The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-04-20
THE BROKEN ENGAGEMENT


good circumstances, even if report il
business circles should not have repre-
sented him as being wealthy And tha
pretty daughter of his, Nctty by name
moved amid the elegancies of her home
in elegant dresses. And Nettys man
ners were elegant too; and, all thing
considered, she was what is sometime
called 'prize" is, the young maj
who should win her would secure pref
ty and accomplished bride, and fortune
Into the bargain. SO the talk ran, Ant
Nelty lad not few suitors. On New
Years Day, tNat drawing g-room Of her.
would be filed with young men, il
fashionable attire, each and all of then
on the watch for look, glance, tht
slightest turn of that bright, blue eye.
So it was on the New Years Day o.
1866 There sat Netty in the middle Of
the room-not prettier than a hundred
fresh, young girls who might have beer
selected from the neighboring houses
but pretty. And the word has mean
ing that young men appreciate.
A door leading to a back apartment
was opened, and an elderly gentleman
appeared and took his stand upon the
threshold, and surveyed the company
with knowing twinkle in his eyes. The
old gentleman was Miles Gardiner, Net.
ty's father. He came in and took seat
1t was late in the evening, and the
company departed, one after the other,
until only four remained. And each
One of these four was evidently eager to
have word in private with Netty. Il
was clear that they had determined to
sit each other out, though it became 8
question whether the old gentleman
would not sit them all out.
A jovial spirit 5eetied to have seized
him. He cracked his jokes, told his sto-
ries, laughed at them, and made himself
as agreeably disagreeable as 1t was pos
sible for an elderly gentleman, under the
circumstances, to be.
For the two hundredth or three hun,
dredth time within the hours devoted to
calling, the bell rang.
An anxious, ,expectant look fitted over
Netty's face. She half rose from her
chair, as though determining to go to
the door herself, in advance of the slow
servant; and then she rose to her feet
and went. She entered the hall, closed
the drawing room door, and opened the
front door. A young man stood there.
"Ah, you are here at last" she ex-
claimed. "Pretty, that you should make
me the last CALL"
at is the call of honor" he replied.
! She closed the door, and they stood in
the hall together.
"Here we are, brother and sister," she
said, "and a new year upon us"
"We are friends, are we not Z" he said,
"but I keep you from your other
friends"
"Other friendsn'
She perked her lips as she uttered the
words.
II suppose you have parlor full ?"
"Only four"
"Ned Harkins is there ?' lag
Eyes" 0 .'.r
81 come to congratulate you upor
your engagement with HIM"
"Well-thank you"
She averted her face slightly, anG
looked down at her foot, as it played
with the fringe Of the mat.
"Good-by," said he, turning suddenly
to the outer door. #at .sa
She caught his arm. al sa
"Why, Sam 2" she exclaimed, are yor
not going to stay?"
"Not at this late hour. Ned will wisl
to see you alone for the remainder o
the evening. am your brother So
may call myself. We have grown Up to
gether That brings about the relation
ship. We are not of one blood, and We
We are brother and sister A brothe
would be in the way in there" a
"If he doesn't like your presence, lie
him go!' she exclaimed, in tone tina
was almost indignant a -a
"Do you speak so of your betrothed :
81 would speak of any one who shoult
not like your presence" she replied ;ant
she curled her lip and let her foot pla,
somewhat violently with the mat fringe
II heard of your engagement witt
him but an hour or two ago"
"He proposed last evening, and I &C
cepted him" .a~
Her face, as she spoke, was still avert
ed, and turned toward the floor He
frame began to. tremble, and then a sig
escaped from her lips.
"Hillo, there Samn' was called ou
from the rear hall-door, and Sam locke,
up, and saw Netty's father standing il
tile door way "Come in here, and let
have taste of New Year together. Com
in Sam
Both Sam and Netty went, in respons
Ito the summons, and still Netty lIngereo
Fin Sans company; and Ned Harkin
and the three young gentlemen sat in tn
drawing-room awaiting her return.
The engagement had been suddeI
affair, and was not yet generally known
After awhile, Mr.. Gardiner, Netty an,
Sam, entered the drawing-room together
at the rear door, leading from the ante
room, where they had been partaking O
New Years cheer together. .a'"
The two young people were sad, an
hardly uttered a word; the old gentle
man did the talking, and his spirits ros
higher and higher. Two of the youn
gentlemen Immediately took their leave
and Ned Harkins, Netty's afflanced ,alon
remained, He cast a dissatisfied loo
around, then toward Sam Weston, VIII
withdrew to table and looked owe
some engravings, Old Mr.. Gardiner
j too, received look now and then; bu
| he was not disposed to take the hint,ant
he stayed and talked; and talked an
stayed, and then his spirits rose.
"Smce / lost my fortune" he said, ad
dressing Ned, (which calamity has com
to me within day or two, l have bee
thinking how happy l ought to be, i
view of the fact that in retiring from thi
house, and the rather elegant mode c
living, I shall have my friends followin
me-"
Netty, who had been looking at hil
with. some establishment during TIL
speech of his, now interrupted him wit