Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-05-09
SHE DID NOT MEAN TT.

lion. Why, Alr.-I mean John, of course
not"
Such was the disconnected replv
which bluc-cycd Nellie Lorinr rave to
john liartwcll's request that She would
hc MS vile. lie, looking grivcly at her,
answered
Bun am very rich and can surround
you with every comfort More than that
can help your father ont of his troubles
and can put your brothers in the wnv Of
getting a good start in life More than
that and most of all, Itcl YOU for the
hundrcdth time, Nellie, that | love
you
Inc "irl grew pale, and, for moment,
seemed t" ial'cr. Then her lips became
set, amt, returning his glance with one
no less steady than his own, she said;
You tempt me sorely, John, but
mus. rot yield"
TEL me one thing" he pleaded.
>'Do You love mc?"
Her checks grew painfully red, then
winter than before. With a nervous
grasp, SHE caught the gate by which
they stood, and trcmblcd visibly as she
spoke in tone scarcely above u whisper:
"No, | do not
lie regarded her for IA moment in
amazed silence: then, lifting his hat.
turned away. He seemed as he did soto trv
10 say ''good-byc. and She herself made
an effort to speak Il word of farewell;
but Inc rising tears cho!icd her uttcranc,:.
and sadly And silently She walked III, the
garden path to the door of her home.
Once within that friendly shelter, She
hastencd to her chamber, and, throwing
herself across the bed, let the tears ilow
freely.
Love him-lovc him." she moancd.
ooh, John, would die to make Won
happy. oh, why do things 20 so wrong2"
And with weeping and scli-rcproachcs
she spent the long summer evening.
Meanwhile John had gone to his hotel.
paid his bill, and taken the iirs. train to
the city.
The story of the events which had led
up to the scene just described, was not u
long one.
Nellie l-oring was n farmers daughter.
She was get young, bcin. scarcely twenty;
was pretty, piquant, and although quite
lacking III rcposc of manner, was "A Iowa
bic specimen of IL country-brcd girl. Her
father was the owner of Il fine farm; but
recent losses had greatly embarrassed him
and he was not IL little troubled about
Nellic's future and that of her two Younger
brothers. neither of whom were fitted.
physically, for farm life.
John llartwcll was young man of
twenty-five, tall and fine looking. some
what grave and dignicd in manner. but
frank, manly and simple in his tastes and
habits. lie was very wealthy, although
his style oi living would not have led n
casual observer to that conclusion. While
yet lad, he had been impressed with
the poverty and misery of the great CITY
IN which was his home, and was full of
plans to alleviate them. In pursuance OF
these he had come to the pretty VILLAGE
near which the Lorings lived. and hayino
met Nellie, had speedily lost his heart.
In the hope of winning her, he had pro-
longed his stay to much greater length
than he had intended.
AS for Nellie, she was ut first awed by
the grave and handsome young stranger;
then had grown to feel a happy security
in his presence, and had ended by return
ing his affection with the whole strength
of her nature. Her native modesty
taught her to keep a watch upon her
tongue, and she had answered her lovers
protestations of esteem sometimes with
pleasant bantering, but oftcner only by a
happy glance.
81 will wait until ne asks me to be his
wife, she would tell her heart, when
its quick beating almost forced the
words 81 love your from her lips;
tstand tell him then what he is to mel
1t happened one day, as she sat in her
feyorite seat beside the river, that two
ladies from the city, who were standing
near, but notin sight, began to speak Of
her lover, and for the first time, she
lekrnea of his great wealth, his high DO
sition in society, and his plans which
4 were, already the talk of the circle in
which he moved.