The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-20
FAITHFUnsE NELLY.
BY JoPN w. MAcKEY.

A bright fire was burning on the broad
hearth Of the Widow Cary's cabin, and
the lady herself was seated in front Of
the welcome blaze, with pipe in her
mouth and large mug in her hand.
A handsome, fair-haired girl was stand
ing before the cabin window. She ap-
peared sad and worried, for her face was
pale, her eyes were dim with tears, and
now and then sigh escaped her.
''Far the Lords sake, come out av that
an stop yer mopin' an sighin', Nelly
Cary!'' cried the widow, in a peevish
tone. "Draw the winder curtains to-
gether an light the candle; an be quick
about it, too"
The young girl obeyed her step.
mothers commands, and then seated
herself on q low stool near the door.
eyed turn corpse sick wild yer long
faces an yer broken signs" snarled the
Widow Gary, putting away at her pipe
and looking keenly at her step-daughter.
can yer gettin' lazy, an ye go blum
derin' about yer work, too. 1t makes me
lose me timper every time l look at ye.
An it's all bekase Con Desmond is be-
hind the bars in Wicklow Jail. He's q
fine crayture far girl to mourn after
bad luck to him far bould robber!
Sure hangin' would be too good far SIGH
a villain as he is! They ought to tiay
him alive, the good-for-nothing thafe"
Nelly Cary looked at her step-mother
with flashing eyes.
econ is. as innocent as q lamb, she
said, in stern voice. "Con Desmond Is
no robber. He is not guilty, and l never
will believe him guilty, though hun
dreds may swear against him. He is the
victim of an evil plot, and he has az
enemy somewhere who is striving to
drag him down into the mire of infamy.
But God is Just, and the tide will yet
turn in poor Cons favor. l feel it,
know it; but still my heart is sore."
'sBah, We fool" cried the widow, with
q dark frown on her great fat face. I'm
disguised wild ye! It's born idiot ye
are. an it's we'll seen that ye're not my
flesh an blood. Well, hould close to
Con Desmond, an worship him to yer
hearts contint, me beauty; but yell live
to see yer brave lover transported to the
land where birds az his stamp an color
are Gagged; or perhaps yell look at him
a-danglin' from the gallows tree before
We die, me fine girl"
Nelly Gary shuddered.
"Oh, you are hard and cruel! she ex-
claimed. 81 would die if poor Con was
lost to me forever! He is an innocent
man. He never robbed old Driscoll on
the Wicklow road. There is q plot
against him. and he is in the tolls. Con
has been wild and foolish, know, but
he is no robber, he is no criminal. l
would stake my soul on that"
u 'May the ould Nick fly away wild him
an never bring him back, is my wishr'
snarled Mrs Cary, as she shook her head
at her step-daughter. "What is he, any
how, but poor slip av farmer? An
there is handsome Falix DAILY, the
sauires intimate frind, who would give
his two eyes if ye'd say the word an
marry him. But. no; ye're q contrary
crayture as we'll as fool, an ye turn yer
nose up at Mr.. DAILY, an resarve yer love
far ould Desmond's worthless son. fale
like trouncin' We whin l think av 1t,
miss" =,
ssDo not speak to me of Felix DAILY"
said Nelly, with CLEAN of Indignation
in her eyes. "I almost detest that man.
Twice has he asked me to become his
wife. and twice have I refused. As If l
would ever wed any man but my Con!'
"Falix DAILY mixes among grand peo-
ple. I'd have We know, me fine daisy!"
angrily retorted the step-mother.. HE
is a rale gintleman an has plinty av
money, an it's proud ye ought to be, an
it's honored ye ought to fale at havin'
SIGH splindid offer from SIGH hand
some gintlemanT'
Felix DAILY is no gentleman" the
young girl said. "He is only fox
hunting scapegrace. and like the squire,
whose intimate friend he is, he bears q
bad character. The post boy brought me
. note from him yesterday recog-
nized his handwriting on the envelope
and cast it into the fire without open
5 Ing it. Let Mr.. DAILY send his fine let
ters to some other maid. want none Of
them"
If We don't give up all this nousince
about Con Desmond an take advantage
Of Felix Days offer, I will make ye re-
grit it, We impudint beggarr exclaimed
che lady, in great rage. I'll drive ye
out ~ this a. sure - me name 10 Bridget
Gary, an 70 may 60 to the dogs or die in
Z ditch for all carel"
AZ that moment the door of the cabin
was opened and tall, dark-browsd man
entered the snug apartment.
Widow Cary turned and faced the new.
conner, forced smile 10 her face, and
made oourtssy.
"It's proud an happy am I TO see 70,
Mr.. DAY." she said.
Felix DAILY drew the widow aside and
placed : large bottle In her hand.