The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-04-10
perhaps he will object pleaded

me very much and-I will feel highly
honored to be allowed to address you
by your Christian name"
"Pshaw, Tom! it'll please her. Won't
it, Nell?"
She laughed and gave me a bewitch-
ing look accompanied with nod.
Il was going to say" said Nellie,
"that perhaps you could sing with me"
"No, no; excuse me, can't sing
Nellie"
The word was uttered with gasp,
and I certainly turned violently red in
the face. Joe was looking at me, and
I saw he had desperate struggle to
control the muscles of his mouth.
I was indeed fond of music, but was
entranced with her magnificent voice.
The evening passed on golden wings.
Joe ran on in his wild old way told his
jokes and laughed just as boisterously
as he did when we roomed together at
college. He did not give us much
chance to join in the conversation; for
one comic anecdote reminded him of
another which he must tell. We both
laughed heartily at his stories, and
talked volumes to each other with Qur
eyes.
That night I dreamed 7 loved Nellie.
con, truthful DREAMY I dreamed she
reciprocated that love. ooh, vain
dreamy Then I dreamed intrigue be-
gan. We determined to elope. My
heart bled for poor Joe, but I felt it was
death to live without her. Now she
has met me under the old elm south Of
Joe's house. I see 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 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 plead
ing eyes are raised to mine. Joe raises
knife aloft. Then I catch his arm !;
we struggle silently together. I 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 CHASTITY figure of Mr.. Long
suddenly emerged from the waves. I
saw him catch my darling in his long
arms, and, before I could interfere,
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 exor-
else the evil spirits with fragrant Ha-
vana.
By the ensuing morning my dream
had ceased to trouble me, but the reality
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 ex-
uberance of spirit, and as unsuspicious
as child to tempt me on to love. He
seemed to do all in his power to bring
us together. He often lured us into in
teresting 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 boating, riding, and to innumerable
concerts and entertainments, all through
the suggestion and planning of Joe.
felt and knew well the danger; I was
fascinated at frst-now I was irretriev-
ably in love. The thought of breaking
away from this charming creature
caused me pain like unto death I re-
solved to leave. No matter what it
cost me, the only honorable course for
me to pursue was to return to the city
and forget-no, not forget, for never
could [ forget the only woman ever
loved or could love. ......5 u,,...
Joe was absent on the day I arrived
at this determination. All the better,
l thought; it would be easier to get
away. Ilproceeded to pack up and get
ready to go on the evening train. I no.
ticed, during the process Of packing,
that the long body Of Long was over
shadowing me. He seemed determined
not to let anything escape his observa-
ton. At length, when / had finished
my work, he approached me. His long
arm was, raised to his breast-pocket, and
from thence he distracted a letter,
which he handed me. Il tore it open; it
was from Joe, and read ..na td
Thomas Thurston, you are . traitor! I no
longer doubt your perfdy Long has watched
you and Nellie closely. 1t is useless to deny
your intention of clipping with her. 1 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. JOE.
~! looked up. Long had disappeared,
and in his place stood Nellie. - :, rarI
st" Why, Tom, you're not going to leave
us, are you?" she asked. '''A'-
4 Thought she addressed me in tone
pof regret. [ looked in her bright eyes,
such beautiful, loving eyes! How
could l pain her? How could I drive
the blood from her cheeks and the light
from her eyes bylshowing her Joe'silet-,
ter and telling her all? She came very,