Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-02-13

Town
'Gonep cried. 'Why he was
here yesterday
'He went to London yesterday
afternoon, and he has gone to visit
his uncle, the one who offered him
a business opening some time ago.
Chris did not want a business
opening, as he had plenty ofmOney,
and Belle, Mrs. Gilmore says that
it is all my fault that she is left
alone and childless.'
Scarcely your fault, dear said,
my heart aching for the piteous
strain in the sweet voice, the pain
in the eyes. 'Yon were right to
refuse to marry a man you do not
love, and l am sure Chris will find
a wife and return
But Nell only grew winter, and
went slowly to her own room. After
that, in all the family lamentions
for Chris, 50 many years a sort Of
adopted brother in our midst, Ncll
never spoke of him.
The next winter, Meg, our eldest,
was married; and, as if matrimony
was contagion, Janey followed
her example; then Maud, Lizzie
and even Kate, our baby, Nell, the
prettiest, smartest, sweetest of all,
had offers in abundance, spent two
winters in London visiting Meg,
and, by all accounts, captivating
hearts by the scores, but coming
back to be the life and ghtness
of our home.
There must be one old maid in
every family she SAID; and when
suggested eminent fitness, she
smiled loftily and said; 'Mr.
BROOKS says yol are tie household
angel, so please let US hear nc
more nonsense.
There is Aunt Jsuc, ,oo,' ! said
mildly.
Belle she said severely, will
You stop talking nonsense ? Aunt
Jane, indeedn
1t really did seem as if Nell was
in earnest about single life, but
after all, she was only twenty four,
and looked seventeen.
But, one day, who should walk
into the parsonage parIor, as cooily
as if he had left it the day before
but Chris. We were all there as
he came in, but before he had
spoken to Aunt Jane I saw that
Nell had vanished.
Did Chris see her run out OF the
door as he entered the frOnt VIII
dowl think he did. There was
subdued twinkle in his eyes as
he inquired for my iudrmities, not
at all consistent with his words Of
sympathy. Presently Nell came
in, with a quiet smile Of greeting,
and perfect composure Of manner,
but Chris was a match for her.
1t was as goodas a play to watch
those two, so completely did they
ignore that he was discarded lover
who had been sent away by her
cruelty. They conversed easily
and gracefully-Christopher's Alri
can experiences, varied by de
scriptions of the family wedding
the new homes, the brothers-in
law, the children, and Thousand
other details, in which our caller
expressed the greatest interest.
After that he dropped IN as O
old, making hnself agreeable and
useful to every one in the house
especially tender, as he ever had
been, to me. Indeed, | found my
self wondering sometimes if h'
was going to take Nell's mockln
advice, and, all the others being
appropriated, offer himself to th'
poor cripple.
He took me for long drives in hi
mothers pony carriage, and VA
always ready to hear Of Nelrs con
quests, showing nc joalously, but
great deal of amusement, over hel
coQuetries.
sShe was a born coQuetten h'
said once, 'anl yet nobody cal
call Nell vain. Il has been a mat
ter of course for her to be ad
mired every since sho could ruI
alone.'
'She is our beauty now, as o
old ] answered and Chris a'
sented cordially.
q have seen no face SO winsom'
since | left homo,' he said, but h
spoke with the frank admiration
ola brother, and gave no token o
a ioyesick swain.
Had he ontlived bis love,
wondered and come home to prove
TO Nell that her days OF tyianl
were over : think Nell suspected
that he had.
Always tempered. Mel
became fretful and capricious
bright and laughing when Chri
was was with Us, often silent, an
sometimes gloomy when sh
thought herself unnOticed. Sh'
lost her color, aud caught heI
more than once rubbing her cheek
when going down stairs to sc
Chris; and she was snappish, ant
deeply repentant therefor a dozel
times a day.
EWhat ails NsllY Aunt Jan
asked ME, anxious for her darling
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