THE WICKED BROWN EYES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 12 September 1868, Page 5

THE WICKED BROWN EYES.

BY AN OLD BACHELOR.

Just twenty years ago to-day, I came

home from college, where I had earned the highest honors. Very bright looked the world to me, a perfect Eden in my eyes ; and mine was to be a brilliant career. I had seen but very little of the world outside of my own home ; and college life had not given me much insight into the character of man. and I was too much engrossed in my books for the study of human nature. I had been at home but one week when my sister came from her boarding*school, bringing with her a dark-eyed, laughing girl, whom she introduced to me after this fashion :—: — "This is my dearest friend, Nettie Finley ; and, Nettie, this is my brother Fred whom I have told you about. Steel your heart, Fred— she has pierced harder ones than yours with one glance from her matchless eyes." Just then Natty clapped her tiny, white hands over my sister's mouth, crying, " How can you tell such stories of me when I am so far from home ? " I had scarcely time to collect my scattered senses, and lecover from the embarrassed state into which the sight of Nettie's beautiful face and" my sister's teasing words had thrown me, when Nettie turned those melting brown eyes of hers upon me, and said, "Now, Mr. Frederick, you must not believe half that Nell tells you about me, or you will not ike me at all ; then I shall be disappointed, for ever since I have known Nell she has talked of little else but her dear brother Fred's extraordinary talents and amiable qualities. So when she invited me to spend our vacation with her, telling me at the same time that you would be at home, I determined, in my own mind, that we should be friends. Shall we ?"

And she extended one tiny hand, which I grasped bashfully, her touch sending such a thrill through my haarfc as I had never before experienced.

I must have appeared very awkward in her eyes, for I had been but very little in ladies' society, and knew not how to practice the affected airs of a finished ladies' man. Her frajik, genial way soon brought me out; however, aud we freely exchanged opinions upon the different books we had studied ; but I could not help noticing the merry twinkle that still lingered in her bewitching eyes ; so I felt greatly relieved when Nell entered the parlor, bringing with her our father and mother to welcome her friend, and gif ing the a chance to escape into the open air — which I needed greatly, for I' had not breathed freely since our guest's arrival.

When I met Nettie again she was at the tea-table, laughing ancl chatting merrily, very much to the amusement of my father and mother, who seemed to enjoy it more than anything that had happened for some time. She was so light-hearted and happy herself, that her feelings seemed imparled %o those around her. I never shall forget how bright and sweet she looked on that occasion. She had changed her travelling suit for a more becoming evening dress ; and her dark, glossy cidrl« formed a beautiful contrast to the fair face around which they so lovingly clustered. But that same teasing light shone in her peerles eyes every time they were turned upon me. until I became almost frantic to know the meaning of such a look. So I resolved to ask my sister if she were really ridiculing my awkwardness ; for I felt, from my embaraassed feelings, that I might appear so to the school-girl lady. Upon hearing mA* enquiries Nell gave me a sisterly kiss, and told me that no one should make fun of her brother if she knew it.

" But, Fred, don't you think you are a little suspicious of Nettie ? She is full of mischief, I know, but I should hardly think she would make sport of you. But if you persist in thinking so, try to appear easy and graceful in her presence,' and I assure you that the idea you have conceived will vanish."

I listened patiently to Nell's advise, but still determined," as I retired for the night, to dislike this dark and laughing girl, whom I could not understand ; but, in spite of my foolish Resolve, her beautiful face wonld appear to me ; in spite of myself, it would rise up- mockingly before me. Sleep failed to visit my eyes until a late hour ; and even in my slumbers her teasing eyes would haunt me.

The first sound that greeted my ear the next morning, at a late hour, was Nell's voice, calling me to get up and go with her and Nettie for a walk. Very reluctantly I arose to obey my «siscer's summons, dreading the while to meet the strange glances of her whom I knew not whether to love or to hate. Had not Nell told me to steel my heart against her winning smiles ? I had heard Charlie Marks speak of flirts ; may be she was one. I thought that I Would not even be her friend, as I had promised, but treat her with mere politeness, when forced to meet her, for Nell's sake.

All my resolutions took flight at first sight of Nettie's animated face ; again her littje hand touched mine, in gentle pressure, and one sly glance from her brown eyes made me a slave to her charms from that time forth. All that glorious day we Bpent out of doors. After our walk I found NeJJ'had planned— an* excursion to Oascad«/Falls- * more, roh^jp p j a(jQ flt^iiever formed by the mystic"^^ o f "nature ; no wonder, then, that on tfi&jr day of days, and in that beautiful place, I should fall in -IOVe with my sister's impreagpro friend. As she stood almost

spell-bound by the grandeur of the Devonshire scenery, only breaking out occasionally to exclaim, in her most eloquent tone, upon the surrounding beauties, I thought of all the woodnymphs I had .-ever read* of in my boyhood days. I loved her as a man loves but once in a lifetime. That day at the Falls was only a counterpart of many more that followed. When Nattie had been with us one month my love for her had grown to be a part of my existence ; and I felt that to lose her would be like parting with my own life. I had not told my love to her yet } but she must have known it all the while-, .for Bhe seemed not the least surprised when 1 laid at her feet my heart's richest offerings, to spurn or not, as it pleased her. She did not spurn me, but frankly said, ".Yes, dear Fred, I know you love me truly ; and, in turn, accept the first deep love of my heart." Another month we spent almost constantly in each other's society. Inexpressibly happy were we, confident in our love for each other, until one day my friend Charlie Marks came to pay me a visit ; and he had been with us but a short time when I was almost confident that he was trying to v win my treasure from me ; and 1 had felt at times that Nettie was not altogether indifferent to his flattering words and insinuating manners. From the first moment I beheld him, grim suspicions took possession of my heart ; and it needed but a trifle to excite them. I was too cowardly and foolish to confess my feelings to her, and become convinced one way or the other ; so 1 tried the plan of treating her with indifference, to bring her out ; but she was too proud to ask an explanation, and seemed more pleased than over with the attentions of Charlie. I could bear it no longer, and became so desperate that I asked him why he was trying to win the love of her who had solemnly promised to be my wife. I shall never forget the cold, hard feelings that filled my being when Charlie answered, " Poor, foolish Fred, to put trust in the words of false woman ! You are too true and noble, Fred, to be linked for life to such a fickle-minded flirt ; only a few moments since, she promised to be my wife."

Imagine my feelings ! How could I ever trust another human being, when she whom I so loved had grossly deceived me? T resolved never to see her again : so, in an hour from' the time €harlie left me, i had made arrangements to leave my native 'land and my father's house. Without bidding the inmates farewell, I left notes for mother, father, sister, and Nettie. The three former I asked to forgive and pray for their erring, but heartbroken son, and brother. To Nettie I left these words, wrung in agony from my heart : — " Once the idol of my soul, bui-falsest of all beings, I thank heaven that I was spared Ihe fate of being Jinked to her whom I can never again even respect." Three days "afterwards, the proud steamer which was bearing me from the land of my birth, was being tossed by the billowy deep. I had a very rongh passage, which did not in the least lighten my poor heart. When I arrived in Jamaica, I soon made the acquaintance of kind friends ; but I was tcro miserably xtnhappy to receive the attentions -of any one. My whole being had bowed down in worship to my idol of- clay> very ■ hard seemed my lot without her.' In answer to one of my letters to Nell, I received this very sad news -:—: — " You have broken poor Nettie's heart ; she died loving you to the last." The agony 1 felt as the truth flashed upon me can never be imagined. She loved me-, and I was to blame for our separation. Visions of a White, tearful face would rise up to reproach me for my w<mt of eonndence. I bade adieu to the West Indian isle in which I had vainly sought consolation. I cannot remember one incident of my Voyage -across the briny waves ; for my whole heart and mind were filled with anguish and remorse for the great wrong I had done her who had so faithfully loved me. I felt that I had nothing to look forward to : all darkness and sorrow it seemed. When I landed at J outhampton, 1 was met by my father and Nell, who took me to an hotel, where I was taken ill — so ill that my life was despaired of. Oh, how 1 longed for death ! but my tithe was not yet. "One day, when I was able to talk, I begged Nell to tell me of my angel. She told me that Nettie had left our house the next day after I did, looking very sad ; and when our father and mother insisted that she should remain longer, she sorrowfully shook her head, saying, " I must go now ; may we all meet in heaven !" A short time after her departure, Neil received a letter from her, saying if she would see her alive to come then, for she Was not long for this cold, doubting World Nell spent several weeks with her before her before her death ; and hot oiice did she mention my name, until the .day her weary spirit winged its flight to a woild where there is no s sorrow nor heartaches. Then she left these parting words for me :—: — " Tell him I loved him, and no one else ; but he doubted me, and pride prdmpted me to receive the attentions .of Charlie. Charlie tried to win my love, but my heart was ever" loyal to IV**" Tell him to meet me above.*' '""" Oh, how my heart l&^f*?* be freed from its earthly ir^tr \. . nd how T re * proached^y 0 " * or believing him whom I thought my friend, and for doubting her who had proven herself so faithful to 'sWLast, though I had deserted her without e><m seeking-for an explanation ! I never loved another, and that is why I never married.