Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-06-18
JUST FOR AMUSEMENT.
Out again this evening, Nattie.


ing at the, bright little brunette, who
was unusually brilliant in an evening
dress Of scarlet TISSUE. with white feath
er, flowers looping in the ove1:skirt
and clusters Of the same in the heavy
jetty braids OF her lustrous hair. 1i:,.
II might as well have good time
| while can" Nettie said, twlrling her
self around before the long mirrow, to
admire her bright skirts, and her tiny,
slippered feet. "Only two weeks more
here, and I must go back to Wheaton,
and bury myself
"Nettie."
''There, auntie, don't look SO shocks
ed! l know you think my future hus-
band is perfection, and, between our
selves, so Go I. But, a country par
sons wife cannot expect much gayety,
and | mean to crowd all l can into
these two weeks Of liberty"
"Where are you going to-night?':
S'To Mrs. Hunts. Mr.. and Mrs.
Reynolds will call for me and Count
Lodoski.'
-; "Agaiu,!," Aunt Mary's voice was
stern, and there was az. unusual severity
in her blue eyes, "You know how
strongly disapprove Of yoa ;ccepting
the escorts of Count Lodoskl"
"But he is not my escort" said per-
verse Nettie. "Mr and Mrs Reynolds
will call in their. carriage. I don't be-
lieve in the count any more than you
t do, a,latie; and all his dear pathetic
walls over his dear Poland fall upon
most unbelleving ears when confded to
me. notwithstanding, he is most en~
tertainilg company, dresses perfectly,
is handsome as Adonis, and waltzes
like dancing~master. So, because he
amuses me, I allow him to be my es
cert during heabsenee Of the Rev. Al
| fred Martin, who viii hold me soon,
fast and firm, in the chainB- Of matTimo,
ny. Hark ! the carriage is here. Good
night don't sit up for me"
And wrapping herself in a large
cloak Of softest white cashmere, Nettie
kissed her aunt, and sped with dancing
feet from the room
In the carriage she found the young
couple who had offered her the spare
seat there, and she found there the Po>
lish count, who was the last society lion
in the city Of. B -. =, and who was de
cidedly. attracted by the witching beau>
| ty Of the gay brunette. Whether it
had been whispered in his ear that she
| was heiress to Wheaton and five thc.:s-
and year,. can only be conjectsrea but
he was amost devoted adorer, and Net
tie carelessly encouraged, his attentions.
s.. She had inherited Wheaton from he,
grandfather when she was little child,
and her father being dead, her mother
had shared the guardianship of the 1t
tie heiress with her uncle Joshua, 60
that summer at Wheaton was followed
each year by winter in the city, where
school-days5 were succeeded by all the
pleasures Vi society after Nettie passed
her eighteenth year. 1t must be con-
fessed that the bright little beauty was
a petted, spoiled child-a willful girl,
whose life had,been one long sunshine,
with every whim INDUCED, every ca
price gratifed., -, ....
Serious thoughts had found little
place in her giddy head and pleasure
loving heart, till the Rev. Alfred Mar
tin accepted call to. the; village OF
Morton, near which Wheaton was stu
ated. He was not handsome man, not a
fascinating man in any sense that Net
tie had ever thought of the .wold, but
he had one gift that embraces many
others in a truly Christian. minister
he was earnest. To him, tile. vocation
OF his life was one that absorbed heart
and brain to the exclusion of al effort
to be attractive in society. or win world
ly praise. Yet the very sincerity of
this man, fully ten years his senior,
proved charm Nettie could not resist
From the careless ease of her petted
life, bis sermons, like trumpet-calls,