Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-07


and slowly enough for Nellie Pemberton
eo accustomed had the lassie become I
her lovers society, SO frequently ha
,bsv been together since they had becom
.vesthearts, that his going away create,
FIR 4 time q great blank in the girl ,
life.
How much Nellie missed Mark car
onlv be reslize-9 by those who have had {
near and dear Sne leave them at shor
notice and Journey to the other side o
tbs world. 1t seemed very strange a
first to miss his strong, handsome fac,
from her side Of an evening; TO hear hi.
rank. pleasant voice no more.
But the bright heartsome weaver die
mt NOPE If she was much uuietel
than usual during the two or three weeks
Immediately following Mark g departure
twas only because her thoughts were
constantly dwelling on her absent lover
snd herself.
How often her memory unearthed the
moving incidents of the past seven
months Of her life; how fondly she
fingered over each "Reminiscences of her
acluantance with Mark Eliot. That
first day Of their meeting when he had
come to mend her broken loom was fresh
As ever in her mind, and she felt now
that he had touched ner heart the mo-
ment their eyes met.
And when the lass dwelt upon the
chapter of terrible incidents connected
with the great fire, it was natural, re-
wembering what Mark had done then,
that she should glorify her savior and
make a hero of him. Does not every
true woman idealize the man she loves?
But NelIie's thoughts were not at all
given to a consideration of the past;
TerY often they went forth into the flu
ure, and she dreamed of joining Mark
beyond the seas, becoming his wife, of
their prospecting out there, making a lit
tie fortune, and coming back years
hence to Warringham to spend the rest
Of their lives in love, peace and happi-
ness in the dear old town.
About month after their sad parting
on the landing-s stage at Liverpool, Nellie
received letter from her lover in which
be announced his safe arrival and Johns
town, his meeting with his old friend,
Charles Hesketh, and that he was to
commence work forthwith.
That letter was full OF love and hope,
aud it need not be stated how often the
girl read and re-read it; how frequently
her soft ripe lips touched her sweetheart g
name, or how its passionate assurances
of lasting affection were treasured up in
her memory and IN her heart.
Mark S going TO America bad filled |
Nellie with one misgiving. She had |
feared that mis- departure would leave |
her at the mercy of her old admlrer, |
Walter Mayhem, and that he would |
again, now that his rival was away,
poster her with his love and attention.
But TO Nellle's infinite surprise and
pleasure, she found that she was mis-
taken in so thinking. Never once did
Mayhem again approach her as she had
been afraid he might. He was more re-
Spectful now that Mark was gone than
ever he had been before; treating her
whenever they met with the utmost
Difference, the most scrupulous courtesy
The girl was immensely relieved at
inst by this utter ana unexpected change
OF front in Mayhem. Perhaps she was
also little piqued by it when she
thought over the matter afterwards. 1t !
appeared as if she had only inspired her
late admirer with a transient passion
which was fled now.
Most women are more or less coquettes
at heart. To inspire men with love for
themselves is the greatest possible COM {
phment that can be paid them. Nellie
was only woman after all, and the ,
sudden change in Mayhem certainly in
creased the slight interest she had ever $
taken in him. !
But she soon learned that Mayhem had |
not ceased to love her, although he had G
entirely retralned from pressing his at
tentOn upon her. =
uhe evening in spring, while out for a L
WALK alone, Nellie met Mayhem. 1t was \
u balcarTes Wood, near the brook and I
'"," uiu stone strow of the old bridge C
Iuey both remembered so well. He \
. .ln his hat on meeting her, said b
Ooou evening, Miss Pemberton, - in I
.le most deferential tone, and passed
w. She nodded slightly and returned I,
MSS Pemberton-pardon me, but [ W
mould Ike to say a word. - G
sue stopped suddenly and turned
ouhd, facing him. There was some D
llls IN his voice that instantly arrested
~ leet' His lowly spoken words were
~. -I OF quiet humility, a keen regret; ii
w aus lace, his whole attitude, as he
'Uol there before her, was most peni- nj
i. what is it, Mr.. MaYhew?'' she OF
1A SS quietly. She was agitated little
80 ! us words, vet she realized somehow re
a1 she need not fear any further an th
oyanee from him. A
III, SHOULD like-I wish to apologize to of
~, he began confusedly, "for the
y, UuO'e and annoyance 1 once caused fr
w. / was brute to poster you as AZ
s C II shall not occur again, Miss TO
, rant May 1 hope for your for tn
She OF
, cue muttered something about there
, .. h'tle TO forgive. She was greatly as
' ae by his manner and words; and gl,
az -sV'uer moment he spoke again, with
ID respect. 0u
IL lo'e you-shall always do so, God Iyi
~ an ne But you are the promised wife
Spf man now. He is away-you I b
1, -,Oue here, aud l should be beneath An
S NM were 1 to annoy you further: mi
I,Gn never do that. Good evening, tn,
NJ 1,Y- raised his hat again, turned abb ne,
r a. away, and with long hasty strides
spp p, in the wood. The girl gazed {
,S uItn with amazed eyes and conflict she
Hloughts. Walter Mayhem, after ask
vas not, she thought, SO bad as she :
bo' usluered him. AS he spoke there so
oeen tremor in his voice md bis {