The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-19

ally. She took one Of the servants into
her confidence was 7e"esSary 10 90
that-and on the day arpoInted she left
the house Just at d. wn-left it, as she
thought. for years. l was waiting for
her in the park and We walked across
the moor to catch the first train at Ry-
lands. and so reach London by eight
O'Clock. Fancy, darling, what a walk
that was for her, leaving her home IKE
a criminal. expecting every moment 10
hear the sound of her fathers angry
voice behind her But we got safely to
the station and started Oh our journey
| without having seen a face that we
knew. Once in London, Nellie's spirits
rose and she felt safer when my dear
old cousin Anna-whOm you mustl love,
Janle-received her with eager well
| come. We had some breakfast. or ra-
| Their drank some coffee, for we could
| not touch any of the dainty eatables
| provided for US and then Nellie
changed her dress for something o
ft for her Notwithstanding very
quiet and ~simple-and we drove to the
church. | have no clear idea of any
thing happening till we stood together
at the chancel-Tails and l took her
hand IN mine and felt that all our trou-
bles were over. But it was too soon to
feel secure, for, just as the clergyman
| began the service, he was interrupted
by hasty footsteps entering the church
and a loud voice raised to forbid the
marriage. 1t was Nellie's father, and
behind him was Mr.. Scott, with a smile
| on his face which told me that | bad to
thank him for discovering u plans
| They took her away from me, scarcely
granting a moment t. say goodbye.
But that moment was enough for me to
remind her that two years wOuli
give her power to act for herself. |
claimed no promise of f~aithfulness, for
[ knew | could trust her. Tney took
her away; | could do nothing"
ooh, how cruel! How could you
bear it 7"
81 don't know. 1t was like being
stunned by a heavy blow ; for a time
the sense of pain was crushed out by
the shock. But the cruellest exper-
fence of all was that | could not hear a
word of her. wrote again and again;
but your father was in Indii, and her
other brothers were but boys, and there
was no one TO take my part. She was
watched continually some old bag in
Mr.. Scott's pay was with her always.
Pity her, jamie, spending the long
dreary days here where you have been
50 happy. She spent hours in the gar
den, l heard afterwards, tending her
flowers till she grew too weak to do
anything but lie on the sofa by the Win
dow and look at the sky. | was in It.
ally. making a home for her. 1t WAS so
bright and tasteful all the little things
[ knew she liked | gathered together,
and | was almost happy in the work.
The two years passed. and Igot the few
weeks holiday | had b%argained for, and
started to bring her home. | could not
sleep, | could not rest; a feverish anX-
iety had seized me and L Travelled
night and day till Rylands was reached
and only a mile or two parted us. |
could not ask after her-something
checked my speech-and / started Oft
once more to walk across the moor. You
know the way, Janie-over the moor,
down the long meadow by the bridge,
and through the churchyard. 1t was
a sunny evening, and, as ] passed be-
tween the graves, the sunshine sbOne
whitest on a white cross just off the
path. You know it, jamie it was quite
new then, and the letters were freshly
cut. | read them at a glance-NelIe's
name She had died a month before"
jamie could not bear to hear any
more !; her tears had long been running
silently down her cheeks, and now her
composure broke down altogether.
"Don't-don't cry SO, my jamie. Dear
Nellie has been all these years in heav-
en-, and you have come to make it all
up to me. But You can understand
now why IN that first evening your eyes
aad such IA charm for me-the only eyes
I cared to look into since she was lost
TO me. | loved you first for Nellie's
axe /; but | woOed and won you for
your own, my darling p
And at his eager words the painful
feeling of 'alOusy of the dead that had
been in Janie's heart as she listened to
The story died away for ever.
Sometimes DIsasterous.
A ~-knOVD farmar who bvaS in