The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-04
Selected Story.
A LOVERS QUARREL.

A AU Wins QUAhhhb'
Nettic Brown was a bewdering little crea-
ture. A thousaud little Vaccinations surlound-
ed her like an atmosphere; nttie Si'inlnerlhS
sparks of sunshine flickered in and out OF
her clustering curls; little CupldS laughed in
the depths of her dark eyes, and myriads OF
little dimpes dancedI round the corners oil
her mouth and played bo-peep in her rosy
cheeks. In short, she was bewitciing. be-
cause she could not help it, even If she had
tried, which, l am happy to say. she never
did. Nobody had any very profound respect
Tor her; nobody was suddenly impressed by
by the beauty OF her person, or the brllliancy
OF her intellect; nobody spoke oil her as one
OF 1.-THE queens Of society,"" or named her
deferentially, or quoted her opinions, or
sought her advice. If you CHANGED to ask
who she was, somebody would say, 'Oh,
that's little Nettie Brown in sort OF apollo
getic tone but you noticed tender express
ion in their eyes and brighter smile on their
lips as they looked alter her.
Among Netties most hopelessly enslaved
adorers was John Marshall-a tall, grave fel
low, considerably older than his enchantress
"a simple frank man, without any preten-
sions to an oppressive greatness of a golden
temper, and steadtaSt as an anchor" Nettie
was not the least bit OF a tirt; in fact the
yOuilcs ulCu vi uCl oCb pIOhouhSCh yOu
might as well try to firt with a baby; but,
fortunately for John Marshall, he did not
want to flrt, and what is more, did not know
how. Having fallen in love in very ear
nest but laundering sort of way with our Net
tie, he stammered out proposal, and was
accepted, having taken the little maidens
heart by storm through the sheer force OF his
own devotion.
His position once defined Ncttie held back
no reserves of affectionate artillery for great
locations: tried no petty feminine tricks of
cuquettish GOODNESS one day, and extra sweet
ness the next; never attempted TO bring on
minute quarrels tor the pleasure of making
them up ag ain, but was so affectionate and
caressing in her little ways that John never
missed the relish which the above little STRAIT
agems are supposed to impart to the some
what insipid dish OF domestic felicity.
One day, as illluck would have it, entered
Sophy Northam, the fai-away cousin and
particular friend of Nettie. A most incon-
gruouS alliance is seemed, made entirely by
the brisk determination of Miss Sophy her.
sell, who denominated Nettie her, particular
friend and practically ordered firm and
devoted attachment to spring up between
them.
Will being Destiny, and Sophy being an
other name tor will Nettie became her slave,
and was petted, scolded. and laughed at by
turns, as her companions varying impulses
suggested.
Sophy was piquancy itself; brilliant bru-
nette, with the brightest eyes, and neatest fig
ure, and the prettiest loot ever seen. Well,
one morning, lot long after Nettie's engage
ment, down comes the brilliant embodiment
of feminine wiles on her poor, unsuspicious
friend and slave. By-the-by, Sophy, too, was
just engaged, and all her unfortunate victim
couldip1edicate with certainty OF her character
was, that she was sure not to he in the same
mood tomorrow in which she appeared to.
day. The unvarying commonplace affection
otJohn and Nettie exasperated this volatile
Young lady, and she resolved to show that
poor little goose" how love affair ought to
be managed.
snow you don't mean to say, Nettie, that
you are actually going on in this stupid. hum
arum way, up to the very atari Why, you
might as well be married now really don't
think it would make any difference to you!'
"Neilher do l." answered Nettie, simply
An engagement seems to me about as seri-
cus'
"Oh! of course" interrupted Sophy with
an impatient wave of he- hand, that's all
Very nice in theory, you know, but in prac-
tice it's so dreadtully stupid. Do let us have
something little more spicy to begin with.
do you suppose young man likes to sit
down (even if he is as sober and steady as
Your John, which, thank Heaven! Morton
isn't-do you suppose, L say, that youth
enjoys sitting down with his hands folded as
soon as he's engaged, and feeling that all the
delightful excitement is over; that the bird
is caught, aud has no notion Of fiying away
again, even it he should open the cage
door?"
This shaft struck home, as the Young LADY,
meant il should, for there is nothing SO GER
tain to affront the oentlest of women as an
insinuation that any one wishes to dispense
with her affection.
II am sure, Sophy," replied Nettie, with
some spirit, "that John never complains of a
want OF excitement. And | think it would
break his heart if treated him as YOU treat
Mr.. De Witt T"
Break bis fiddle-stick!, exclaimed Sophy.
irreverently. "Bless YOUR dear little soul.
there isn't one man in five hundred that has
any heart, and even that is made of India
rubber. Men have died, and worms have
eaten them, but not for love- Let me as
sure YOU there is nothing of which men fire
so soon as calm monotony of affection.
dare say John thinks it is all very nice no,c.
but very soon he will begin to have lurking
suspicion that somehow or other YOU are NOT
quite SO interesting as before Won were en-
gagged, and then he will begin to be a little
bored, and you will find it out. and look mis-
cradle and that will bore him still more and SO
things will keep ON getting worse and worse
all the tlmt." T5 -fs.f
Oh dearp said Nettie, rather overpowered
by this doletul picture. .But what can 7
do?n "2 p llae' . i'''1 ~
"Do? why do as do. TO be sure.n answer.
ed the energetic SONNY. and immedia1elv do
tailed long ist of little contrivances f. in
crease the "felicityn of Mr.. Morton he Witt
whereby that unhappy gentleman was kent
i'm hot water tor the greater mart OF his eyist-
ence, and only youchsated such occasional
glimpses of the paradise of Miss Sonby;s
love as were Judged reuuisite TO nrolonp 5;s
struggles. How She leased and coaxeG and
badcered him. how she went IN and doun