Year: 1874

loved. Lille was SO beautlful, death was
so terrible. Surely she could not be
doomed to such adeath. Then she cried
aloud for help; cried with all the
strength of one in deadly peril. The
wind mockingly repeated her cries.
Her strength failed her.


Nellie now knew that no succor could
come. Tenderly cherished darling as
less, friendless outcast, in the storm.
Panic stricken, suffering bitterly from
the cold, exhausted, stumbling deeper
at every step, at length she fell against
a tree /; to it she clung as though it had
been friend. She had dim idea that
relief had come in the hour of dire dis
tress.


She threw her arms around it, kissed
it, as she would a living being she did
not feel the cold SO painfully now, only
little sleepy and weary. She tried to
repeat her prayers like frightened
child, but could not remember the
words. Then, with the pure cold snow
for pillow, Nellie Ross sank gently
into the sleep of death.


Will Lyster's rest was strangely
troubled that night he fancied several
times that he heard Neliie's voice call
ing for aid /; and his mothers distress
increased his uneasiness. At break of
day he was ready to go over to Mrs.
Ross; his pride was quite vanquished
by intense anxiety. He could only
think of his pretty, willful cousin,
lovingly. After all, it was natural she
should like admiration. She was very
young she would grow steadier in time.


He acknowledged to himself that he
had been harsh to her, but he would
make it all right now. Then he thought
of Nellie's surprise at seeing him SO
early. The dimple face, half-pouting,
half-shyly smiling, that would greet
him ; on the whole, now that his bad
temper was exhausted, Will Lyster felt
considerably relieved.


The revulsion of feeling was terrible
when the frightened mother had in
formed him that Nellie was not at home.
She had supposed that her daughter
would remain at Lyster Farm until the
storm has passed over. Will insisted
some neighbor had found her and taken
her home. She could not be lost in the
snow within sight of home; still he was
in an agony of terror.


As he turned through the fields his
attention was attracted by few work
ing men standing beneath tree. Their
gestures denoted that they were much
excited. With pitying, awe-stricken
faces. all drew back as he approached,
and Will Lysters beheld sight which
haunted him till the hour of his death.


Resting placidly, with face upturned
to the sky, and hands meekly folded
upon her breast, no expression of pain
upon the marble features, and only per
feet peace, lay the girl he had hoped
would become his wife. No more angry
fushes would crimson the pale brow
no more coquettish smiles would dimple
the tender mouth far from the reach
of both love and sorrow, Nellie Ross
slept soundly.


"Heaven help me, killed her = he
cried hoarsely.


Then, raising her in his arms he
turned toward home. The rough farm
laborers we're weeping for the blithe
little maiden, who had always a smile
and a CHEEKY word but the man who
loved her best of all-the very light OF
whose eyes she had been-was stunned
by the sudden blow, and could shed no
tears. He carried his unconscious
burden into the house, walking like
one in dream, without word, and laid
her upon the bed.


The bereaved mothers wall of anguish
rang out clear upon the frosty air.
Nell;e's girlish friends lamented loudly
their companion, cut off in the bloom
of youth the poor, whom she had
helped and comforted, mourned deeply;
but Will Lyster never spoke. But once
did he show any trace of emotion ; then
the night before she was left in her last
resting place, when the household had
retired, his mother, alone, remained to
watch beside the body. He came to
look upon the child-like face, calm in
the silent majesty of death.


go Nellie, Nellie" he cried, 81 loved
you so dearly, and 1 killed your'


Then, resting his head on his mothers
breast, the strong man sobbed like
child. He never recovered from the
shock, but lived on, a prematurely old
man; very grave, very tender to his
mother, but rarely speaking, never
smiling. He has remained bachelor
even until now, for the sake of sweet
Nellie Ross, slumbering in her grass
grown grave in the country churchyard
upon the hill