Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-10-14


as they stand together in the silent
moonlight. Who, to look at that
sweet face, with it's masses of soft
hair, it's half-closed, gentle eyes, and
loving mouth, would think it could
raise that storm upon the cliff we be-
held this morning could play, wilful-
ly, deceit and falseness?
Not wilfully would Nelly have hurt
aught that breathed or had name.
With as sensitive heart, as loving a
nature, as ever belonged to woman,
yet had Nelly played that cruel, heart
less, and deceitful thing, coquette.
Oh! how some people err in excus-
ing by gaiety of nature, by thought
lessness, by desire to please, the sin of
coquetry.
The man of worth or sense will no
more think of takingto wife acoquette
with whom he has f1irted and toyedo
then he would take to cord his luggage
the slip of elastic he has snapped,
and played with, and thrown aside
the one is an Enthusiastically as the
other.
Nelly was not by nature nor habit a
coquette-she respected too much the
feelings of others to be so-but she had
played the dangerous game, and we all
know how much may come Of the
trifing even of an hour.
In moment of ill-temper and
disagreement with her lover, she per-
mitted the attentions of Saul Meg
horn, whom she met at the fair in an
adjoining town; and who needed, little
indeed, inducement to throw himself
in her way.
Half in jest half in vanity, she gave
him not the best and safest denial IN
it is certainly true, whatever young
ladies may have read to the contrary,
that men seldom-good men, never
urge a suit SO replied to.
Thus, from day to day, from week
to week, it had grown short absence
of the young fisherman elect favoring
it till the day when, alarmed by more
pressing Importantly, Nelly told the
dark bearded stranger-Who, to say
truth, half scared her-that she was
going to be married His rage and
Indignation at this announcement
caused her to fly from him; and she
had never seen him since.
Young Aaron knew something, but
not all Of what had passed.
Those of the villagers who had seen,
cared not to speak Of it to him; and
the young man, honest and sterling as
days own light, himself, never let
thought of evil approach the name OF
his betrothed; heWas too intent upon
the furnishing of the little cot among
the cliffs, where he meant to carry his
dear prize, to give thought to aught
else; and, in her heart of hearts, Nelly
felt she held him so dear, that she
could even afford to trife without
risk.
Does the lily, when handled, escape
much? Can the driven snow dare the
contact of earth and retain intact it's
whiteness? Young Aaron was hand
some, active athletic, but wanting IN
that satonic majesty Of presence, which
half awed, half frightened the foolish
Nelly; yet made her feel thrill OF
pride, too, that man SO much older,
with such beard, and SO big and
grand, should, care to come, and
wait, and look for her among the
rocks.
He brought presents, too, Of a style
quite different from good Aaron's SIM
pie offerings. But Nell, to do her JUS
tice, had not q mercenary soul, and
cared not for gifts. The first only she
took-a thick, massy, yellow bracelet,
a great, green serpent twisted round
it, with eyes that glittered like fire.
She kept it two days, but she hated
it, and herself for taking it. She took
it back to Meghorn, who refused to
accept it, and she dashed it over the
cliff: so the gold, rubies, and emeralds
a. queen might have envled lay at the
bottom of the sea.
Then Aaron came home, and when
the foolish, loving girl heard his deep,
earnest voice bless her face, and tell OF
his longing for a sight OF her, while
away; when she felt his warm kiss,
and his protecting arm about her, she
just hated herself still more, and had
very nearly told her lover all (well for
her if she had). But the next day fin
ished all, as we have said; the giant
took his departure from Sandcombe,
and the preparations for her wedding
put all thoughts OF him out of Nelly s
mind. The neighbors wondered q lit
tie over the mystery of the big, soil
tary man, who had come to live in
the town but few miles off, during
the summer, and whose occupation
had seemed to be of the slightest
then they, too, forgot him.
On the evening OF the wedding, how
ever, the landlady OF that out-of-the-
way little house, the Peep o Day,
started at the harsh tones, which
with an oath at her hardness ere she
had comprehended the order, demand
ed some brandy to be sent In to the
tireside, Gin there" as the rude Gus
toner, pointing before him, strobe or
to the small parlor or tap room (fo1
it was the only one), within.
cts Saul Meghorn come back, . she
whispered to her husband; what on
earth's he doing hereabouts again?''
Spending his money like gentle
man, as he always does" growled hel
spouse; "that' $ enough for us, isn't it?'
and he hastened to attend his guest.
EHTa 10 aurav tho liOhtI Nh at will do