The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-03-15

lhe young man grew more ana
more unreasonable and sensitive, and
was even annoyed to see Constance
box Wildrake's ears, she did it nsuch
deprecating way, as il it really went
very much against her heart to treat
the gallant gentleman so roughly, for
the jealous Harry would willingly
have allowed her to box his ears all
day, if by such means he could have
kept her entirely to himself. His i'll
humor increased ut every rehearsal,
and one evening he said to her, Il be-
lieve you enjoy this play better than
the other"
81 enjoy it as well, certainly" she
replied. II am getting over my
stage fright, you know"
Wonderfully" he said, in a sarcas-
tic voice. "Mr. Limon must be a
most delightful person to play with.
OF course that has something to do
with it,"
eyes, there is not much pleasure in
playing with sticks"
"Mr Limon is very fine actor"
"Splendid," was the enthusiastic as
sent.
"And he seems to appreciate Miss
Gladdon's performance"
ale does not call me a frightened
baby, anyway" replied Nelly, initiating
the tone of her lover.
Poor Harry looked quite confound-
ed, and, without saying another word,
walked away. Then Nelly's heart
sank, and she reproached herself bit
terly for her unkind words, but she
was too proud to show herrcgret, and
so continued her Irritation with Mr..
Limon, as gayly as ever. She kept
watch, however, of Harry, in a sly
way, and, CHANGING TO meet him alone
in the hall, summoned all her courage
to her aid, ran up TO him, and laying
her hand upon his arm, said:
"Forgive me, wont you? do not
care if you did call me frightened
baby. l only said that to tease you n
little"
He looked at the little white hand
upon his arm, and then t the pretty,
! eager face, and he certainly would
have done something very startling to
Selly e they hadnot teen interrupted.
Sbo .irew ,.er hand quickly away aud
ran off but il made her blush like u
ross whenever s.Re recalled Harry's
look.
"The course oftrue lose" inthis case
was destined to verify the correctness
OF the quotation, for when Harry ask
ed that night for the pleasure Q: es'
corting Nelly home, she was ob.ige,'
10 plead u previous engagement VIII
Mr. Limon. Now, the latter gentle.
man was about as completely bewitch-
ed with the young lady as Willoughby
himself, so what must he do that ev-
ening but tell her so in plain words,
and beg her 10 become his wife. II
was her first Offer, and consequently a
momentous affair, and she was so
much surprised and bewildered, that
she had not u word TO say for herself,
and, as silence is always supposed 10
infer consent, the gentleman naturally
interpreted it in that way, and. kiss
ing her tenderiy when they separated
called her his darling Nelly. She rar
up to her room, and found her sister
still awake, who exclaimed, upon see
ing her-"Why, Nelly, what is the
matter? You look as if you had seer
: ghost.
"Oh, Celia, it is awful" she gasped
"Mr. Limon wants me TO marry him.
Here the unfeeling Celia went OF
into fit of laughter that bade fair Il
last all night, but at last she control!
ed herself, and said:
"Why, You unmitigated little goose
What is there so awful in that?
should call it splendid. So handsome
and talented and rich. He is rici
. you little dummy do you hear?"
"But he thinks | like it, and h
kissed me right on my mouth, an
called me his darling. | wish l ha
, never seen him!"
why, l thought you liked him.
/ What did you filrt SO for?"
t "Was that flirting? l only did it t
tease Harry"
: so tease Hurry! Oh, indeed
Well, my dear, you have got yourse
e into nice little scrape. Engaged
: one man, but in love with another.
had no idea that my little sister coul
e ever behave in such an unprinciple
r manner" Then seeing Nelly's loo
S of genuine distress, the young lad
: relented, saying, mo matter, dear, {
It not look so down-hearted about it,
Y Tell me the whole story, and l W
help you all l can. am used to sui
IS things, you know; but yo1-" Al
e here she went off into another paro
IS ysm of ofuncontrollable laughter. Aga
st controlling herself she said:
e. "Now, little one, let me hear
< about il"
,e Nelly did as directed, making t
a earnest request that Celia would n
l. betray her confidence. She did n
rs sleep much that night, and in t
ir morning her head ached badly, SO I'll
d, her sister advised her to remain
ze bed. 81 will see Mr.. Limon," s
il said, "when he calls and explain it al
le Nelly repeated the story to /
re mother, who consoled her, saying
ne "You need not marry the gentlem
er unless you choose, dear. Celia "
y, explain it to him.
r. aBut he will feel badly, mamma,
as seems to like me SO much
ty "Of course, Nelly, but he will
over it. Are you sure that MIR. "
er- loughby cares for you?"
re "Ye es, mother" she said, the bris
IS color rushing to her cheeks, and
he minutes afterwards, anote was hane
q to her from that very oentlemau {,