The Portland daily press., 1871-11-29
A Lovers Quarrel.


[From "six of One by Half Dozen of the other'1
Horace determined to open the matter
cheerfuly, and ignore the fact that there had
been any quarrel; and so began briskly,
''Well, Miss Sylvia, we are in luck; the snow
has come"
81 don't like snow," said Nettie, contra
dictiously; but she smiled as she said it, and,
lifting her great, beautiful eyes, fixed them
on Horace not mkindly.
''But don't you see, Miss Nettie, our
sleigh-ride is to come off now?'
''Sleigh-ride p" said Miss Nettie in tone
of innocent inquiry. 'What sleigh-ride? ?''
''Why, of course you know; the sleigh-ride
that we fellows have been planning for three
or four weeks past We've got the room and
the fiddler engaged"
Now, Nettie knew all these things perfectly
well. The fact was, that she and Jane Bur-
CESS and Rachel Holly had discussed them
over and over, to the mnutest details of pos
sibilites, and they had all settled what they
were to wear But was she to let the enemy
know this? OF course not.
"Oh" she said, 81 can't be expected to
know, as nothing has been said to me-"
"Why, ofcourse," said Horace
81 don't think it is of course" said Nette.
''How should l know any thing, when moth
ing has been said to meT'
''Why, yes; II is all arranged. JEFF Flem-
ing is to take Jane Burgess in his new sleigh.
He went to New Haven last week, and
bought new string of bells on purpose; and
Mark Hinsdale is going with Rachel Holly;
and may have the pleasure, Miss Nettie, of
taking you?'
OIL il appears / am Hobson's choice then.
Thank You. l don't know that shall care
TO 60. Ii will be very cold, and think sleigh
rides are rather u bore"
Snow, Miss Sylvia, you really can't be so
cruel"
"Cruell Idon't know what you call cruel.
All! | see what you mean. l suppose you
have tried all the other girls and found them
engaged"
II do think you are the most provoking
person, Miss Nettie, that ever did know"
Horace Vanzandt was very handsome
young fellow; and when he was angry the
blood flushed into his cheek, and the fire
snapped from his eyes; aud Nettie felt peril
Gus sort ofpleasure in provoking these natu-
raj phenomena.
"Come now, Horace" she said suddenly,
assuming an air of the most sisterly concern.
why must we always quarrel? not that
care particularly about II, but II really grieves
me to see person that respect give way to
his temper So"
by George! Nettie, it's your fault" said
Horace. 81 never do get so angry with any
body else, but you seem to delight to make
me miserable. Now, l came 10 invite you
on SUNDAY nlSht, nut you qu0rIeHeu WIN INC
| and got it all out ofmy head"
"Well, Horace, ifyou have come just to re-
| new the Sunday nights quarreP'-
''I haven't. L came 10 make up"
''And give me HobSon's choice in the
sleigh-ride," said Nettie.
Horace rose up hastily, and flung out Of
the room. Nettie gave one quick mischiev-
Gus glance after him, seized little packet
from her work-basket, ran round by another
path to the gate, and was there before Hor-
ace got there, "You silly boy" she said.
''You never will give me time to give you
this. | had it all ready for you on Sunday
night"
1t was a guartl-chain of Nettie's own work.
manship which had been promised to Horace
months before.
'Ive sat up many night working ON
| this" she said reproachfully.
80 Nettiep'
'Come now let's be friends" she said, lay
| ing her hand on his arm. "Really, Horace,
| l feel absolutely concerned about your vio-
| lent temper You must overcome it," Hor-
ace looked at her physically as she put the
| guard chain round his neck, and then follow
| ed her an rncsisting captive into the house
| again, where it pleased Nettie to keep him at
| her feet reading Tennysan TO her till nearly
| dinner-time. And this was the way that
matters commonly went on between Horace
and Nettie.-From Old and Ne,v for Decem-
| ber