The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-05
NELLIE'S NEIGHB0R.

At last, salu Nclile aiSoiiS, us sAC
folded the letter she had been reading,
and slipped it back into its envelope
sat last l am an hciress! Who would
have thought it possible: am sure
that no one would imagine me to be
such a lucky individual-would they,
girlsl"
She lifted her fair face as she spoke
and looked at her interested audience,
which consisted of two factory girls,
who, like herself, had known poverty
and toll, with but few pleasures.
The collar at Nelic's white throat was
SNOWY in its cleanliness; but the plain,
dark dress was patched and darned in
many places; and while the face would
have graced palace, the attire spoke OF
pinching poverty in every one of its
threadbare folds.
"a fortune!' said Mary, quickly.
"Oh, Nellie, am glad for your sake !!
There will be one less drudge on our
floor"
"Thc vacancy will soon be filled" re-
marked Clara, land Nellie'S fortune will
be our misfortune, for we two will be
obliged to pay the rent of this room
alone. We will have to secure another
room. mate, or take a cheaper room,
Mary"
"But there is condition to my good
fortune, said Nellie, referring to the let
ter once more. my brother, who left
home when mother died, and never
seemed to care for Me at all, has remcm.
bered me on his death.bed. He has q
little child. and in looking about for
some one with whom to leave him, Dan
remembered me, and thought would be
kind to him.
ut seems" she continued, glancing
down the page, "that he owns property
in Litchfcld-a little place seven or
eight miles from here. His lawyer writes
that there arc two houses on the place,
built exactly alike. am to have one Of
them, if l will bc n mother to Willie;
and Willie is to have the other when he
is man. In the meantime, the rent OF
it is to support us two. Well, only
hope that will like the child, and that
he won't quite distract me with his
noise"
The next day there IVES an affcctionatc
farewell between the girls, who had been
companions for many a weary month,
and a few tears wereshed at the parting.
"Don't feel badly, girls, sail Nellie.
hopefully. "Thc fare to Litchfeld by
railway is only twenty-f five cents, and you
can afford to visit me occasionally, and
remain with ne over Sunday. III have
something extra nice for you when you
do come"
Nellie felt just little nervous at the
thought Of meeting the little nephew she
had never seen.
She was sure she would be dreadfully
awkward with her new responsibility, and
perhaps cause the child to dislike her at
the very start; but when blue eyed,
golden haired little boy Of six sunny
summers bounded into her arms, and
showcred his aifcctionate kisses upon her
face, calling her. "My darling Auntic
Nellm how could she help giving him
Glove for love" And the strangcness
of the new position was gone in an in
slant.
"You'rc to he papa an mamma an
everybody to me-" contidcd Willie,
when they had examined the new home.
eyes, darling,' sail Nellie, gently.
"Now run ont and play. while l make
some arrangements for dinner
Willie did not need second invita-.
ton, and he soon discovered that the
other house had we'll kept grounds, and
that there were lovely flowers blossom,
ing just over the pretty green fence,
which had quito an opening in ono
place.
"That's my house over there, an
course I've got right to. the posics,' he
reasoned. 'Tm a-goin' to make my
Auntil Nell present Of them"
But when he attempted to squeeze
through the opening in the hedge fence,
o dozen thorny branches reached ou'
and clutchcd him firmly.
A moment later Willic's lusty screams
had brought gentleman to the scene Of
the accident.
"NIakc 'cm let 20 of me- cried Will
lie, as the gentleman, in dressing gown
and slippers, approached from ""i!ile':
cottage"
~ was just q goin' to get some o'
them posics to take to Auntic Nell. The!
long to nc, cause that is my house. d.
you live in my house"
eyes, my little man; and because
pay for tho use of it, the flowers art
mine. But l vii. send bouquet to your
Auntic Nell"
Willie eyed the stranger for momen
in silence.
"NNherc arc your little boys?' asked
he, after having settled some pcrplexlne
thought to his own satisfaction.
81 have nonc," laughed the stranger
IL am bachelor
"Humph.' said Willie, in disgust, a.
he walked away, disdaining to notice
:he stranger further, and quite forgetting
the flowers.
..Auntic Ncll," he said, on entering
the room where Nellie WAS preparing
their noon meal, there is horrid maj
les in my house; an when I asked
where his little boys were, Gauss he'
100 big to fight, an thought maybe ht
had a littler boy n me, he said there
wasn't any little boys, cause he was ;
hatcher"
"a bachelor" laughed Nellie, mer
rily. 'Is he old, Williel'
''Old, guess he is. Hum! he's go
the biggest lot of fiskcr onto his tac'
ever was"
sT detest old bachelors!" soliloquize(
Nellie, with half-pout on her rosy lips
"and he's my nearest neighbor, too
Fer mel I hope he doesn't keep dogs.