Middletown transcript., 1868-06-20

-lI Anu naVe IOunu u SlsIcr, Auce.
How strange it Sounds sister, Alice
Do you know was afraid to come here
because"
what mischief arc you. two brewing
already?" and Frank stood in the door
way
"Nina is telling me that she was afraid
of me-"
!" Yes, rathcr-but you are not now, dar-
ling, are you ?"
"Oh, no not now"
''There, that was emphatic enough to
suit anybody, and now are you not going
to make me slight toilet? See Maria
stands there with an infants dress in her
hand, waiting for "-and Frank
laughed.
'Now really, Frank, you ought to be
ashamed. He is always laughing at me,
sister Alice, for being such a little per-
son."
-" beg your pardon, Nina, will try to
think of you as lady of colossal figure,
if you will hurry with your toilet, for I am
rather hungry and tea is ready any time
we are ready for it,"
Nina followed Marie to the dressing
room. Frank caught me in his arms once
more, telling me how happy he was in be-
ing home, and how blessed he was in the
possession of his little wife.
you will love her, Alice, for my sake,
will you not ?"
GLOW could I help loving her for her
own?'
"Truo, how could you? She is all
that is amiable and lovely. Dear little
Nina l hope she will like her new home
Be tender of her, Alice, for the rough
winds have scarcely ever blown upon her"
l needed no such charge, for how could
| be otherwise than gentle to the pretty
child-like creature.
After tea we sat in the drawing room.
My brother drew me to scat beside him,
and his wife reclined on an opposite sofa.
How lovely she looked clad in a white
Swiss robe-hor hair falling in rippling
masses to her waist, and half concealing
her white shoulders.
Her dark eyes, with their long curling
lashes; resting lovingly upon Frank and
curiously upon me.
My brother looked at her with pride,
and turning to me said:
"Alicc know you arc wondering all
the while where I found that little lady
yonder-and by her leave 1 will tell you
shall 1 not, Nina?" And his looks
sought the figure opposite. A bright smile
and deep blush was all the answer.
' Well, Alice, we met by chance at Flor
cnec. Nina was visiting at the house of
the American Consul, and one evening
there was grand ball and diplomatic en-
tcrtainment given there. Was / fortunate
enough to get an invitation ? I was fortu-
nate, Nina" Again tho smile and the
blush, but still silent. So Frank contin-
ued. I" I saw but one during the evening
"a lady in white and Glimmer and
Pearls" who was very impcrious in her
treatment of a certain titled bearded gen.
tleman that. looked daggcrs at any one
who dared raise their eyes to that "Queen
rose of the. rosebud garden of girls"
Isuppose Unjust have been gazing in sort
ofidiotie admiration upon the little lady, for
friend took pity on me and gave me an
introduction Well, we talked about the
ball and the people. Tho learned that I
was an American, and so the little lady
was very gracious, much to the bearded
gentlcman's Indignation. l discovered
that Sonorita Nina Cartclli was an orphaa
the Spanish ward of the Duke of Salla,
who was father to the bearded gentleman
1t needed no words to convince me thatthc
son was deeply in love with the fair Nina,
and that the arrangement was anything
but agreeable to tho lady herself. So re-
solved to- put forth all my powers of con-
vcrsation to relieve her of as much of his
society as possible.
81 succeeded so well that before the en-
tcrtainmcnt closed Nina invited me to call
upon her at her guardians, where she
would return the following day.
"Thc Villa dc Sdlia was about four
miles out of Florence, and you may rest
assured Alice was not tame in accepting
the invitation. On my first visit was re-
ceived most cordially, and the result was
that Nina and | became very good friends.
All the time had bcon growing more and
more distasteful to the Dukes son., and
my friend began to get fearful lest some
plot would be put under foot to get them
quietly out of the way.
" About this time began to find that
/ mine was. no common friendship for the
little lady, and like any honorable man
waited upon the Duke and asked pcrmis-
sion to visit Nina as a suitor. | was re-
fused with naughty scorn and assured that
She was promised to the Dukes SON.
What more was left me? Your warning
letter came about that time, Alice, and be-
sides I never dreamed of Nina caring for a
rough fellow like me-" .a
"Oh, Frank" and the dark eyes on
the sofa were looking reproachfully at
him.
/ could see that they were full of tears.
Frank saw them too, and beckoned her to
come to him. Nesting beside him, his
arm thrown -protcctingly around her, the
happy smile returned to her lips.
!" Well, Alice, the end was, 1 resolved
to leave for Rome the next day.
+" I was determined though to see Nina
once more to say goodbye, and with that
object in view rode to the Villa de Salla.
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