Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-01

beneath hor window n cease. She could
hardly restrain herself from calling the glr
70 come ~. but when, az length, the clock
called out the midnight hour, the soft click
OF the doOr-latch and the sound Of retreat
Ing footsteps Indicated that the couple had
parted. few moments later, as Neil crept
soitly past the door, she heard a stihed sob.
Poor girip' thought the klnd-heartsd wo-
man, " she IA In trouble aud has not one
soul 70 coniide In, or advise her. wish she
would let me help her In some way"
Inc next morning Nell did not come down
stairs az her usual hour 10 assist In getting
breakfast, and when Mrs. Melton started 10
call her, Mrs. Dales offered 10 20 instead,
She found her with her eyes red and swollen
from weeping, and looking A. n she had not
slept q moment all night. When she saw
mrs. Dales she covered her face with the
bed-clOthes, aud remained In sullen silence.
But the good woman wns not thus to be dis
cOufaRed from trying TO comfort the dscon-
solate creature. She seated herself on the
edge OF the bed and commenced strOking,
win her soft, magnetic fingers the bit OF her
forehead that was visible above the bed
clothes trying TO soothe her at the same
time with words Of tenderness and sympa-
thy, But the girl made no other response to
the Kindness OF her new friend than by now
and then bursting into fresh sObs. BY and
by hrs. Dales left her, but only to return af-
ter little space with a tray upon which she
had arranged qdite a tempting breakfast.
suasive voice and manner; but she wonld
neither taste morsel, nor would she speak.
She was to say the least, most disngreeably
sullen. Mrs. Dales's persistent kindness and
Ior3earance' however, were equal 20 her
stubtOrnness. In truth, she felt such keen
sympathy for the poor young creatures
poignant grief, and, withal, was harrassed by
such fear that she would commit some rash
and desperate act, that she never thought Of
resenting any repulse she might receive from
the thougetless and imprudent child,' as
she called her
OF the immediate cause Of her trouble,
Mrs. Dales had not the slightest inking, be-
Yond the various surmises which naturally
arose In her mind, until, when the day was
wei advanced, one OF the farm boys who had
been to the village Of an errand, brought the
news that Nell Lynn was going to be mar
RED that very evening. His bride to be was
the daughter Of a well-tO-do farmer, and was
also the village schoOl-teacher. Mrs. Dales
drew long breath OF relief, as she heard this
news. In her heart, she thanked God that
Nell was thus to be freed from the unhappy
thralldom Of this unprincipled fellows So
clety. she mentally resolved to guard the
girl with unceasing vigilance until she should
become more accustomed to her disappoint-
ment, or until her mind should be able to
life.
She had too clear an insight into human
hearts to indulge any fears Of Nells brood
ing for any great length Of time over her un-
fortunate attachment. She felt sure that
after few days her thoroughly healthy
physique and elastic spirits would be able
TO throw off the incubus that was weighing
now SO heavily upon her heart, and to a
somewhat alarming degree, bewildering her
mind.
As the day waned, and the early hours of
evening wore on, Mrs. Dales felt the increas-
ing necessity OF, by some means or other, in
ducing Nell to sleep. She was every hour
growing more deliriOus and feYerish.
''She must Sleep" she said to herself, as
she went to little medicine-chest which she
always kept near at hand, and taking out
small vial, she poured therefrom a white
powder, which she prevailed on Nell to swal-
low in the cold water she was constantly beg
glng for.
Mrs. Dales watched anxiousy till she saw
her patient sink into a heavy, unbrOken
sumber; and then, as it was drawing to-
ward midnight Of this, the second night Of
her vigil, she lay down beside her and slept.
IL was long after the sun was up the next
morning when Nell awOke. Mrs. Dales, who
was sitting in low rocker by her bedside,
noticed with satisfaction that calm, intelli-
gent look shOne in the round black ewes
which had glittered with delirlous excite
ment the day previous; also that the cheek,
which had been burning with fever, was
now pale and cool. Her mind seemed not
to revert at once 10 her trouble, for the first
words she spoke had all the old impetuous
ring.
'Oh, dear! Pm half starved" she ex-
claimed with a Yawn; "I do feel $3.50
somehow at my stomach" But the next
moment the past came rushing in upon her,
and suddenly THROWING up her brown hands,
she clasped them over her forehead tightly,
murmuring in accents Of real pain, "Oh,
dear, dear"
Mrs. Dales quietly handed her some Cruel
she had already at hand, and when Nell had
partaken Of all that she desired, which, how
ever, was but little, she began to unfold n
plan which she had been maturing the last
two days concerning her future.
81 want you to get well right away" said
Mrs. Dales, cheerfully; " for have made up
my mind to take you home with me, II you
are willing to CO."
Nell opened her eyes wide, and stared at
Mrs. Dales incredulousy.
"What in the world do you want Of meY"
she exclaimed.
"Listen, and | will tell you all about it,"
replied Mrs. Dales, pleased that she was
able to call her thoughts from her trouble
for momcnt. 81 live In pleasant village
in Western Massachusetts,, where there are
nice schools; and having obtained the con-
sent Of Mrs. Melton to part with you, pro-
pose to take you to my home and have you
go to school for two or three years-perhaps
longer, II you DESIRE"
q How can l pay you" questioned Nell,
bllll sLuIlllk hJ utT lTltuu uOuDUutlNs
- ask no pay except such as you will like
to give me in helping about the house. 1
have no family except my husband, and 1t
will be a pleasure to have young person in
our house. shall be disappointed II you
do not decide to go with me-" and Mrs.
DRles looked at the young girl questiOningly.
"'Pll go anywhere you are mind to take
me, IL it's to the end o. the EARTH" said Nell
desperately; then burst into fresh passion
Of tears.
And so It came about that when Mrs.
Dales started for home a few days later, she
was accompanied by Nell, who still showed
traces Of her recent struggle In the some-
what haggard expression Of her cOunte-
nance, and in her unusually subdued de-
meanOr. 1t was no easy task that our friend
had set herself TO perform, in reforming, or
rather, remOdeling the character of her
prOtege. To teach her to concentrate her
wandering thoughts upon her books, to re-
fine her language and manners, was a work
and a care that nothing short Of a dominant
desire to benefit the girl would have induced
her to perseyere in. In her secret soul, she
oft times, during the first year, felt well
nigh discouraged at Nell's waywardness and
lack of interest in her new occupations. But
as, by slow degrees, affection for her bCne-
factress strengthened in her breast, and con-
fidence in her superior judgment grew into
n governing force, she became more docile
under restraint, and put forth honest efforts
to master lessons assigned her.
At the close of the first year, looking back
ward, Mrs. Dales could see that there had
been a positive improvement; though she
was, at the same time, forced TO admit that
it, by no means, equaled her hopes. But
the fact had long ago sunk deep into her
heart that faithful, perseyering endeayor In
the pursuit of a worthy purpose, must bring
about something akin to adequate results,
either in the near or remote future. This
truth had encouraged her to undertake and
carry through many noble work In the
long years gone by; and 1t did not fail her
poxy II shp eOuld not succeed in helDinp