The daily Cairo bulletin., 1881-05-20
THE DAILY BULLETIN.
ELLENs CHOICE.

seventeen tIut tuc ncli vi tuc WI ahuihN
property burst upon us in sudden glory:
He had left our town when lad, ana
after graduating at Yale and visiting
the land of his fathers, old Scotia, had
now come down to have the grand OLD
mansion made inhabitable as u summer
residence. Young, rich handsome and
naughty, his advent naturally stirred
up the village into state OF excitement.
1t was at a May party that he first met
with u.s.
Nelly was our queen, and never shall
forget the startling impression which
her first appearance, in all her grace,
gayety and blooming beauty, made up
on Grahame He gazed awhile with
ewes diIated, and then pressed eagerly
forward for presentation. 1t did my
heart good to see the imperious, travelled
aristocrat kneeling humbly blushing
like very school-boy, and timidly kiss
ing the rose tipped fingers OF our laugh
ing little Nell. But my triumph gave
place to slight feeling of apprehen-
sion, as | remarked the eyes of her ma
iestic pro tenn, fixed with evident inter-
est on the glowing face of her courtier
like admirer. l saw it was all over
with him, but did not wish the heart
of our sweet Nelly to prove so easy
conquest But what avaied my wish
es! All through budding May and lcafy
June was Greenwood cottage honored
by the frequent presence OF Grahame
the admirer, Grahame the friend, Gra-
hame the lover, Grahame the adorer,
and Grahame the ailianced OF our dar-
ling Ellen.
The bridegroom elect was boyishly
proud of his betrothed, and seemed to
exult in having won the beauty OF NJ.
TO Others he was as imperious and fas-
tidious us ever, but deferential and
fondly attentive to Ellen. And She
how gloriously the woman awoke with
in her How she trusted in him; how
she cared for him; how proud she
was of him! How she poured her very
soul out in grateful worship! She sang
and danced, and laughed and jeSted
with him, and her own beautiful and
Joyous existence seemed so intertwined
with his that they could not be sepa-
rated.
At last, with much "pomp and cir
cumstance." the female part OF the
family of Grahamc came to NJ, and
Ellen was honored with an invitation,
to spend week at Grahame place. She
returned before the visit was completed.
sad and i'll. questioned her, and she
said she was an ignorant country girl;
that she found she could not sing and
play Italian like Miss Euphemia, or
speak French and paint in oils like Miss
Margaret "And then," said she, while
her face grew crimson, 81 was dressed
so plainly"
"But surely" | remarked, their
manner did not make you feel this |?
Were they not kindP''
"No; cold and neglectful"
"But James how was hep"
She threw herself on my breast with
gush of tears, and murmured: "He
was like the Others"
At last she told of many things he
had said and done which had cruelty
grieved her heart. One circumstance
now recollect: an excursion on horse
back was planned, and Grahame col
lected considerably party.
While showing off the PAGES of his
horse, the vicious creature suddenly
threw him. Grahame was but slightly
hurt, but dreading the laughter of his
friends, lay for a moment as though in
sensible Ellen half-trenzied, sprang
from her palfry, raised his head on her
knee, chafed his temples and called up
on him wildly, tenderly. He opened
his eyes, poured upon her look of an
cry pride, flung her hands rudely from
him, and exclaimed, in harsh under
tone-"Good Lord! Miss Montgomery,
do not render yourself and me ridicu-
lousp'
In the afternoon, Ellen pleaded i'll
ness and came home.
Three days Of terrible suspense passed
before she saw the face of her betrothed.
At last he came, and, all in q tremor Of
fearfulness and love, she received him.
In short time saw him pass down
the avenue, but for more than an hour
Ellen remained alone where he had left
her.
When she gave me leave to enter, |
found her extended on the sofa, her face
hid with her hands and the long. gold
en- curls which had fallen over it, her
breast heaving with quick, convulsive
sobs. She could tell me nothing; her
anguish was too intense for words All
night long she wept and moancd within
my arms. Just at dawn she fell asleep
and remained in tranquil slumber for
some hours. When she awoke and
found me watching beside her she turned
her sorrowful eyes upon me and said:
'How good Of you to show such kind
ness to poor, forsaken girl"
"Forsaken" l exclaimed elias
James Grahame dared to forsake your"
''Iie said we had better part--that
he was convinced we were not suited
to one another, and he has left me for
ever"
"And thank God for i'll" l cried.
"He never truly loved you You never
reigned over his narrow, little soul. II
he thought less of you for your being
portionless, let him now see with how
rich scorn you can look down on ono
so poor in heart and poor in honor.
Learn TO despise and detest him as the
embodiment Of faitblessness and cruel
ty. Let him shrivel beneath the scorch-
ing contempt of proud and injured
womann'
Sha lnnl.aI T..