Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-20
All,s We'll.
NINIAN CORES LESSON
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

struck four there was a perfect niagara OF
western sunshine pouring III at the window,
and breaking in cascades OF sparhles over
the heliotropes and cloth of gold roses that
filed the broad ledge; and the bright Italian
landscapes that glowed on the walls seemed
almost dim in the radiant positive light of the
American afternoon.
Ninian Gore was leaning gracefully against
the mantel, one ringed hand thrust away his
chestnut curls, the other toying with the
crimson tassel of his dressing gown-as per-
feet specimen of the genus dandy as Broad
way ever created. Dallas Marvyn, sitting in
front of the fire, and occasionally turning
over a leaf or two i'll a book he was perusing,
listened with half smile on his face.
81 don't upon my soul, asseVerated Ninian
regarding himself complacently in the mir
ror. ''What is a fellow to do when half
dozen pretty girls are bewildering him at
once How is he to make his selection ?"
Dallas Marvyn's lip curled slightly; he was
strongly tempted to make cutting reply, but
the timely recollection that young Gore was
his guest checked the rising sarcasm, and he
quietly returned:
81 should suppose that one way would be
to allow the young lady to make her own Sc
lection"
''My dear Dallas, they'd every one of them
say yes the minute | asked them to make me
a happy man. Do you suppose that l can't
read the symptoms?"
Dallas laughed outright.
care you SO sure Of your conquests?"
Really, my dear fellow" said Gore, pat
ting his moustache, with a smile, one don't
want to appear coxcombial, but the fact is
that Pve always been sort of prize card
among the ladies. Can't help it, assure you,
but there is something IN my manners or APP
pearance that rW attract them. BY the way,
what pretty little creature that Miss Roland
is!-did you observe how she hung ON my
every word at the ball?"
"No, l didn't" returned Marvyn, biting his
lip hard.
mo? Where were your eyes wandering
to? Now / suppose she'll think herself very
much wronged if | don't propose but really,
Pm not to blame for the Interpretation she
NAV choose to put upon my little gallmhics.
| don't know, though, that | could do better
thing, on the whole if she is very much III
earnest about it. Didn't | understand she
was an heiress?"
II believe she has some property" answer
ed Marvin, III constrained tones, " but"
so, not another word, Dallas, I'll think
about it awhile. Where are your sisters nice
little guests this afternoon"
''In the drawing room, | believe, among
the crochet pattern and embroidery cotton"
And talking us gentlemen over, Of course"
Probably not, !" remarked Marvyn. doubt
less they have something great deal more
sensible to talk about"
s'You dear old blockhead" said Ninian,
with laugh, chow exceedingly unsophistica-
ted YOU are for a fellow that has been brought
up all his days in New York You'll do bet
ter sometime. But l must really get myself
up for an afternoon promenade, so at TcUojr."
"The-un mitigated-puppy," was Dallas
Marvyn's audible comment, the moment the
door closed upon the retrcating form Of his
spruce little college-matc. "Hvc had several
pretty powerful temptations since he has been
here, but don't think | ever felt so much in
clined to kick him down stairs rs during the
last half hour Propose to Nora, indeed. I'd
like to see what kind of an answer he would
get"
And in his earnestness he gave the fire such
a poke that the very canary in the cage utter
ed a demonstrating chirp.
How fortunate it is that wee. don't always
know just what other people think of us, or
else Ninian Gore betaking himself to whistling
up the stairs, and amounting his hair with
can de cologne, might have imbibed quite an
unfavorable opisiSn of his hosts taste
HAT gone again; now what did | do with
that hat ," remarked Mr.. Gore, when he was
i ready for his walk, down to theyery ebony
cane and lemon-colored gloves. Not the
hall table nor yet on the rack. | wonder il
Miss Nellie Marvyn has not mistaken it tO1
Dallas .chapeau, and put it in the closet out Of
her sitting rOom-6omIolr | ought to say
I've seen him 90 there for his hat time anC
again Very odd that Miss Nellie cauld take
Dallas old concern for my Paris hat. How
ever, I'll look, for the servants are never OF
hand when you want them"
Ninian Gore assembled the velvet covered
stairs, and walked deliberately into the daint,
little room that his hosts pretty sister haC
consecrated to her own piano and books anC
feminine work table. The closet in which
he had lingering hope of finding the mis-
sing article, was large, dark one, lined witt
shelves, and opening directly from the bou
doir. Commonplace people might have call
ed Nnan Cores unauthorized investigation
slightly impairment; but them Mr. Gore wa
not commonplace individual, and that eli
cumstance makes all the difference III th
world.
No-the hat was not on the second shelf
nor vet on the third. Perhaps it might be OF
the higher ranges, but Mr.. Gore being littl
parsonage, was as yet incapable of Judging.
'.Confound it :" was Mr.. Cores intema
comment: why couldn't have been long
legged fellow like Dallas p? AS it is, dom
see any better way than to climb up"
Ana, JUST DIS nc uaIlS, IhC hdllohltI > Cum
half way between heaven and earth Their
was the sound of girlish voices on the stairs
Could it be possible ?-yes, 1t was the
were coming to that very boudoir. IL
dropped noiselessly to the floor; to be sur
he wasn't doing anything contrary to tn
Constitution of the United States, but h
didn't exactly care to be caught by three Q
four pretty girls, climoing up a closet shell
It was too much a la little schoolboy, in pun
s,,it of his mammals damSons and quinc
ielHes. So he crouched down in the fricndI
shadow of the door, hoping they had onl
come on some brief errand, and would nc
stay very long Vain JUNCTION for
Come, girls-this is the pleasantes
room I" exclaimed the clear voice of Dalla
sister Nelly. "But how on earth came Birds
a, to leave the door open?" she added shu
ting the door with slam, and to Nnian
horror, turning the key in it
Now. this was pretty sort of a Situato
for a Young man to be in, wasn't it? No US
thinking of the Captive Knight and tn
cold Oak Chest with an interesting damse
boxed up in it; there was not the first CLEAR
of romance in his case! low he wished h
had emerged like man. at the outset of al
fairs NoW it was too late
"ru perish here sooner than come out t
be a laughng-stock to those girls :" was hi
brave resolution-perhaps the best he cou
have adopted under the peculiar circum
stances.
Accordingly he sat down on the bandbox
and held his breath, while the gay maiden
outside worked and chatted and laughed
away. all unconscious of their unseen au
dtor
"By the way" exclaimed voice, whiol
N;,;on Of once RECOGNIZED as the silver ac