The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-07-21
NELLIES SECRET.
"For love will fly out of the window,
When poverty stands at the door,"

| Nheh poNerty sEihus al the door,
sang sweet clear voice.
sDo You mean it, Nellie?'
John Walsingham's handsome face
wore troubled look as he asked tn,
question, pansing, meanwhile, on th,
threshold of his neat little home ere b,
sailed forth to his days work in tht
dingy little law Office down town.
Nellie Walsingham, his brown.eyet
little wife, of six months standing
glanced up into his face as she PAUSED
N her work OF rem0yinTg sJ%Sd nTgsbs 5E and bars
into merry, ringing laugh, which did
one good to hear.
"You foolish boy!" she cried. hurry.
ing to his side to chase away his auxious
look with kiss which she besto we'd
upon him, edo you imagine that
could mean it? No, indeed. And l
Will never sing that song again, if it
distresses you. 1t is a cruel untrue
song, anyway, and certainly not appli-
cable to u.s."
"Heavcn Forbid" cried the young
man, drawing his pretty wife closer to
his heart; "fOr, oh, Nellie dear, have
been troubled myself greatly for fear
you may have regretted marrying a
poor man, anu i"
"Hush!" She laid one little hand
upon her husbands lips. Don't say
that, John! Don't even think of such
dreadful thing again, when yon know,
my darling, that you are all / have in
the wide world, and not all the treasure
of this earth could compensate for your
loss. No, dear. l married you for
yourself not tor YssIh or ana naan6ii,if9 ni,a Z:
my estrangement from my family. But
L prefer it to be as it is rather than
give you up. That never shall do as
long as we both shall live."
He stopped and kissed her fondly,
his eyes full of tender tears, tears which
were an honor to his manhood.
GOOD bless you, my wife!" he MUIR
INJURED, and there was CLEAN of heart
sunshine in his dark eyes, now, "bess
you foreverW
He hurried away down the pretty
gravel walk, which led to the gate,
passed through, end was gone.
For few moments Nellie Wasing.
ham stood, her soft eyes following her
husbands retreating form; then
smile rippled over her lips.
"Dear old John I" she said, softly and
tenderly, she does not know how [ am
trying 10 help him. lie does not dream
that am turning my musical education
to account anJ have already secured
half dozen music scholars. NV only
dread is lest he should discover my
secret in some way, and do so want
to surprise him!'
She fnrned away to hor homeiy task
OF washing up the break fast dishes,
humming softly, meanwhile, the beau
tiful words of the "Benediction:"
"May God bless thee. my beloved
May Cod bless theel"
When everything was done-the
dishes carefully arranged in the airy,
little pantry, the house swept and
busted, all the little tasks completed,
and the vases filled with fresh flowers,
Nellie arrayed herself in her pretty
street suit of gray cashmere, and left
the house.
1t had long been scheme OF hers to
earn little money-in secret-un-
known and unsupported by her husband.
She wanted TO come to him Oh his
birthday morning-it was not far dis
tant now-and lay in his hand neat
roll of bills, and sayr
"Ilere, John, is my cont ibution
towards the general fund. Take it and
get the nice suit of clothes so long coy-
eted; then there will be enough left to
pay the taxes for the year, and then
that burden will be of your mind!"
With this ambition in her noble
heart, Nellie had decided to apply for
few music scholars, and had mel with
decided success.
Her marriage with John Walsingham
had furnished subject for a nine days'
gossip, half year before. Everybody |
knew that Nellie had married against
her parents wishes; but even they
could not deny that John was noble,
ana upright, and honorable, and only
lacked wealth, the little cottage in
which they now resided being the sum
OF his possessions. And Nellie loving
MN with her whole heart, reared as
she had been in the very lap of luxury,
had still made her choice between her
iather's mansion and Johns cottage on
q retired street, and she had never re-
gretted her decision.
Full of thoughts aud plans for the
happiness of the one so dear to her,
Nellie hastened onward TO give music
lessons to some little pupils some dis
tance from her own home. Preferring
TO walk rather than TO indulge in car
fare, she made haste; when just as she
turned the corner OF the street where
her pupils resided, she beheld coming
towards her the tall, gaunt form of her
old maid aunt, Miss Marshlands.
Good graciousw calculated Nellie,
soto roce, show very unfortunate
Whatever brings Aunt Marshlands ont
here wonder? She will be sure TO ask
me hundred questions; and il 1 tell
her what my errand is here she will
make II her business to tell John, and
hat will end all my carefully planped
surprise. Besides, she will never rest
until she has informed papa, and they
will conclude that John is forcing me
o work for living! Oh, dear, what
'hall dop'
Miss Marshlands was very near.
There was no possible chance 10 beat