New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-05-13

She is here to affirm that she Is will
ing, uncle said. The stranger looked
up in bewildered perplexity. Mr..
Wells came forward to meet Nellie saw
ing:
ssYou have been made aware of the
Importance Of thus step. I suppose
there is no time for needless harangue
about the matter; if Joe is saved your
father must go tomorrow morning
with the money. OF course I have no
need of the place and do not want it;
but If you will consent to an early mar
riage-and here the man WINGED little,
perhaps because he couldn't entirely
forget the strangers presence am
willing to make you dowry OF the
amount In cash, the value of the farm;
understand. however, that the wedding
shall take place Immediately"
II am ready" was all Nellie an
swered. Oh how her white, wretched
face and hollow voice smote upon my
heart. 1 thought could scarcely wait
until the stranger, who had now accom-
pllshed his mission, was ready to depart.
Then Nellie, with both hands up to her
face, ran out of the room. A few min
utes later uncle went out, followed by
Mrs. Wells, the latter saying something
about returning with minister.
Ny blood fairly boiled. 1 rushed
out of the room into the yard-I wanted
to breathe the fresh air; was almost
stified with indignation and anger.
Scarcely conscious of where I was go
ing, wandered among the trees some
distance down toward the gate. When
coming suddenly out upon the drive I
found myself directly in front of Mr..
Wells, who was slowly driving out
Politely lifting his hat, he stopped his
horse for me to pass, but I found it
utterly impossible to move step with
out first giving vent to some of my an
cry feelings.
"Sir," l said, marshallng nv courage
and endeavoring to appear undismayed,
us it indeed possible that you are so
lost to every manly sentiment of regard
for the esteem and respect of your fell
low beings as to compel woman to
marry you, and that when you know she
abhors the very ground you walk upon {?
You know as we'll as can tell you that
Nellie and John love each other dearly,
and it she were married to you thou
sand times, she will always love him
| just the same"
| With that ]! was satisfied, and with
! out waiting for reply I rushed back
into the house. Uncle aud Nellie were
bending over Aunt Margaret, who had
swooned away. When at last she re-
turned to consciousness, it seemed as if
she would break her heart with weep
ing, first about Joe then about Mel
lie. But Nellie kept up so bravely and
tried hard to appear as if she didn't
think it would be much of a sacrifice
after all, that gradually we all grew
calm and began to make ready for the
wedding. What mockery it was I
thought, but something must be done to
make things look little cheerful. I
gathered some fresh flowers for the
vases and arranged things about the
house with as much neatness and care
as my dropping spirits would permit of.
Promptly at 8 o'clock there came
knock at the door. We were all stand
ing around in Aunt Margaret's room
looking as wretched as possible, Nellie,
dressed in plain white muslin, trying
to look cheerful, but making miserable
failure-when, to our great surprise,
Mr.. Wells, unannounced, walked into
the room, accompanied by his nephew,
John Atherleigh.
"Miss Nellie" he began, without
waiting to be spoken to, my feelings
have undergone great change since I
saw you this afternoon partly owing to
a certain little affair. You can ask
your Cousin Margie here about it some
time. But my feelings have been so
greatly changed that should not be
even willing to marry you now. Of
course haven't been blind to the fact
that you and John have loved each 9TH
er all along; and now if you are willing
to exchange grooms, why it will all be
right I couldn't think of having a
wife who would be in love with young
scape-grace like this as long as she
lives. have made over deed of the
place equally divided between you and
John. It shall be bridal present from
the old uncle. I am able to give it you
know. Now are you willing to make
the exchanged" And the poor old man
actually smiled as if in scorn of himself.
Are you willing, Nellie?" John ask
ed, holding out both hands to her. How
she slipped her hands into them, and
cried as if her heart would break but
we all knew they were tears of JOY. Very
quietly I stole over to Aunt Margaret's
side and whispered, Nellie is saved; the
old miser has surely turned to saint.
ut is my dream, my dreamw Aunt
Margaret said; has not the little black
dwarf indeed become an angelo"
II guess we had as we'll have it all
over and be done with it, p Mr.. Wells
continued, rubbing his hands together
as if we'll pleased with himself and ev-
erybodY else. GIVE been with John
and got the license; the deed is all made
out, and the preacher is already in the
parlor."
You may be sure the sorrowful faces
of few minutes ago frightened up at
this strange turn of affairs, and joyful
" nnouuh xvo oil ro,,o;ro1 RI Tho ,,o,1or