The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-28
THE QUARREL,

They hung, heavy plumes of purple,
over the little gateway in that bright
afternoon-the 1st of June. A chari-
table breeze swept one scented bunch
of bloom a bit aside, just out of the
reach of little brown hand that had a
moment ago ruthlessly stripped off half
its blossoms.
But the owner OF the hand had al
ready turned about, with a toss of her
black curls and flirt of her pink cali
co dress, that scared the butterflies,
and before the branch swung back she
was fastening up the trim garden path,
and finging back sharp speech over
her shoulder at tall, sunburned young
fellow who, with vexed light in his
eyes, stood in the gateway watching
her.
"Oh, it don't matter what I think
Indeed, / don't think at all. You may
take whom you like to the next May
dance-you won't take me ~
1t was such pretty shoulder over
which these words were cast, and there
was such rosy flush of anger on the
round cheek half yelled in curls, that it
is no wonder John Armitage took two
or three steps in pursuit of the speak
er; but he stopped, drew himself up
with sudden pride, and said one re-
proachful word.
"Nancy! y
The one addressed wavered little in
her retreat, then resumed it with in
creased celebrity.
"Willyou stop and listen to me ?" the
young man queried, his rising indigna-
tion somewhat modifying his tone of
appeal.
"No !'' and the pink calico swept the
myrtles on either side of the walk fas-
ter yet.
every WELL" twas the angry response,
as he who had pleaded turned toward
the gate. "But mark my words: you'll
be sorry for this before these bushes
here brushing the low sprays sharp
ly aside" are out of bloom Now
good-by."
Nancy, peeping from behind cur
tain after his retreating figure, cried.
Perhaps the soliloquy will tell why.
swell, it's all over between us now,
any way. It's his fault, too. He'd no
business to take any one else to the
May-dauce when I couldn't 60. I
shouldn't wonder if he's gone down to
Sarah Anderson's now. They'll be en-
gagged next thing, and she'll crow over
me finely. He'll try to make me jeal-
GUS here Nancy had spasm Of cry
ing. See if won't make him jealous
first p
The way she would do it became ap-
parent the next afternoon, when,
dressed in jaunty blue suit that set off
well her creamy complexion, dark curls,
and tinted cheeks, she started for the
village. The dainty blue silk parasol
was lowered little as she came to the
pretentious block of buildings opposite
the hotel, upon one of which hung the
sign, "Dr. Miles Gray. Office hours
from to 10 A. NJ, from 8 to P. NJ"
But the face of the building was blank,
and the Office curtains lowered; so,
with an impatient exclamation under
her breath, Nancy went on to the post
Office, where, getting no letter, she
turned discontentedly toward home.
The Fates forbade her. She had not
accomplished quarter of the distance
before the light roll of wheels made
her turn her head and start perceptibly.
In a moment more young DIR. Gray,
whose natty top.buggy was the envy of
all the men, and whose fascinating
smile had won the hearts of all the
women, had drawn up his horse at her
side, and leaped to the ground, and had
asked, eagerly,
"Miss Evans, may have the pleas
ure Of driving you homer"
The color frightened in Nancy's
cheeks, the light in her eyes. as she as
sented with charming smile and IN
a moment they were slowly bowling
along the road, and the blue ribbons
were blown against the doctors broad
cloth.
DIR. Gray was young, handsome. not
deficient in brains, with pocket money
enough. to prevent him from being
tragically earnest in his profession, and
very much in love with the coquettish