HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Signal, 1882-05-05, Page 2b
l Chuce Introdaatiun,
THE HURON SIGNAL, FRIDAY. MAY 5, 1882.
1)elayed by a alimaa4 accident add
eellapelled to remelts covet Christmas et
lnsgdsrtlla Here war& predicament for
silt overworked reader of s popular maga-
alM OE for a hard-earned hejlidty.
What nada it the more exasperating
was that 1 happened to be on m way
to visit some friends who t with
them a young lady guest who
described to me as such a paragon et
loveliness and worth that 1 had quite
settled it in my mind that she was des -
timed to prove the "iamsp eseible eke'.
wheys I had hitherto sought in vain.
Tordeville! Where had I heard the name
before, and what association had I with
the place 1 Diving deep into the mosso-
es
eosres of my memory, I made the maps
startling discovery that I had eooe actu-
ally had a correspondent in Ferdsville.
It happened in this way:
sound of merry laughter smuts win my
ear, and at the same time a dawdling lit-
tle creature with !tottering red ri►hgis
appeared ea the perk of the Deal sit-
tsge across the way. She was • peeled
little Wanly, with a ice from which the
idea of mertlmetq mod good hunter was
isrparebls. The peal of I•eghter which
I had heard had evidently been divested
towards come one in the house, for she
stood alone upon the porch holding •
scarlet woolen oomforter to her hand.
"Look, Uncle Davy," she called out
in a sweet, gay voice, "I've finished your
mufer et Ia•t—just in time for the
snowy weather !"
Hid behind • wide open pillar, I lis-
tened with much interest, as the old
man expressed kis delighted thanks.
"But how sin I to get it screw to
you r' the girl went on. "I know your
rheumatism won't allow you to come for
it, and the snow would, be ever my shoe -
tope.
A few months back a manuscript had
been put late my hands for examination
which, as I at once perceived, was the
venture of • very young lady, whom I
subsequently discovered to be a certain
Miss Nelly Temple. This fact was stat-
ed in a oonlidential note to the editor,
the young authoress desiring that only
her nom de plume (a sweetly sentimen-
tal one) should be given to the world.
After reading her story, I had written
the young lady, and the contents of my
letter I now found it rather irksome to
recall. After • samewhat more lenient
criticism of her manuscript than was
usual, I had been compelled to write and
decline the honor of its publication. I
had chosen this task myself instead of
entrusting it to the corresponding clerk,
because I bad an irresistible desire,
which I hardly knew how to explain to
myself, "to let her down gently" as the
plume is The fact is, the little letter
that had accompanied the story inter-
ested and pleased me in inverse ratio to
the effect of the work itself. The latter
was girlish, natural and frank, while the
story was artificial, mawkish and dismal.
All the hearts were mere shattered
wrecks, and all the hopes desolate and
unrequited. The heroine sighed and
Bobbed her way through from beginning
to end, and the hero only appeared upon
the scene to glare about him with orbs
of consuming gloom and to discourse
solely upon such subjects as wasted
hearts and blighted hope*, in a basae-
profundo voice. In the end, although
no reasonable obstacle to their union ap-
peared, they were ruthlessly tors asun-
der, and the authoress dro,rped her cur-
tain over them like a black pall. It was
execrable, and there was nothing to do
but decline with thanks. This I did in
a note unnecessarily apologetic and dif-
fuse, which had the effect of procuring
me another letter from the young au-
' theress It was a pretty little epistle,
as the other had been, and interested
me much in the same way. She asked
for counsel and advice, and appealed
with awed timidity to my w ide literary
experience. She told me that ,he de -
aired to make literature her profession,
it being necessary for her to support
herself, though, like Dr. Johnson's man,
she acknowledged Clint she had several
other irons n the fire. I refrained from
imitating his advice and telling her "to
put this where the other irons wt.re;"
but I confessed that the witticism recur-
red to me with a startlint fitness. Two
or three more letters passed between us
and then, though I had been really in-
terested in the innocent young creature,
I had, as it annoyed me to remember
now, let the correspondence die otff. It
had left me, however, with a real curio-
sity as to her stature,experience and sur-
roundings. It was strange that w very
young a lady should have come to re-
gard life as such a howling waste and
the world so awfully hollow. Certainly
li could imagine that she might prove
rather melancholy ci to any if her con-
versation and ideas resembled her hero-
ine's, as of course they would. She had
just the sort of writer to feel impelled to
write an autobiography. and yet, though
it seems paradoxical, while her heroine
seemed to me the quintessence of dis-
mal insipidity, I felt exhilarated by
the thought [that my Christmas at
Fordsville was to be enlivened by the
aoqu aint•nce of Miss Temple.
at the hotel whom I did not know, and
telt alined frightened; and 1 was rude,
ahsid. You have been so very kind
ahost 1111kisg the time to answer my let-
ters that 1 am ashamed to bane given so
musk trosble."
She eddramed me with so much res-
pect that I esperisoeed something of the
sensatiom of a literary bun, fur the first
and probably the last time in my life,
and set myself at onco to the task of
putting her at ease. I inquired about
the story, and expressed a deep anxiety
as to ita ultimate appearapw in print,as-
suring kir that it needed only a little
thoughtful revision to make it • shining
success, thereby undoing all my earnest-
ly laid plot to discourage her from writ-
ing more, which I had subtly introduced
into my letters. I sow that she listened
with delightful sarpri•e, and I waxed
more and more eloquent, expressing and
certainly feeliag tee times the emotion
and enthusiasm that • talk with George
Eliot would have inspired. It was de-
licious to call up such • happy light into
those lovely eyes and such • confused
pleasure to the sweet voice that respond-
ed to me. I was playing the idiot, but
I had completely lost my head. After a
long talk she explained, with much hes-
itation, that she would be obliged to get
ready for church, as she played the or-
gan and must not be late, and when I
asked, feeling a strange timidy myself,
whether I might be allowed to accom-
pany her, the told me the church was
several miles away and that an uncle and
aunt who lived in the country would call
for her in their reckaway.
"But wouldn't a sleigh de as well as a
rockaway 1" I asked a delighted pro
ject suggesting itself. "Perhaps I might
get a single sleigh and drive you out !"
She hesitated a moment, and I would
see that the project delighted her. So
I said no more, but returned to uncle
Davy, and procured the use of a shabby
little box on runners, with a steady lit-
tle horse, and when 1 appeared at the
door apposite I was soon joined by Miss
Temple, who looked prettier than ever
in a coquettish little fur muff and col-
lar.
A few minutes later we were skim=
ming over the country roads with harts
as light as air. I had forgotten my
friends who were expecting me else-
where—forgotten the bnlliant young
lady who had been good enough to ex-
press some interest in my coming. I
had forgotten everything and everybody
on earth, indeed, except the bewildering
little being beside me.
"It wasso kind of you to coma with
me," I said. "How can I ever thank
you enough ? It shows me what a gene-
rous and confiding nature you have, and
you never shall regret it."
"Why of course, I was delighted to
come with you, Mr. Moore," she said,
looking at me with wide, questioning
eyes. ''I am sure I ought to do every-
thing you ask after all the valuable ad-
vice you have been kind enough to give
Aa the dilemma, remained unsolved I
stopped hien my hiding place and offer-
ed myself as Uncle Davy's messenger.
Accordingly I lesoended the steps and
crushing the untredden snow beneath
my feet, crossed ever and approached
the young lady. As I looked up at her
I observed that though she was standing
in the nine attitude, bolding the scarf
in
btr hand, a marked change had come
over her faoe, which now looked pro-
foundly aniseed.
As 1 approached her, however, she
responded very prettily to my bow, and
when I swept off my hat with flattering
deferentialness and explained that Un-
cle Davy had entrusted ins with his hon-
ored mission of bringing him his scarf,
she handed it to me with a very becom-
ing flab and smile, and thanked me
with • demure ouurtaey.
I did not feel at all like turning my
back upon her and returning to the vi-
cinity of the old hotel, but there was no-
thing else to be dans, so I replaced my
hat sad found my way over to Uncle
Davy and delivered the scarf. The old
man received his present with the great-
est delight, and after vosifernusly shout-
ing his thanks across the street, turned
and entered the heoss for the purpose,
as he explained, of exhibiting the scarlet
trophy. As he vanished down the nar-
row hall, I heard him sell out:
"Wife, where are you? Come and see
the pretty present Mias Nelly Temple
has sent me."
Mies Nelly Temple! Here was • oar,
prise. I remembered now that I had
heard him call her Miss Nelly, but I
had been so engrossed at the time that
the name had not struck me, and I had
for the:moment, forgotten the existence
of my melancholy young high -tragedy
authoress. How could she possibly be
identical with that piquant little beauty
yenderl And I raised my eyes to, draw
the contrast, only to discover that she
had disappeared.
I hesitated for a moment as to my
course, but as I recalled the very grate-
ful and admiring tone of her last letter
to rue, which had convinced me at the
time of it receipt that she had put me
on a pedestal along with Emerson,
Holmes and Longfellow. I thought I
Might venture to take a decisive step;so,
without more ado, I took my way again
across the:street, and, walking boldly up
the stops, knocked at the door. As I
did so I caught sight of some scarlet rib-
bons screened behind the muslin, cur-
tains of the window going on the porch,
which now, however, quickly disappear-
ed. Then I could hear, where I stood,*
whispered conference in the hall, and
then, in a minute more, the door was
opened, not very wide, by a neeresa,
who regarded me rather wrathfully as I
said, composedly:
"I want to see Miss Nellie Temple, if
you please."
"Well, you can't see her then, rah,"
was the prompt reply.
"Why not?" 1 asked, quietly.
"'Cause she says you'll have to excuse
her. You can't see her," she repeated,
with emphasis. It was clear that she re-
sented my visit se an intrusion, and felt
called upon to protect her young mis
tress.
It was too late to make any effort to
find out the young lady that night, so
after eating • very well prepared supper
at the village inn, which proved to be as
comfortable within as it was di`apidated
without, I went to bed and slept sound-
! y, waking next morning in a frame of
Hind Mark Tapley might have envied.
A bright wood Are was crackling un the
hearth as I walked to the window and
drew aside the curtain. Outside the
ground was covered with snow, which
had fallen during the night, and which
new lap crisp and sparkling in the bril-
liant winter sunshine. i dressed hasti-
ly. The vital necessity °( having a
"But I am very anxious to see her," I
said urgently. "Take her my card."
1 produced one and banded it to her.
She looked at it doubtfully a moment,
then took it from me with • jerky mo-
tion. saying, in an audible undertone:
"She sin' gwine come." and disappear.
ed with it.
And now the notes of another voice the acme of its dismalness,
smote upon me clear and low, but ex- let her, shyly and said:
missive of subdued resentment • "is the really your idea of love 7 Do
"i don't care to see the card, r. said you believe when two people are in love
"i cannot see the gentleman l e must each other that they go through all
excuse me these dreadful tortures and suffer all
Then there was • second pause, der thole agonising pangs r'
ing which, as i shrewdly expected, dig To my otter amassment, she replied
pity gave way to curiosity. and my Bard by snatchone the ;ogee out of my heads
was slammed. And sure enough. the and throwing thorn lot° Ile fire. As I
wxt moment, little miss dignity appear sprang up le my vain endeavor to check
ed before me. covered with blushes,held- her, 1 caught her two hands in mine,
and having caught thorn, I held them.
"Let it burn." she mod, turning ler
flushing face toward mt. "1 never knew
how totted; silly and absurd it was be-
fore.„
"And hare you learned sone* r' 1 ask-
ed, still holding her hands and now for-
cing her to look at me. "Tell me,
Nelly, who has taught you f Toa must
not fo t that you here chosen m• for
your critic and instructor, and if you'll
let m.. teach )•uu this one lessen, and
will try to learn it faithfully. you will
have reached slick a state of mature de
velopment that you will need no more
culture. Osily learn what it is to lute.
truly, •ilow your teacher to 'shot
the ub , and yen will possess all the
knowledge and cultivation he will ever
require of you..'
It Dame upon her very suddeply and a
few preliminary exercises were nocttss-
ary before she was quiteiatiatiedasa pupil,
but the giving oboes leasow was the
greatest joy I had ever knows, as the
result of their waa I considered the fin-
est $uoeeu of my life. Uncle Davy was
mush surprised at the turn of affairs and
a good dead puzzled at the preliminaries,
or rather the lack of such.
"Lor, 1 never dreamed of bis being
Miss Nelly's young man," he said to his
wife.
"1 wonder why he's never been to
Fordville before," returued the good
woman, meditatively.
"I asked him about that," said Uncle
Davy; "hut he kinder smiled and said
that, though he had never been to Ford-
ville before, he had ter some time wen
in correspondence with the place, and
that Miss Nelly was far from being a
stranger. I suppoae she met him when
she was off on that visit last year and
has been corresponding with him ever
eines.
This explanation was circulated
throughout the town, as I intended it
should be, and seemed to be entirely
satisfactory. I had a bold plan of hur-
rying up the wedding when once I had
secured Nelly'_ consent, and so success-
ful did this prove that two months after
that day on which I first made acquaint-
ance with Fordville, Nelly and I were
married there.
And to think that all this came about
through that dismal story that Nelly
and I have such laughs over now !
Well, let those who may climb to the
loftiest heights of literary eminence, I
shall not grudge them their success.
Being a rither overworked and under-
paid reader for a magazine may not be
considered the pinnacle of literary glary,
but it has been the means of winning me
• treasure which I would not exchange
fur the fame of Shakape•re.—[Detroit
Free Press.
When we reached the church I could
see that my appearance was perceived
with great surprise by Nelly's young
friends in the choir, which was increased
by the fact of my joining in, brave and
strong, in the music which Nelly accom-
panied and led She praised my singing
very highly afterward, and said my voice
furnished just the support hen needed.
What a happy day that was, and what
a never -to -be -forgotten thing was our
ride home.
I went over and spent that evening
with Nelly, and she took me into her
confidence and friendship in the sweet-
est way in the world. Of course she in-
troduced me to her people, and I had to
be inspected by them, but I soon found
that they were all her willing slaves
and her approval of me was the only
guarantee they required. Indeed they
were, one and all, so unconventional
and unworldly that I felt a little un-
easy at the thought of my dear little
Nelly's being without a more capable
protector, and not averse to assuming
the position myself. I wrote to my
friends and made tome convenient ex-
cuse for not joining them and spent all
my holiday in Furdvilie.
At my own request one evening Nelly
brought out the familiar manuscript and
we read it over together, I managed to
keep down my irreverent laughter at its
reiterated sighing_ and sobbing_ and
complaining& Only once, in the prin-
cipal love scene, in which was reached
1 looked up
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sada
After doing judice to a delseioasly
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tap awl down, enjoying his pipe. I had
bogus to question him ea to the peaeti-
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had no idea of it. You trust have
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Having assured her of my identity
and called up is bar bonny fare • fresh
phalanx of dimples, 1 followed her into
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The new treatment for rapidly condi-
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People have so more right to become
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vim
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PRINTED AT Tilt OTFICII OF '1rB11< HURON t3I(TJIAL'
Nardi Street. Deamio&