Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-19


ride with Fred in tho morning, she came
homo from meeting with Mr.. Gray in the
evening, and so balanced her account
with her two lovers.
think Mr.. Gray is charming in con-
versaton, don't you?" said to her one
day, when she seemed restless and out OF
sorts.
ayes suppose so; but sometimes he is
actually silly. To tell you the truth, your
cousin is the only man ever knew who
had no nonsense about him. / can speak
my mind to him without having a COM
plilnent sprung on me about my hair, or
eyes, or something else that was born
with; as if | was wax doll and had
nothing else to recommend me. II is an
immense refrcsbmcnt to me when Mr..
Olncy implies in the most distant way,
that don't talk like parrot, or that |
play the piano passably we'll"
Fred is born woman-hater. | long
to see the one who will convert him."
III Nellie had the same longing. she
did not say so, but sat long time study
ing the flowers on my carpet.
ale is TO sail in a fortnight" said /,
stealing u look at her face.
All at once she was down on her knees
with her head in my lap. and I heard n
sound strangely like sob
"Why, little one what has come over
you?' | said, stroking her bright hair.
At last she got it out.
81 want to ask You If your cousin cares
the cas, bit for me?"
"IIow should know2 | am not the
keeper of his thoughts He said one day
that he thought YOU were very pretty, but
something of ilirt."
"Did he9" she said, looking up brightly
in my face, rs if had given her much
comfort. And you say he is going away
in two weeks?'
"Ycs. Will he take your heart with
him?"
"FlrtS are not supposed to have any,
YOU know. don't know what is the
matter with me. | think every day Twill
60 away somewhere and never speak to
him again, and then he comes, and the
first word he says puts all my strong
resolutions to ilight.'
"But why not love him, Nellie? He is
good fellow enough only a little cynical
about women, and if you make yourself
very meek and charming, he may come
to love you at last"
II love him, indeed" she burst out,
with al her old wilfulncss, ''whcn he
treats me Ike 4 child, and has never so
much as hinted he liked me, You are a
jobs comforter, and you don't under
stand my case ut all. I'll 90 home and
fight it out alone" And she did 20 home,
and saw her no more for week
She would not see Fred when he
called, and that ungrateful boy actually
turned against me in his trouble, and
declared it was all my fault for making
him behave like brute 10 her. His low
spirit made him such poor company that
at!east betrayed Nellie's confidence, and
raised him again to his usua! level ofhope
and impudence.
Nellie WAS very constant ut evening
meetings at this time, and Fred did not
try to see her, though he pretended TO
discover certain palcness and despond-
ency about her, which no one perceived
but himself.
II shall try my fate tonight" he said
on the last night of his stay. us my
cravat siraight?"
Does man ever forget his cravat?"
Not when he is going under fire of a
woman's eyes"
Only behave rs well as you look; don't
be too humble, and remember what DR..
Holmes says, that the whole science OF
lovemaking may Ec found in any cyclo-
pedia under the head of Fortifcation.
saw Fred disappear in the house over
the way, and felt almost rs nervous rs if
somebody were about TO offer me the
refusal of his heart and hand. Fred came
back very late and went away in the
early morning train, but found a little
note tucked under my door when | got
up in the morning:
Dear old Cousin-You're not only y
trump but whole suit of them. took
your advice and was not too humble, and
that lovely little craft soon struck her flag.
| came home too late to see you last
night, because Mr.. Clifton put me through
catechism as long rs the moral law. in
answer to my plain question whether he
would give his daughter. And then there
were more last words in the small hours.
You must keep lookout forany piratical
minister on Nelic's horizon, and warn
me in time.
Your happy cousin, FRED.
l made it up with Nellie that afternoon,
and confessed all my white lies. She
was so radiantly happy. that she would
have forgiven the "gunpowder plot, if |
had aimed it against her peace.
AT the gate, in the very spot where she
had first seen Fred Oney, she met Mr..
Gray face to face.
IL am going to your house when have
made my call here. Can / see you alone
for few minutcs?" said the minister in 4
low distinct voice
Certainly" said Nellie, ready to do
ANYTHING for any body Just then. And