The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-02-27

| house.
Well, she didn't die but she went up to
her room dazed with the reality of what had
been before only a dismal apprehension.
1t was the next evening before Mr.. Haw-
thorne appeared, and Nelly was almost un.
willirg to admit to herself how much she
anticipated his coming, aud quite afraid to
20 down in the parlor to meet him. But
when she came in the room so dainty array
ed in one of her Paris dresses, aud with two
or three Of his fragrant buds interviewer
with (he pretty Paris necktie at her throat,
with just a shade Of embarrassment in the
blushing face, and "a little tremor iu the low
voice that bade him good evening he only
claspcd her hand and said softly, Yes, Miss
Egerton, know
And she stored this away with the other
instances of his considerate regard. And
Ralph never told her how he knew, or of
the interview which had passed between Mr.
John Breyoort upon the delivery of the let
ter, whereat Mr. John Breyoort had be-
sought Ralph to convey the tale of his de-
sertion, aud Ralph had told Brevoort that if
ii were not for getting the thing into the
newspapers he would give him a sound
thra-hiug.
1t was perhaps & week after this, when
she had already consulted Ralph about her
return to France, aud he bad advised wait
ing still longer, that he came one evening
with novel and unlocked proposition. 1t
was that she should accept "a position az
teacher Of French. Aud Nelly, like the
brave little soul that he was, after not more
than days thought, wondering, too, all the
time why Mr.. Hawthorne was so kind and
solicitous in the matter, resolved to stay and
! fight it out in New York rather than 60
back iorsaken to Madame De la Vigme.
I At last when spring had come and the
/ roses were blooming, one day Nelly and
Ralph rode over to Brooklyn, and through
| Prospect PARK, and down to the sea shore,
where the fresh ocean breeze brought back
to each the memory of their earlier acquain
tance. So they sat down on the beach and
looked out toward the horizon, where pass
ing steamer left long line Of smoke in his
wake
What would YOU think he asked, idly
gathering up handful of sand and letting
it trckle through his fingers, of going back
next month to Madame De la Vigne o
Nelly looked at him with wondering
eyes, To give up here ? she asked, in be-
wljerment.
Ralph nodded
And to leave Mrs. Pennington ?
Another affirmative nod.
For good 2?
Il trust not for bad
But, Mr.. Hawthorne, is there any reason
why 2?
4 think, perhaps, you had better, Miss
Egerton.'
And then, with all her perflexity, there
came a sudden sense of how much this go.
ing away would cost her. and little spirit
of rebellion against his proposition.
But | can't think of it, Mr.. Hawthorne,
she cXposlulated without knowing just why
If there's any good reason And there she
stopped, with an unspOken invitation in her
puzzled face that he should give her more
light.
Well,' he said, looking up somewhat
amu.cdly, there is 4 reason
But Nelly did not ask for it, and her face
grew hot, and the blue eyes dropped be.
meath his steady glance
.,,, ,.,.;-,- ,.,,..,lF L., E,,1
though. perhaps you would like company
Aud then the old pain, which Nelly
thought she had laid away with ler faded
memories comes back, All, Nelly How
dismal now the thought of staying at home,
And how YEARLY Nelly, impatient with her.
self. and trying all she can to keep from cry
! ing turns away her head and looks out
across the water, wondering in a vague un,
certain way what it all means
But il WAS short-lived trouble, and the
tenderness of his next words took half o.
the pain away.
DO you suppose be asked so quietly
that her timid eyes sought his with the con
idence of a child, that am going to leave
you here all alone You don't want to be
lett alone, 20 you Nelly p
1t was the first time that he had ever call
ed her that the first time, indeed, she haC
heard the name in months and the novel
ty of it so startled her that she quite lost tn,
sense of what else he had said. So anon.
her bushes she gave him a quick. uncertain
glance, that led him tc repeat
You don't want me to leave you her
alone, do you .
And then it seemed to Nelly as though al
of sudden the sun had gown very hot
and all his rays were concentrated on he
cheeks
1T will be dreadful warm here in the sum
mer,' he continued, and everybody will g
away and even if you 90 to the countr,
YOU Il be shut up in some stufy boarding
house, and have an awful stupid time. IN
deed, Nelly, even if you don't care bi
about me, you'll have to marry me in sell
defense
But, Mr.. Hawthorne, '-hesitatng an
speaking very low.
We'll, Nelly "
Oh p she exclaimed braycly, for all he
bushes and hef tears, you're so good, no,
could hep caring? !?
'And then you will go {? he asked, laugh
Ing at her embarrassment, and kissing ava
the rain drops from the flushed cheeks.
If you say SO, Mr. Hawthorne -shyly.
well, do say so, and won't trust 20
to go alone, either, am going to max
sure of you, Nelly, before | 60, and ther
isn't any odiou7 law know of it there to pr,
vent it. Though oughtn't to reyile tn
French law ne added, renectively, touch
ing her cheek lightly with his lips, as if i
acknow Judgement Of all that the Ia
had done for him, since it has provided n
with wife. And what lucky thing fC
me Npliy that ynu npvpr Enew vha,a 30