The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-26
hold upon. YOU day by day.

usual languor, almost timidity, in Nellie
and Otto Winstanley's almost incompre.
hensible conduct.
He had joined in none of the converse
ton anticipatory of her arrival; and when
she was presented, there was a start and
sudden paleness ON Nellie's part, and a
sudden dark upleaping of color and feeling
to his face as he muttered something about
a previous acquaintance.
1 think no one else observed this, or the
fact that his indolent filtration with Belle
glowed with sudden and unaccountable
ardor since Nellie's arrival. Perhaps, also,
no one else remarked that he certainly
treated Miss Middleton with downright
rudeness and neglect, or thought to ask
themselves if a man was apt to be rude and
neglectful towards a sweet and winning
girl to whom he was perfectly indiffer-
ent.
But be that as it might, two slow weeks
went, and | saw no more clearly into the
mystery than had done at first. But one
evening came Nellie, and sat down beside
me in the twilight.
She sat very still, looked even paler than
usual, and I caught myself plying her,
but at loss how to manifest it, remained
silent.
Presently she heaved little sigh, which
gave me an excuse for asking her what was
the matter.
''Oh, nothing; only am tired-not phys
ically, but mentally This is very unsat-
isfactory life. Don't you think SOP
"That depends"
''Well, | have found it so. The only
things that are worth having are out of
ones reach. Walls of paper, barriers of air,
separate more indissolubly than brass and
adamant. Energy can conquer matter,
but what human will is strong enough to
do battle with pride and prejudice %
''You are right in general, but don't
know how you would apply all this
81 believe have not applied it."
Il beg your pardon :"
After that we were silent, till Otto stroll
led ill., and, giving me brief nod sat down
and began playing with Jup, the terrier.
Having a vague idea that Nellie might be
inclined to be more specific with him than
me, l made Mrs. Polly do someone good
turn, for one of the few times in her life,
and, getting up a fiction about being want
ed left them alone What afterwards oc-
CURED have from the best authority-Nel-
lie herself.
They sat in the fast growing twilight,
memories busy at the heart of each; pride
struggling with feeling that, during those
weeks, had fast been growing too strong
for it. Nellie, with bowed head and swim
ming eyes; Otto watching her, with face
softening in spite of himself.
Suddenly Nellie rose, with an air of des-
peration; and, brushing past Otto, went
over to the piano.
AS she reached it something rang out
sharply click, as of something metallic
that had struck on the marble hearth.
Nellie exclaimed. Otto stopped to pick
up something that shone in the red fire.
light Just at his feet. She moved forward
as if to prevent him; stood then as if para
lyzed, as he held up a ring-a simple little
thing-only plain gold circlet, bearing
some words engraved on it, hanging from
a chain attached to hook, like a watch
guard.
Otto looked alternately at it and Nellie,
who stood by him, crimson and speech
less.
''You have kept this all this time,
Nellie -
Nellie was silent.
'Why did you keep ?"
II wanted something to wear on the
chain, and don't carry my watch"
''Oh! / thought perhaps you cared some
thing for it, after all? 20
''You thought differently when we were
last together"
II had reason"
THAT is your assertion
''Answer, then. l ask you to judge
yourself Had | not reason? Would not
any man have been justified in being
incensed and outraged at your conduct? ?"
Il was very young, very thoughtless. |
never dreamed that you really cared. 1t
was pleasant to talk and fret, and liked
to vex you, for the pleasure of the recon-
element"
''A strange pleasure that was pleased
with the pain it inflicted on what it loved
best. A strange thoughtlessness that per-
mitted me no freedom. but claimed an I'M
bounded liberty for yourselfr'
'sYou have said all those things once, !"
returned Nellie, with some dignity, land it
was painful enough to hear them once"
II had no intention of reproaching you, ;"
answered Otto, ''for out of the bitterness of
the heart my mouth spoke. 1t is so miser-
able to look at you. and think what might
have been. and how now we are hopelessly
separated"
''Otto,' said Nellie, timidly, don't you
think we might be friends? You need not
treat me quite as an enemy. If you suffer,
so do I; and you cannot think what a
pain it is to see the eyes that once were my
light look so coldly on me. 1t makes me
wretehed Let us. at least, be friends
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