Little Falls transcript., 1880-07-02

will Ibc but q passing shower, probably,
and we will take the path through the
woods, which will afford some shelter in
addition to that Of my umbrella II
a few other vehicles were going the
same road. Mr.. Gray's was the last in
the procession. '~"
"You don't tobject to the umbrellaer he
said raising it and adjusting it: to it's
socket in the back of tho buggy.
II hate umbrellas!" Nellie returned,
"Do put that down-there is hardly any
rain"
"Nevertheless, I am responsible for
your safety snd good coudi dition, so will
keep tup till we get to the woods ss'''a Z
"A little rain never hurts me-"
"But it may hurt your hat. Are you a
woman, and never gave thought to that
important question: Why there was not
a young lady on the ground to-day who
did not make that the first consideration. ;"
SWELL" said Nellie laughing, perhaps
am not much like other 20 ung women" ."
"Perhaps So. In fact, that idea pre-
sented itself to me at our first meeting.
She colored and bit her lip but made
no answer.
'Nellic," he said, bending forward a
little, and looking in her face, "doesn.t
this remind you of-that evening2"
II thought" she answered, sharply,
''that you were never again to allude to
that subject
II can't help it; it is too often in my
thoughts. In fact, I like 10 think Of it."
Her heart beat little at his tone, but
she, looked straight before her, without
reply.
"Nellie, do you remember the request
l made of you that evening2'
go "That' request was not for me-
"It is now"
Their eyes met tor an instant.
:Are you sure, said Nellie half archly,
but with strange tremer in her voice
are you sure you are not still taking me
for some one else9'
quite sure, despite your golden hair,
anu your voice, and your similarity of
name. It is NeE1c Caldwell that l now
ask to-say those wordsr' he whispered,
as he clasped one of her hands in his.
~s"How long, said Nellie, half mlschiev-
ously, half serlously-"how long since
you said this to Nellie Archer2"
~ never said it to Nellie Archer.
When left you and went to see the orig
inal Nellie," smiling, II found her to be
quite different character from the ideal
which my fancy had pictured, during a
whole years absence. Enough you know
what l mean, never spoke to her of
love, and to-day we came to pleasant
understanding, when she informed me
that she had engaged herself TO Captain
Lloyd. love her we'll enough as a
cousin, but not as must love a woman
whom would make my wife,"
They were bowling along the wood
land track, where the trees made a ver-
dant arch overhead, through which the
rain-drops slowly drlpped, like shower
of diamonds. Nellie had never before
felt how beautiful the world was.
They arrived at home in a drizzly
shower, through which in the misty east,
a glorious rainbow shone.
At the door he detained her for an In
slant under the umbrella, as three months
ago he had done at the gate.
"Nellie, darling, you have not said those
words-I love you, Oharlie.'"
"No," said Nellie, blushing. "No, I
won't say them now; but" and she glanc-
ed up roguishly, 81 do love that dear um-
brellal' =. .. ..
And she rushed upstairs as her mother
came into the hall, inqul,ing if they had
gotten wet.