The Dickinson press., 1894-01-06
CHAPTER vi.

w. w. dFS
Nelly had returned from her dreary
visit to old Miss Swayne after a dull
formal century of wOrsted work and
tedious commonplace, dull dinner par
ties, and insufferable visits to the haunts
Of fogydom. She was sitting Mt des-
sert with her father in the twilight,
her head half turned from the table,
and looking wistfully DIT toward the.
beech avenue. The figure Of n man
had just come in sight-a tall, stalwart
figure-and she watched it curiously.
So few men ever came to the Hall.
Presently ner pulse began to quicken,
her knees to tremble, as the form
came near enough to lie distinguish.
able. A great terror took possession
of her. She sat quite still; unable ia
stir; her breath coming thick, her heart
betting quick and loud through the
silence. Voices in the hall, footsteps,
Their the door was thrown open, and
the servant annOunccd:
Lord Langholme"
Nelly sprung up with m trlepressible
cry. Mr.. Huntingdon faced round with
a naughty stare, and Adrian WELLESLEY
Langholmc came forward with a slight
flush OH his handsome face. but In NO
wise Disconnected or abashed.
Il must apologize for my intrusion
he said, looking full at Mr.. Hunting.
don; and then lie went quickly toward
Nelly, who stood terrified, agast, as
II she saw some terrible apparition.
lord Langholme!!' she muttered, her
white, trembling lips almost refusing
their office.
"Yes," he answered, taking her hand;
but it fell cold and n~erceless from his
grasp.
MAY 1 ask seine explanation of this?'
said Mr.. Huntingdon, white to the lips,
was more terrible to hear than the
fiercest burst of passion.
II love your daughter, SIR" uttered
the young n'an quite simply; Il want
her to be my wife"
land I utterly decline any and every
overture from YOU or any member of
your family, and I request you to leave
my house this moment"
The words were as measured and pas
sicEless as If the spt aker had declined
to accept some farmer for a tenant.
Surely" said Lord Laigholme,
warmly, you will not allow your
daughters happiness to be influenced
by any old family feud that may have
existed between our houses! l come
to you honestly and straighttorwardly,
to ask your daughter fer my wife.
I love her dearly; if you give her to INC,
l swear that neither she no" you sllll
ever have cause to repent trusting
me-"
He spoke with the warm light com.
Ing full into his handsome face. looking,
as he stood there. the vely incarnation
Of all honesty and chivalry.
II decline to entertain any PROPOSE
ton from you whatever" said Mr..
Huntindon, still in the same unmoved
tone. You have forced yourself into
my presence. If you are a gentleman.
you will hardly require me to repeat
my request that you should leave it,"
"Papa!" murmured Nelly, in Il stiied
voice.
Eleanor" cried her father, "leave
the room at once"
Nelly" said Lord Langholme
stretching out his arms to her rs she
gave a clloked sob.
mo! by c. this is too much!' cried
AsAAs SANAAAGA6uOAe puSSkOullCAys ANCuy,
II you let that blackguard lay as much
as n finger upon you, you leave my
house tonight and forever, to your
eternal disgrace! Go to your room this
instant" and in a paroXysm of terror
the poor child obeyed.
Ihen there We're harsh, passionate
words between the two men, and ther
the door opened again, and Ltld Lang
holme strobe away down the avenue
IND MI. Huntingdon sat convulsed will
passion alcne in the darkness. Bittal
We're the reproaches he heaped OF
Nelly the next day when he sent To-
her, and she with trembling .step
obeycd his summons. His cruel, ic!
words cut like a kLife. That she, :
huntington, Should have had clandcs
tine meetings with n nan, above al
Il LanghOlme-shculd have suffered her
self to be wooed like Il peasant girl
should have forgotten alike her owl
dignity and that of her house!
Il shall know better than to trus
you again." he said, with the bitteres
infection Of his cruel voice. You shal
never go out of sight of my windoy
alone. And If you ever attempt to Sc
that-to see Lord Langholme again, O
to hear from him, l take God to wit
ness that the heaviest curse with whicl
a father can brand a child shall lie upol
you! Now, 60. I have lost all cont
dence in you: henceforth you are n
daughter of mine"
And poor Nelly, covering ard shrink
Ing. left the stern, angry presenc.
and went to cry her poor little hear
out on Wilson's faithful breast.
Il shall never e him any more,
she moaned to herself; never hear hi
voice again; but I shall think of hir
always. How could 1 forget him her
even If I would? But he will go bac
to the world-he will see many beaut
full women, and they will make lil
forget me. How could he ever car
for a poor little ignorant rustic lik
ne? He said l was pretty" and til
girl would go to the glass, and stan
there a long time looking al herself
and after all 60 away unu,nvincct
She could not see any beauty in til
white skin, clear as the velvet leave
Of q white rose; in the brown eye.
SO sad and wistful now; III the FIJI
curved lips, not rosy any longer as the
used to be. Then she was fain t
think of her day-dream long ago by til
broOk-that first day that she met hir
of the forbidden passion and tn
wasting pain, and the little dead maide
with the lilies on her breast and 1
her hands. But that last part woul
not come true. She could not die 70
love, like the women in romances;" til
keen vitality in her young frame woul
not succumb to sorrow and heartacht
No. there was only a great blank voiG
q dreary waste that nothing came t
ill up. To think he should have bee
Lord Langholme after all, and sh
had talked against him, and vowed sh
hated him! Could she find fault wit
him now? No, he vas everything tina
was dear and good and noble; ther
was not one fault or flaw in his genel
Gus heart. in moor NellY,a eYes NOR