Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-15
Three Visits.

became cognizant of the following facts
that the landlady of the house had an only
daughter, and that certain young lawyer
who boarded with them was in love with her.
That was not to be wondered at, for Nell
lie Easton was not only an intelligent, sweet
tempered girl, but was bewilderingly beau
tifui. She came nearer being what one
would call child-woman than any one
| ever saw. There was something almost
infantine in the arch innocence OF express
sion that lighted a countenance cast in the
most delicate mould and one felt, while
looking at her, that she would not endure
many of the storms of life.
The young lawyer, Edgar Mitchell, had
lust graduated, and had been in town but a
few weeks. OF all the awkward looking
What amount of talent he possessed one
could not tell for his gilt-edged sign swing
ing to and fro in front of his office had as
vet brought him no clients. He was snubbed
by the majority of the girls and Nellie, for
sweet PHYS sake, had been kind to him.
She did not love him, but the young man
repaid her kindness with devotion that
was plain to every one.
left the place after few days, and did
not return for a year. When ! saw Nellie
noticed change in her that could scarcely
explain at first sight. 1t was not that she
was more gracefully beautiful than before,
but that there was proud, happy look in
her sunny blue eyes, and an exuberance OF
spirits that she had not previously possessed.
| understood why this was an hour or so
later when the "lawyer" came in. Her
child-face revealed the secret. She had
learned to love him. And now | did not
wonder at it. The year had wrought won
derful changes in him. He had grown a
fine-looking, self-possessed man. | learned
also that he had astonished the whole coun-
try with not only his knowledge of law, but
his great eloquence.
He had been offered partnership with
an eminent lawyer in a neighboring city,
had accepted it, and within week or Sc
was to leave.
learned from Nellie that they were en-.
gagged, and that the wedding would take
place in a year from that time, and | was
given an invitation to attend. Before left
on this, my second visit, concluded that
the couple were certainly very devoted to
each other, but that the man was too in
nately selfish to be trusted with the care of SC
fragile flower as was sweet Nellie Easton
Another year passed; took the cars tc
the little town of r in time to spend
q low dhgo thCiC pCioiC thC WIN
place.
cam in time for the wedding ?" asked
of one of Nellie's friends whom met in the
hall on my arrival at Mrs. Easton's.
"Wedding p in a puzzled tone. ooh,
had forgotten; this was the time set for it,
But it will never take place. Have you not
heard ? He broke off the engagement six
months ago, and Nellie" in a lower tone
"never got over it, she has been i'll a long
time, and is not expected to live another
day." -
/ asked.
"Oh, he got up in the world SO fast thai
it spoiled him. He knew that he had reached
position to win the hand of some girl with
fortune, and had the heartlessness to tel
Nellie so, and ask her to release him.
"The wretch " muttered, as | went OF
up to my room. "Truly, man is a noble
creature, but woe to the luckless woman who
chances to be at his mercy He will PLAN
foot upon her neck, and with sword'l
point against her breaking heart, coolly ex
ult in her helplessness.
went down to Nellie's room after awhile
l knew as soon as saw her that her day!
were numbered. | tried to speak words Of
encouragement to her, but felt that in thu
presence of such woe as hers they were
mockery.
Her mother was sitting by the side of th'
bed weeping.
81 was telling mamma" she said to me
in voice so low and weak that had Il
stoop to catch the words, that | should no
live much longer and that | want TO Sc,
Edgar before | die. She does not think i
will do, but it can harm no one, and oh
uyifh tnittfnl oIact, IF tha Ettla hands
cannot die without seeing him once more
lie will come if | send for him, for he love
me yet. Talk with mamma, and urge he
for me-"
thought with Nellie, that there was moth
ing wrong in sending for him, and final,
talked Mrs. Easton into it. Nellie pre-
ferred to send her cousin, young man, 70
him, so there could be no chance of the mes
sage failing to reach its destination.
would be impossible for them to reacl
E. before shutdown the next day.
Nellie seemed to rally after the messenge
had gone, and as the shadows deepened int
darkness she fell asleep, and slept PEACEFUL
till after midnight.
She had asked me TO sit up with her, s.
was present when she awakened.
81 have been dreaming Of him." she sal
TO me, smiling. "He is not here, is he Z
looking about the room. at seemed 8
real !" After few minutes she asked
I" Is it after twelve yet 7"
EYES," ] answered.
"Ob," her face becoming radiant, an
both hands coming ioyously together, " the
he will be here to-day"
The to-day" proved long one to tn
poor sufferer. As the night drew on, ever
minute seemed to the waiting girl like a
eternity.
We had, at her request, arranged her hal
prettily, and raised her to half-stting p
sition. A light shawl of some bright colC
had been thrown around her shoulder
"For do not want to look ghost-like," 81
said.
! watched her closely, fearing that the III
natural tension of her nerves would gi,
way before her lovers coming, and that 81
would be too Frustrated TO recognize hir
The cold moonbeams began to lie white
upon the floor Of the room, and knew thi
they would soon arrive. Even then the ca
were coming | looked toward the bed, an
saw that Nellie, too, had been listening fl
the sound and heard it. The roses we
stealing into her cheeks, and she put one Ii
tie hand up to her head, and then tried TO a
range her shawl about her. | recognized IL
woman in the act, and went TO her, sa
ing
"You are all right, Nellie; don't exc
yourself. He will think you are beautiful
/" All do you think sol He will find II
so changed !"
The hall door opens, and the footsteps {
man came slowly through the hall and u
the stairs, Her quick ear caught the SCUM
and she sank back with moan and erie
OUT