09.1898 thru 06.1899.pdf - The Lowell

As be stood upon the little platform
' and looked about him, he wascon c cious
•of a faint thrill of excitement stirring
within him The quaint old place appeared
little changed since that morning
Sen years ago, when he had left it hurriedly
with what seemed to him then a
ruined life stretching away before him.
Ah, well, he had outlived all that old
pain !
He wended his way through the oldfashioned
streets, left his baggage at the
little hotel, and strolled leisurely down
the elm-bordered avenue.
How strange, yet how familiar everything
seemed ! He stepped upon the old
stone bridge that spanned the smoothlyflowing
river, pausing to look over the
side for an instant. The act recalled a
different scene, and the years rolled away
like a mist.
Once more he stood upon the bridge,
but not alone. Dear Nellie Hayden !
Would her hrown eyes never cease to
haunt him ? Drawing a tiny box from
his inner pocket, he opened it carefully,
and the setting sun's last rays flashed on
the diamond of a golden circle. He had
half a mind to fling it down into the
waters below !
It all came back to him again; how
he had bought the ring, intending to
ask Nell to wear it forever. But alas,
for the futility of human hopes ! He had
been bashful and slow to speak, awaiting
k more favorable opportunity to tell Nell
of his love.
Her beauty and goodness constantly
surrounded her with admirers, but Ralph
had been bold enough at times to believe
that she understood and reciprocated his
feelings. How well he remembered that
Christmas eve long ago when he had
gone to "her home intending to tell"''her
all ! He had found her in the little conservatory,
dressed in some dainty costume,
with a bunch of red hollyberrics
on her breast and in her dark hair. The
THE LOWEXL
atmosphere of the place was so enchanting,
the nearness of her-presence so intoxicating
that he forgot his shyness.
In a minute or two it would all have
been over»—he would have known bis.
fate, but just as his lips moved to ask
the question that trembled upon them,,
there came the sound of merry laughter
and scurrying feel, heavy knocks sounded
rapidly on the door and a gay party
of young folks came noisily in,
"Come, Ralph and Nell/' cried tliey,
" we're going to the church to finish the
decorations and practice the carols for to-
morrow 1"
Soon they all weat off together, aiid
another opportunity was lost to Ralph,"
He had expected to see Neil home ttiat^
evening, but as they all stood chatting
at the church door before separating for
their various homes, impertinent Harry
Chester stepped up to Nell, and slipping
her arm in his called in a bantering tone
to the others, " Come on, ail of you!
Nell and I will head the procession !"
The others laughed and felt into line,
Ralph giving his arm to demure little
Florence Macy, who doubtless wondered
mentally why her old school-mate had
so suddenly grown moody.
During the next few days Ralph vainly
sought a private interview with Nell, He
always found her surrounded with other
young people, usually discussing some,
anticipated social affair appropriate to
the holiday season. The Fates seemed
against him; Harry Chester, he noted
angrily, was always among those nearest
to Nell.
Before the Christmas festivities were
well over, the news of their engagement;
was common talk in Roseville. Weston :
had found life there unendurable after
that. He avoided both Nell and Harry,
not daring to trust himself in the.presence
of either. •
Within-a week he had bidden a huiried
good-by to his relatives and intirn-
r
ate friends
for
in the j
Mr, Kawtliofctte|iia|
impressed witi§ v * '
fered him a small posi
Weston
that when: a
thought expedient to |
office in timiiont..j«|'.
one most suitable to,'
And thus his life had i
ful financially, l?n^
men term Happiness/
He reviewe&i
he leaned over
Nell still -liyWyi^
"Was"
Ah,, he
been well l
The short afieriidon
to a close
down the . _T _
live and see if tD4,^hbu
Thus far no
nize him,
fAGiiiiar faces, -- «
pose, howeyeir, t