, 1882-04-14

| WluOW Cpry Brlnueu aul houueo hei
head, and then waddled off into an ad-
joining room.
Felix DAILY now approached Nelly. and
with bow and q smile, said
"I wrote you letter yesterday, Miss
Nelly. May ask if you received it?"
ooh, yes, Mr.. DAILY" answered the
girl, II did receive your letter, but l did
not read it,"
"Not read it?''
NO, for I cast it into the fire un-
opened"
Felix DAILY frowned as he stepped back
pace or two.
1T contained proposal of marriage"
he said, with forced calmness. "You are
heartless GIRL Miss Nelly, to thus re-
ward my devotion. have asked you
again and again to become my wife, and
each time you have refused. But L will
not despair. You may yet consent to
become Mrs. DAILY"
Nelly Cary arose to her feet and
pointed toward the door.
"Pray leave me, Mr. DAILY, and never
speak to me of marriage again" she
cried. MY answer is final, as | have
| told you before, and your visits here
must cease.
The frown on Felix Daly's face grew
darker and darker, and his black eyes
| glittcred with fierce light. There was
a moments silence. The man was striy-
Ing hard to restrain his angry feelings,
and at last he succeeded.
Il love you better than my life, Miss
! Nelly" he exclaimed, in n husky, trem-
bling voice, land you know it-you
must know it. Ii you marry me you will
eyer regret it. | will make 4 lady OF
you. | will take you to Dublin, ana
your life will be perfect round of gay
ETY. and pleasure. Don't drive me to de-
spair, but smile upon me and say you'll
| be minew
II will hear no more" said Nelly
Cary, sternly. 81 bid yon go, Mr..
DAILY, and never again address me on
this subject. Now go!'
Felix DAILY looked at the girl, with
set lips and glittering eyes, and sneer-
ing, mocking smile was on his pale face,
Il see how it is, Miss Nelly" and the
man spoke in bitter tone as he began
to button up his greai coat. You are
devoted to that miserable scamp, Con
Desmond-a wretched cur who robbed
helpless old man on the Wicklow road,
and who is now in Jail awaiting trial. SO
he is your choice, aud you remain faith
full to him. You prefer highwayman
for lover instead of gentleman"
"It is false." she exclaimed. "Con
| Deswond is not guilty. | do love him,
and am proud to say lie loves me. |
would rather be his wife and live the
balance of my days IN hoyel stepped in
poverty than wed you, though your
wealth was boundless and you rode in Il
coach of solid gold
The man uttered low, sneering
laugh, and looked down at the floor as he
said:
"Your love for Desmond is too pow
erful to last, Miss Nelly, am afraid.
The fellow will certainly be transported
for a number of years, and then your love
for him will cool down and finally die
out altogether. Women are tickle, you
know"
"But | am not, SIR said Nelly. Il
will always believe Con to be an limo.
cent man, and my love for him will re.
main the same till the hand of death Is
laid upon my brow"
Felix DAILY walked to the door with
bowed head and quiyering lips,
"Con will not be made to suffer for a
crime he never committed,' added the
girl. "The light Of justice will fall upon
his case. His secret enemy will be un'
earthed. / feel sure of it,
The man turned, with his hand upon
the door latch and glanced at Nelly with |
startled expression on his face.
"Who is his secret enemy, may ask"
"Heaven knows" was Nelly's reply, |
and her voice trembled. But retribu-
ton will fall upon him, whoever he may
be, as surely as God reigns above"
Without a word Felix DAILY turned and
hurried from the cabin.
At that moment the widow bounced |
out of her room, and stood glarlng at her
step-daughter and shaking her fist high
above her head. And Nelly trembled as
she looked at her step-mother.
sob, ye name hussyw she howlod and |
she shook her fist at Nelly. 'Oh,
ye badmannered, impudint, insultin'
crayture! | heard yer, miss, an it's
blushin / am to think that I'm step
mother to sich low, ill-mannered thing
as you are. Thank the lord | was borna
lady, an sorry am to think that yell
niver be like me. Oh, wurra, wurra, to
think that ye had the face to insult Mr..
DAILY an order him niver to visit here
agin" Widow Cary clasped her hands
together and uttered loud cry. "Who
am l, anyhow? Am | nobody? Are me
grand frinds like dear Mr.. Falix DAILY to
be grossly insulted whin they honor me
wild visit? Oh, it's in sore trouble l
am, an it's dsgraced I'll be row among
me fine frinds, an all on account nv ye,
bad cess to ye!