The morning call., 1893-12-26
WHAT LOVE IS,

Itwas a wild autumn day. Winter was
coming over the hills and had sent his
eourlers-the wind and the rain-before
him.
lounged about the warm parlor, rest
less. and dissatisfied. longing to get out.
yet net venturing TO propose it. My sister
sat composedly by the fire and sewed. By
and by she looked up.
=: 'It rains so /. hardly think Charles will
GO up on the mountain to marry that
couple, after all"
- Just then my brotheT-in-law entered.
"Who are these people you are going to
:, marry?" 1 asked.
:. AZ have the license in my pocket-let me
::asee-George Van SittaIl and Ellen Mary
Lee"
: tEllen Lee! Nelly Lee! Oh. must be
beside myself to think of it,"
think what?"
"That.it could be the Nelly Lee used
o. TO know at E school"
"Ob, it must be !" said Charles. How
soon can you get on your fnerieS, my
dear?"
I'm ten minutes"
"0tf with you. then. You shall"
Nelly's weddingI L kept saying over and
over to myself. Often had she promised
that should be her bridemaid; often b sd
we planned the dresses we would wear.
questioned my brother-in-law closely,
after we were safely under way. but could
get little information from him.
All he knew was that three years before
a Mr.. Lee had taken one Of the farms on
the mountain and afterward died there,
leaving his daughter Ellen. or Nelly, quite
dROendent on her own resources.
land whatdid she GO?' | asked.
Brave little woman! Put up shingle
over the side door of the house where she
was living with ELLEN Nj. Lee, tailoress,
on it and went to work.
Mr.. Lee died dreadfully In debt and
xshe has cleared up everything. You should
near the farmers talk about her. They
think she is an angel in the shape of
woman"
''Brt who is she going to marry?"
"a young miller"
Nelly miller's wife,
"And Why not. pray?
NELLY was so refined"
$50 she is now"
'Ah-but will it last long-among these
people"
Charles looked thoroughly vexed.
Upon my word l hardly expected to
hear such non sense from your lips. Il
would do we'll for an English woman to
speak in that way of English peasants
Dut you KNOW, VI ouRnt W huoWs Wudt OuT
people are.
"They have a free land to live In and
free schools to educate them; they are
themselves free. and liberty, of itself, gives
e: dignity to the humblest.
Refinement, indeed! My mother, God
bless her. was poor farmers vile. and
; there was not a duchess in Europe more
the lady. Don't be afraid; your Nelly
: will be none the worse for the years she
has spent here"
i glanced forward through the driving
=. rain and saw tall, lonesome-looking
frame house. implanted and unshaded by
=. any tree or shrub, standing at one side Of
the road.
a score or two Of wagons were drawn up
: under the sheds opposite. group OF
: young men were talking under cover Of a
woodhouse that looked down the road.
One of them eyed US curlously and then
darted into the house.
Wedrove in at the great gate. left hos
o pitably open, and up to the porch. Two
or three of the young men came forward
to hold the horse while we alighted.
One of them, a tall handsome fellow of
%. with dark eyes and curling black hair,
helped me out of the carriage. Charles
shook hands with him cordially
well. George. were you afraid I was
not coming?"
mo, sir; we knew you would not disap-
point us; but we Gre sorry you had to
lady will step in l will bring Nelly down."
''You had better take my sister with
you. L think she is an old school friend
of Nelly's"
The young miller turned toward me
with bright smile.
"All Nelly's friends are mine." he said.
"Will you come with me to see her?"
We went upstairs, leaving Charles in
the little parlor with Georges parents.
Nelly's room was quite at the top Of the
house. He knocked. / drew back out of
sight Presently Nelly looked out.
ION, George, it can't be IN timei And
then this miserable rain ~
81 have brought you some sunshine,
BE stepped aside and her eyes fell upon
"Jane-my dear old Jane~ and she
threw herself into my arms and cried Ike
baby.
Hush. Nelly; on your wedding day
you must not cry" and George and 1 led
her into the modest little cottage. and
soothed her until she grew calm.
We went down into the great home
parlor,~ which was filed with people
whom | had never seen before.
Charles stood beside table drawn up In
front Of the fire. He gave me quiet look
out of the corner of his eye as Nelly
paused before him, blushiDg, ana looking
as II she was just ready to cry.
Stationed mYSeiI DeSlue boi anu VIC
ceremony began. 1t was short and sim pie.
Charles bent down and touched bis lips to
the brides cheek.
MANY happy years to you, Mrs. Van
:: SittRrl," he said, kindly.
:, Nelly started.
: us 1t over. Mr.. Trevor? Am l really
married pr
Good gracious! Why, it was nothing
so very dreadful, after all-was it. George~
mere was burst of laughter and every
one thronged around, eager to kiss the
bride. George took good care to be the
hrst. and then stood looking on with
supper was announced during our con-
Versaeon, and 1 was honored by seat
next to the bride The meal being over.
our carriage stood at the door-she went
with me to- say good-by.
Come and see me next week In my new
home at the mill. she whispered. "You