Year: 1874

place picture before you, you might not see
her as I did and do. Every eye makes its
own beauty, and to me she was more beautiful
than any other living creature. Nellie Brodle,
mean lovely Nellie Brodie, whose father was
sexton of our church, good old man, but
prosy, and prone to tell one or two good sto-
ries about ghosts, which proved to be no ghosts
after all, whenever one found him. Many and
many time have listened to them, out on his
little porch, of summers night, with the
moon bright above US, and mysterious chirps
and cries in the bushes, and the smell of the
evening primrose growing far sweeter, and
sweeter, and Nellie, still and quiet as mouse,
sitting with folded hands between US.


We were busy folks enough by day but we
idled away the summer evenings together,
and thought no harm of it. 1t is good to be
idle sometimes, in that happy sort of way !;
and to tell the truth 1 liked it. No man
coulds say that 1 neglected my duty. A better
farm no man ever had, and larger crops none
gathered, and no starved cattle grazed in my
meadows. As for my dairy-but that was my
sister James doing. A good house. A pref
ty bright eyed girl, with warm heart, and a
laugh that seemed to be catching. Alone to-
gether we two were, and we we're fond of each
other.


never told her liked Nellie Brodie, but
I did not hide it from her. Nellie and she
were great friends. Over and over again |
tried to find out from Jennie what she said
about me-Nellie mean-but the girl would
never let word slip out. A true woman
hides another womans secrets. knew that,
and I built on it.


"For," said I, to myself, eff Nellie disliked
me, Jennie would give me hint, sister like,
and save me from modification. Either she
knows nothing or she knows Nellie likes me-"
After that, may say courted Nellie. She
knew 1 loved her, am sure Of that; even if
I had not said so out and out, she could not
help knowing it.


But there were other young men in the
place. of course, and many willing enough to
listen to old 3rodie's stories, for the sake of
looking at his daughter and many jealous
pang had in those days; for Nellie had the
same pretty, kindly ways to all, and the same
smile for every one.


I used to think that a "no" from Nellies
lips would 90 straight through my heart, Ikea
bullet and found it hard to risk the hearing
of it. She must say it to all but one of us,





witty as another, and not so rich as third.
I think I never knew how plain l was, until
I had my photograph taken one day, by
man who had a gallery in the village. |
thought at first he must have made too much
of my mouth and too little of my eyes but
he showed me plainly that the machine must
take good likeness, because it was machine
and could not make mistake. I took the
things home and put them in drawer, and
showed them to nobody; but they took the
little vanity had out of me, though [ kept
saying over and over again, "What do looks
matter for man"


meant, you see, to give Nellie one for her
album, but thought if looked like that it
was not best. I've heard other people speak
of the same feelings since, in regard to pho
tographers; and am not sure now that they
are railways perfect.


Waiting and watching, hoping and fearing,
I let the time slip by !; and winter came with
its frost and snow, and old Mr. Brodie told
his stories by the fire, instead of on the porch
and the lamp light fell on Nellie's yellow
hair, as she sat knitting, making the prettiest
picture you ever saw; and l made up my
mind to put my fate to the test before Christ
mas, and didn't. You see when young fel-
low is in love he loses courage. But one thing
| vowed-Nelie should take sleigh ride
with me-


Tom Armstrong had said-I heard him
that he meant to drive the prettiest cutter, the
prettiest pair of horses, and the prettiest girl
in New Bridge. He meant Nellie by the
prettiest girl. His turnout might be what he
chose, but Nellie should never 60 with him.
She should go with me.


The snow fell fast, and by morning you
could see nothing for miles around but great
drifts, though the sky had grown clear as
though it had been summer. called for Mel
lie in the afternoon, and she was ready, and
away we went She looked charming, with
her rosy cheeks and bright and sunny eyes
and sunny hair and was happier than l
had ever been in my life


Going out of the village, we met Tom Arm
strong with splendid cutter. He looked
daggers at US both-or a. least thought so,
and he went as heard afterward, to invite
Sue Nichol to ride with him. AS he drove
out of sight made up my mind to ask the
question that would settle everything, on our
way home.


Man proposes, but Heaven disposes Things
happened that evening that had not thought
Of We were going back in the moonlight,
when put my hand on Nellie's, and made
her turn eyes toward me-


81 have been trying to say something to
you for long time," said. "Perhaps you
guess what it is"


But before could utter another word my
horses became frightened at something, and
away they went like mad. Nellie clung to
me, screaming. did my best to stop them.
They left the road entirely and took their
way across the field, and striking against
stump the snow had hidden, the sleigh was
overturned, and we were thrown out together.


was not hurt, but Nellie lay insensible. l
lifted her in my arms and clasped her to my
bosom, and begged her to open her eyes and
speak one word to me. But she was like one
dead and in my terror dared not take her
home. | carried her. instead to my sister,
who, frightened half out of her senses, came
forth to meet me- She took Nellie into an
inner room, and bade me bring doctor, and
he was there soon.


I spent an hour of agony, such as had
never felt before; but at last Jennie came to
me, all smiles.


"There is no danger" she said "She has
come to herself; she only tainted from fright.
You haven't killed her, or even hurt her
much, you foolish boy"


And | burst into tears. Jennie bent over
me.


"But to think she should be so sly" she said
"a gentleman's portrait in her bosom all the
while and not word to me oft. I'll punish
her for it now"