Nevada County picayune., 1890-10-09
PRESCOTT NEVADA COUNTY ARKANSAS THURSDAY. 1S9O

to win a high position, so he decided to study medicine.
 "Of course this meant years ol struggle and sefl-denial for himself What was he to do about Nellie? He had fine sense of honor, and at last convinced himself that it would bt ungenerous to draw a girl luxurious. ly reared into the trials and poverty she would have to bear as the wife of poor man. He saw in his pro. fession his only chance to distin. euish himself, yet how could he i'm. pose those hardships on her whose happiness is dearer to him than even his own? You will see, sir, that the exigences of his position had made him little morbid.'
 "Well, perpaps," said Mir. Tilden, ''too much so, think. 1 should not have given her up.'
 "He did, though, and for two years would not trust himself to re- turn home. But having at last won his diploma, he came back to see his mother, and also to decide upon a professional location for himself. But, once back amid the old scenes, countless memories he had been striving to outlive returned upon him. Though he struggled against them, he chafed under his resolution not to think of Nellie again. do not know how all this might have ended had not his inward strivings been checked from an outward and unexpected source.
 ''He heard rumors of Nellie's en- gagement to the son of rich and in. fuential man. Indeed he soon saw this young gentleman passing in and out at her fathers house almost daily. They were not really engaged, how ever, but her relatives favored his suit. She had several times refused him, yet he persevered, and in time this persistence might have its effect. She also knew that Adam had been home for some time, yet he had not called upon her, and she had been told that he was soon to leave. How was she to know that he yet cared for hef!
 Out of pique, perhaps, she en- couraged the rich mans son. But in his self-conceit, the latter spoiled it all; for finding himself so we'll re- ceived he fell to tlattering himself by grossly disparaging his less fortunate rival.
 "'Many others he said to her, would aspire to your hand did they feel themselves worthy of you. Why, there's a student over the way whom they say used to be devoted to you, Eve actually seen the fool looking af- ter you on the street. Only the other night he sat at his window by moon- light and stared over here, and am told he makes a practice of it. dare say the poor devil is yet in love with you. It's quite ridiculous, con- sidering his position, for they say he is as poor as Jobs turkey, and no family to speak of, Such presump- ton would be insolent if it were not laughable.'
 "Poor Nellie! That night she paced the floor of her room for hours. Her heart went out to her old sweet heart, for she began to comprehend what he had endured, and to realize something of the nature of his long self-denial. And now he has to leave. If she let him go thus he would drift away from her forever. What could she do but cast him a line of some kind? And yet l think even you, sir, with all your advanced opinions of woman and their duties, would hardly justify her in such a course."
 "Well, George" replied the old gentleman, II believe would. What else could she do?"
 True; but how should she let him know? Then she remembered it was leap year. While fumbling un- decidedly in secretary for paper, she came across quaint, handmade envelope, inclosing pink paper heart, with these words written thereon m cramped, boyish baud :;
 :" This was mine, but now it's yures. ADAM
 'She recollected that he had given this to her ten years before, when spelling was a greater mystery to them both than now.