Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-06-25

'toH was only too glad of the OD-
portunlty to slip into the place | had |
Just vacated, and begged the privilege
or seeing Nellie safely home at the close
ol the revel What could the girl do but |
accept after being left in as embar.
RAISING situation rs herso
NV thin twenty-four hours the we'll. |
p'eased gossips Of the neighborhood |
had impaired the unpalatable news to |
me times without number The con-
slant relteration of the unwelcome fact
was perfectly maddening to me- and
became almost wild with anger and
bitterness.
II never went near Nellie for three
weeks, but nursed my wounded pride
IN silence and at home. Iwa waiting
FOR some signs Of relenting on her part,
o'h none came; though | heard that
Dick Marston was in constant attend
ance at her side. was utterly mis-
cradle but was too proud to acknowl-
edge that had been in the wrong.
The next time that Nellie FORSYTH
and met 1t was by accident. and on
the road through what was known as
N'AC -|t'''h "oONiol. l SAW dL once
that she looked as if she had been as
miserable as myself, but she had sent
me no token in all that miserable time
so l steeled my heart against the
voices of love and reason.
'Nellie tried to start a pleasant con-
versation with me just as il nothing
had happened, but froze as she soft
end and it was a sorry failure At
length to bring me to terms through
my jealousy no doubt, she said:
"'Dick Marston proposed to me last
night and if you have no objections |
think shall accept him.
81 have not the slightest objections;
! why should have9" said |.
81 don't know-but-you once said
something of the sort-yourself, said
Nellie, with a burning blush.
II am not quite such fool as
was then. was the scorching rejoinder,
which burst from my lips before
knew what | was saying. Again a
| crimson flush sutfused her whole face,
but this time it was caused by a
righteous anger: and when it faded it
left her as white as ashes
Her lovely lips compressed into a
look of bitter and Interchangeable de-
termination as she abruptly turned
away and left me. l could have torn
my tongue out for its brutal and scath-
ing rejoinder. but my pride would not
allow me to call her back, and | let
her go without word. In three weeks
more she was Dick Marston's wife.
Gas soon as heard of the marriage
l resigned my position and left the
state. | was gone for more than 9
year, but somehow l could not seem te
do anything or be anybody. All of my
old-time energy and ambition, ant
even my very love Of life. seemed tt
have forsaken me. At length, when
could endure the absence no longer,
returned to my native town.
~ had scarcely set foot in the villag,
when | saw pOOrly-dressed woman
trying to induce drunken, miserabl,
wretch. evidently her husband, to ac
company her home. She turned he
pinched and haggard features TOWARD
me as | approached her. Great God
it was Nellie.
LAS she recognized me look of Joy
that suddenly changed to one OF tn
deepest despair, shot across her pallit
countenance; and she stretched GU
both her arms ere she remembered
that to do so was almost crime. Thel
she suddenly drew back and hid he
face in both her hands as a chokin!
sob shook her whole figure.
II saw the truth in an instant Sh
had married Dick Marston in momen
of anger and spite, but her heart wa
irrevocably mine. And he, drunken
vagabOnd that he was had evidentl
made her life one perpetual round Q
misery and disgrace.
IL could not trust myself to ar
proach her. so | turned away wit
grief and despair in my heart. Poo
Nellie renewed her efforts to get he
intoxicated husband home, and h
soon staggered around the corner an
they vanished from my sight.
ut was the last time that l eve
saw Nellie Marston alive. That yer
night her husband blew out her brain
and then his own in fit of delirul
, tremens, and they were both buried b
public charity.
Life that had once opened so bright
!, ly for me became long torment an
a miserable failure from the mOmer
of that angry parting with Nellie Fol
, sythe in the old Nelson woodlot. Their
l ruined my own life and prospects, a
we'll as those OF the girl l loved bette
than life itself, all on account of IN
wretched pride and jealousy. All
> Ned, curb false pride and beware
lovers quarrels ere it is too late.
. As Uncle Ross ceased speaking. h
!, head once more dropped upon h
hand. Not word was said for som
moments; then the young man silentl
. rose and left the apartment and tn
house.
That evening he returned with
look Of quiet happiness upon his face
= and bending over his uncle's chair, h
whispered:
, 1T is all right, Uncle Ross; and
%b.rl, ,,o,, for vOur StOrv Hanriet1