Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-25


increased the dramatic interest of the
situation. Nettie listened with a won
dering admiration not unmixed with fear.
"But, Sophy," she ventured family,
81 could not carry out this sort of thing
at all. What would be the use of max
ing believe l don't love John, when he
knows perfectly we'll that 1 do?"' for
which ridiculous plea am happy to say
she did have the grace to blush.
At this preposterous proposition So
ply came down upon the enemy with all
her forces. She piled her well with
grapeshot, roundshot and canister she
attacked front and rear at once, in a
most surprising manner; she formed
herself into hollow square, so to speak,
and performed other miracles of evolu-
ton; in short, she utterly routed the con-
fused and bewildered forces of her op-
ponent and established herself triumph
antly as mistress, or rather master of the
situation. -rs --,t---..,.,ef7s-f
That evening John Marshall appear
ed as usual Instead of the impetuous,
demonstrative, bright and restless Net
tie of heretofore. he encountered pretty,
exceedingly polite young lady, who call
ed him her "dear john" and said she
was $50 CAD to see him." and sank back
into the depths of her rocking chair, and
rocked very dangerous symptom to
one who knows the ins and outs of fem
mine nature. -.,...f 1- II
John did not act like most other men,
but he instinctively felt that something
was wrong. There sat Nettie, as pretty
and fresh as ever; but somehow the
sparkles had died out of her bright
brown eyes; the dimples no longer play
ed bo-peep in her cheek, and although
she answered all his questions and re-
marks with the most scrupulous polite
ness, still her presence, instead of being
refreshing and inspiring as usual, was as
oppressive as wet blanket on July
day.
"Nettie, what Is the matter ?" burst
out John at length, worried past endur-
ance by this extraordinary effect.
'"Matter, John p said Nettie. with in
nocent surprise; "why nothing. What
do you meant" ia
"Why don't you laugh and talk as
you generally do, and why don't you
come and sit with me on the sofa, in
stead of perching yourself up in that
horrid rocking chair?" growled John,
slightly irate, it must be confessed.
Nettie rose with the most serene, un-
rufled aspect, seated herself beside ohm,
arranged her Aowery drapery with the
utmost precision, and looking up to his
face with the sweetest of smiles, said, in
the tone of one addressing hopelessly
spoiled child, "There, dear; now are
you satisfied p 49,.
John flung himself to the other end of
the sofa with an impatient jerk. 81 ~
"Pshaw Nettie, that isn't what l
mean."
"It's what you said you meant, at all
events" replied Nettie, in the same in
nocent astonishment in her wide open
eyes ."and / think you are very cross
and disagreeable tonight, and 1 really
don't know what to make of it,
Here Nellie departed from the passive
attitude as far as to indulge in very
pretty pout, which encouraging weak
ness so disarmed John that he only said,
"Nettie!" in a reproachful tone. Where
upon. Nettie relinquished the dangerous
point, and with the most cruelty patron
izing smile, observed that she was sure
dear John must be far from well; hewas
not generally cross unless he had head
ache, and she thought. he had better take
a good walk in the fresh air, and then
go home and go to bed. @
John stared at her for moment in
undisguised astonishment- and then
quietly rose up and walked out of the
house. Nettie called, ''Good- by, dear ="
in the sweetest manner, after his retreat
ing form, but the silent figure, fast dis
appearing in the darkness, deigned no
reply. z3. -.
Nettie went to bed forthwith, and
meditated on the performances of the
evening. First she felt triumphant that
she had played her part so well; tri-
umph partly compounded of the ordina-
ry feminine pleasure in acting, and part
ly of the pleasing consciousness that
Sophy could reproach her no longer.
Then she began to recall Johns "cross-
ness" and to feel rather agrieyed there
at; then she thought of the fond, linger-
ing "Good night !" she had lost, and a
few little tears stole up into her eyes F;
then she reflected that after all it was
her own fault, and she had been very
cruel; and just as another shower was
about to descend on Johns account, it
was suddenly checked by sweet but
guilty thrill of satisfaction to think that
she had this power over him, and could
make him miserable if she chose. Then
it occurred to her that, after all, John
did behave in very cross, disagreeable
manner, and that he ought to be punish
ed for it, even if the process did make
her somewhat uncomfortable; after which
righteous and highly moral conclusion
she went to sleep, with a sigh for hel
power over John striving for the mas
terry of her lips. r-r ,-fa.
The next morning the tempter appear
ed again in the likeness of Miss North
am, arrayed as to her person in the cool
est and freshest of morning-dresses, ant
as to her spirit in the calm consciousness;
of her last victory over Dewitt, whom
she had reduced the night before to 4
state bordering on idiocy.
She listened to Nettie's triumphal re
lation with the quiet dignity of recog
nized superiority, and advised her te
continue in the same course. And thai
Matt, yn;rbt bovo ouorv odvant n ua n