The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-17
THE DAILY STAR
LOVE FOR NELLIE.

6C0NCu llAC hAesS A"AS e~S~- S-AS W
unalloyed happiness.
John was the senior of his wife, and a
stalwart sinewy fellow.
He had emigrated to the far West in
search of fortune.
Locating upon stream which emptied
into the Mississippi, he had erected a
mill and gone into saving and shipping
timber.
A settlement had already grown up
around him, and he was on the road to
well earned success.
Marshal Packard who had accompa'
MED John Ashton to the West, was his
overseer and assistant.
He was a thick-set, powerful man, Of
swarthy complexion, but his hair was
black, thick and bushy, and he had a
luxuriant, curly, black mustache.
At dark one evening Nellie was sitting
at the open window.
She was waiting for some one. patient
ly waiting until twilight deepened into
darkness, and the cool night air famed
her tear-bedimmcd cheek; then and not
till then, she rose, with deep-drawn sigh,
and closed the window.
With weary mind, she began to pre-
pare supper for her husband,
An hour passed away, when she heard
hasty footsteps approaching the house.
It's Johns steps. At last he comes" "
Nellie said, rushing to the door, and
throwing her arms around the neck of a
man who entered.
'Oh, John, you have come at lastr
cried she.
But when her lips approached his face
she started back confused.
1t was not John!
When she looked, she saw the dark,
swarthy face of Marshal Packard.
Il just met your husband, said he, and
he seemed strangely nervous and con-
fused. He has sudden business down at
the landing, and will not be home
until morning.
Morning came and John did not re-
turn.
Dayswent by, and there were suspicious
,f foul play, but searching far and near
failed to reveal anything relative to the
Three years passed, and no tidings of
John Ashton.
In the meantime, Nellie still lived in
in the settlement, while Marshal Packard
conducted the business for her.
She began to think of her husband as
dead, and grieved over his loss with
ceaseless regret, when one day letter
WAS handed to her.
When she saw the handwriting, her
heart leaped wildly, as it used to do at
the sight of John or the sound of his
voice.
1t was so long before she had felt any
emotion that it nearly overpoweredher
Tears of joy filled her eyes at the
thought of the words of consolation and
hope; and the promises of long-lost hap
piness at last to be realized, which that
letter might contain.
At last she opened it and read:
'Nelie-This letter is post-marked New
York, but shall not remain here. am
bound for England, under new name.
and with bride, whose fortune, am free
to say is her only attraction. ! release you
from every tie, and advise you to marry,
g have done.
"JoHN ASHTON"
Wasit possible, after all she had suf-
fered, all the weary years she had waited
and loved so devotediy, her love must,
after all, never be more than memory
of the past?
She was stunned with despair.
This sorrow nearly crushed out Mel
lies young life, but, after long illness
she arose from her bed calm and re-
igned.
She had entirely and for ever given up
the idea of seeing John again.
To her he was dead now, and he, their
love, and their brief married lite, were re-
membered as dream.
Marshal Packard, the only person to
whom she told her secret, advised her to
forget, as far as possible, the man who
had so basely wronged her. ~
One day she took book.
Almost unconsciously her eyes closed,
and she slept.
She had been thus for about half an
hour, when Marshal came into the room,
When he saw her, he stood still for a
moment, and looked at her.
Noiselessly he came and sat beside her
With an involuntary impulse, he took
her in his arms, and pressed warm kisses
ON her lips.
With a start, she awoke, and as she
opened her eyes murmured:
'Johno
Nellie" he said, "it is not John, bul
enc who loves you better than he, for he
will never leave you
Her face grew crimson as she recOg
nized him, and she struggled to free her
self.
But he held her fast.
you shall not go until / have spoken
love you! Why still think of one who
mas deserted you? He is dead to you
now-perhaps he is really dead! If not
he is forever lost to you in this world!
Therefore, listen to the love which
comes TO console you, and which is true
will be all to you that he should have
been! will love you! / will console
you for all"