Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-01-20
NELLIES STORY.

HbLLIh6 . OIOh1.
as the bona fde New Yorker ever tired,
or sick, or sorry? Does he ever stop?"
SO used to ask my sister Alice day after
day, as we took our drive TO the park, or sat
at our window in the hotel, where, in truth,
l spent the greater part OF my time, idly
watching that busy, restless, ever-increasing,
great city like mighty wave, seeming to in
gulf and carry all before it.
They tire me SO, those people. Where do
they come from, and where can they all be
going? And don't you suppose that, among
them all, there must be few we should like
to know 2"
"very probably" replied Alice, laughing,
''but how are we TO impress those few with
wish TO know usl Are we to send an adver-
tisement TO the daily papers stating that Two
ladies, possessing many agreeable qualities,
but very few acquaintance, would like to en-
large their circle, and will receive applicants
(who must bring undoubted references as to
character ana position) ut such and such
time 2 No, Nellie that would hardly do.
How shall we accomplish itg l am quite
ready to tell the honest truth this hermit
life of ours begins to weary me just little.
have yielded to your wish TO be in perfect Sc
clusion but can see that the inspiring at
mosphere of New York has done you good,
Nellie, dear, in spite Of yourself and now
the sooner we come out Of our shell the bet
ter. Let us look around the hotel, though
we should never have the courage to make
any advances to strangers even if attracted
by their appearance and, on the whole, l
think the matter will regulate itself. We
have been alone in a crowd long enough
now, and l want to see my little Nellie in her
proper sphere once more"
And then we wandered off into discussion,
or rather a long, rambling chat, about the
kind Of people we should really like TO have.
The daylight died away, and we looked out
at the beautiful city under the gas-hght," p"
and speculated afresh on the probable des-
TIMES Of the crowd still tramping under our
windows and, with the evening papers, and
our many beloved books, we ended the day
Ours was strange position. We were both
comparatively young. Alice waE nov twenty
five, aud two years younger. Without be-
ing by any means regular beauties, we were
sufficiently good looking to have been known
in our native town, away down among the
Hampshire hills, as "the pretty LAngdon
girls" We were thoroughly educated, had
more money than we knew what to do with
| and were absolutely alone in the world. Our
parents and only brother had died some years
before the time Of which 1 am writing, and
Alice was a widow Poor child Her story
is brief, and sad enough. The man she loved
and married, at eighteen, proved, in every
way unworthy, and for three miserable years
her young life was burden to herself, and a
cause of ceaseess sorrow to me, who watch
ed her lovingly, but who was powerless to
help or comfort in such grief as this. At the
end of three years, she was released. A fall
from his horse, while riding home in a state
of intoxication, caused the almost instant
| death of her husband.
Al. A., l.. Il,
| old house, where there were SO many sad as
sociations; where we had been happy chill
dren, and desolate orphans, and where my
darling Alice had tasted bitterness worse
| than orphanage. But where should we go
1t was at the close of our short New England
summer that we held many consultation as
| to where we should pitch our tent. To me,
| it was matter of utter indifference, for, al
that time, all places were alike to me. We
knew something of Boston, aud my chief
| pleasure during the memorable winter spent
| there, was the recollection of that first day in
the Music hall. 1t was in more senses than
one, a marked day, for from it dated my in
innate friendship with Henry West. We had
met at several parties each had recognised
in the other kindred spirit; and, as he was
| an habitue of the house in which was visit
| ing it became a matter of course that he
/ should escort me to the various places of
amusement and show me 'the lions" loved
music, but had enjoyed few opportunities OF
hearing it ; no stars ever wandered SO fa9 out
of their accustomed orbit as our little country
town; and there was very little native talent
there. When, therefore, Mr.. West invited
me soon after my arrival in Boston to attend
one of the Wednesday organ concerts, / con-
sented, little knowing what awaited me.
When the first piece was ended q remem-
| Der it was the TannhRuser Overture), sat
| quite still the tears rained down my face,
| but no words would come. Then it was
knew in an instant how perfectly sympathet
| 10 were my companion and myself If he had
at that moment uttered one of the common
place or conventional criticisms one hears SO
often, should have hated him forever. But
he did not he only said, very quietly, after
had recovered myself little, 81 am SC
| thankful you heard it first with me, and
replied, "If only it might last forever"
From that day our friendship ripened fast,
and during the remainder of that memorable
winter the world was very bright to me.
Every week we went to Music hall, and there
| l studied out with his advice and assistance
the music we had heard together. When the
spring came, and Alice began to beg for my
return 10 her, it was hard for me to think oi
all from which going home must separate me
And, to all appearances, he felt it, too.
| COulu not uOuDb lnht ne uhu a very BiShb III
terest in me, he had given me so many proof
of it. Would he, l wondered, speak somt
decisive word before / left Would not ht
ask permission TO visit me In my country
home So dreamed on until the last eve
ming came. For hours the drawing room
had been crowded with guests assembled t.
bid me adieu. Many kindly greeting wa
spoken, many a wish expressed that we nigh
soon all meet again. But not until very late
when almost every ons had gone, did Mr.
West appear. 1 knew ct a glance that some
thing was wrong, and my heart sank within
me. talked on, however, as merrily as be
fore, giving to each a bright word, a gay
goodbye, wishing, oh how earnestly, tina
il was all over. At last we were alone. M!
hostess, wearied by the evenings exertions
begged to be excused, adding, jestingly, 81
one of the single gentlemen had loitered 81
long, Nellie, after all the rest / should b
rather suspicious on this last night but Their
is no danger of anything serious coming h
pass now-so / win say goodnight. Pray
Mr. West do not be taken with one OF you
musical feVers, and persuade Miss Langdo
! to open the piano, for she is very tired, AM