The sun., 1888-08-23
.NELLIE'S ELOPEMENT.

Vlne-cOVefeu aFDOT, dHu "detihnS
eagerly the path through the woods,
was a beautiful young girl. An anx-
ious look was in her deep-blue eyes.
Pressing her hands over her heart,
as if to stop it's heavy beating, she
said:
"Oh, why does he not come? How
long he keeps me waiting. If he had
good news, he would come quicker.
/ have not one bit of hope"
The pretty, rosy lips quivered, and
the irl'stepped back and sank down
upon a mossy seat. She had not set
long when sound light as the rust
ling of the leaves, caught her ear.
She sprang up, and for an instant
her eyes sparkled with excitement as
the slow, heavy step came nearer,
bringing in sight tall-looking man,
whose face, if less stern, would have
been called handsome. Without
speaking, he clasped her in his arms,
shaking his head sadly.
81 felt it was SO, or you would have
come sooner" the young girl said,
resting her head against his should
er.
81 had very little hope, Nellie, but
/ went because you wished me to-"
"What did father say, George"
"The same old story over and over
again; that since your childhood he
had intended you to be the wife of n
friend of his. He said, of course he
was quite an old man now, but he
would be so much more sensible than
some silly young man. Nellie, |
know if / was wealthier he would
give his consent, and Georges dark
eyes flashed.
''Don't talk so please. l cannot
tell why father is SO opposed to our
marriage, but wal never listen to
any other man but you, George; SO
you may be sure, if papa will not let
me marry you, will have no one
else," Nellie said, her eyes full oftears,
as she looked up at him.
81 have asked your father three
times to give his consent during the
last year, and each time he seemed
more determined to separate us and
wreck our happiness. | will never
ask him again, and he will never give
you to me. Now, what will we do?''
"Wait and hope. We can do moth
ing more" Nellie answered, the
tears rolling down her cheeks"
ayes, we canl You can come with
me and be my little wife"
"No, no! | cannot do that. Iwould
not be happy. l should be miserable
and make you SO"
''Then l can say or do nothing
more. He will not give you to me,
and you will not come Oh, Nellie,
how can you send me away? You
know you are all the world to me.
l am alone in the world; no mother
or sisters to love me. Your father
has dear ones to comfort him.
Nellie, am to leave you forever?
His large dark eyes were looking
into hers, filled with love. How
could she resist?
"No, no, George; l should die il
you leave me, never to come again.
Oh, what am l to do? How can |
bear it? Ilove you better than do
my own life; believe me, dear, | do.
But father. how can leave him? He
thinks more of me than the other
children. l am the eldest and more
like mother, he says. Now she is
gone, | must stay"
"And break your heart and mine,
too, Nellie!''
"If | thought you would not care
very long"
"You would give me up, and before
many months would fall into your
fathers way of thinking, and end by
marrying the man he wants you to, :
George said, taking his arms from
around her and turing away.
"Oh, George, how can you talk so
to me, when you know how much |
think of you?"
"Well, Nellie, it is useless for me to
talk longer. had better say good
bye, and CO."
"Oh, l cannot let you go. What
am l to do?" she said, dropping her
head in her hands and sobbing as
though her heart would break.
"Be my wife, Nellie, before l return
to B., and go with me. Your
mother liked me. / know if she weSe
here she would plead for me-
Eyes, she liked you, and perhaps in
her home above she will pity me and
win for me forgiveness from my
Heavenly Father, as well rs my
earthly one, for can resist no long
er, George" she said. Resting her
head on his shoulder, she promised
all that he wished.
"The last night at home," Nellie
said to herself; tomorrow | must
go, to return no more. If father
should ever consent to have me back,
l could never be again to him what
am now. He would have no faith in
me-"
Very tenderly the little brother and
sister were cared for that night, her
hand resting on each little head as
they repeated their simple prayer
after her. As they rose from their
knees to receive the goodnight kiss,
Katie, the little sister, said: "Nellie,
pray now, please" And Nellie felt
that her mother above was pleading
through her child. She bowed her
head and asked to be shown the bet
ter way, and that she might be led in
the right path. She then tucked them
away in their little beds, and her
work was done.
81 will go to father tonight and
beg him to yield. He must give up, -
she said, as she went to her room.
The evening was very warm. and
Nellie thought she would change her
dress for a light one. The dark one
was laid aside and a white one wrap
ped her slender form. She then