed fruitless. He was
faithful and untlring. How dearly did
love to listen to his deep, rich,, flexible
voice that seemed to clOthe each shade
of thought in fitting gart, and after a
while truth flashed upon me. qucs-
toned my heart, and it answered me
"You love him!'' %. iH'', o..
| One afternoon near the sunset hour,
| left my darling and went forth for a
walk. 1t had been one of those mild,
dull days when the e nth seems to pause
and take breath for the labor before her.
[ went down to a steep path that wound
to the foot of precipice aud sat down
on boulder that the waves had worn
into a resemblances OF chair. l had
been sitting there some minutes gazing
dreamily upon, the heaving masses OF
waters, and listening to " hat the waves
said, when the sound of footstep caus-
ed me turn and saw Paul Gray stand
ing beside me. %! f.- rrf .L1f lIf
81 have been to the city," he said
"and when returned asked for you,
and Miss Nellie told me that would
find you here" .l. -,
eyes, often come here. I once made
drawing of the place for Nelly. Die
she show it to you?"
"I have seen it, he answered. "It |.
dreary picture, these gray rocks, this
melancholy OCEAN, and one solitary
figure sitting here. How lonely yOr
seem in that picture, Miss Mormon" o.
And then he was silent. l remained
motionless, listening to that ceaseless re-
auiem the ocean waves were chanting
At length he turned, he took my hand
in his, and pressing 1t gently, asked me
to be his wife, and when he heard my
answer felt his warm lips upon my
cheek and then he l-ftme.
When l returned home l gathered
some flowers from the garden for Nelly
and arranged them in . little vase.
then opened the door of her room ant
went on tiptoe to her side. wished &c
: surprise her with pleasure she always