The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-02-19
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE

Al sfrAtagems are fair in love and Far.-
MAN II Tor your good. tOrnelia"
IL there Is any thing exasperating In
this world. il j. first to be thwarted and
tormenied. and then told it j. for your
good. Pretty Nelly Gray thought 30 as
she SAT ia the window biting her red lips,
twisting her rings on her fingers. and tap
ping her little slipper impatientIy on the
foor. This was only part Of long dis
course she hid listened TO 30 far i'm silence.
She knew her scep-mother was in mortal
earnest when she called he Cornelia- Per-
haps If slIe had been the willfnl little girls
own mother. matters would never have
come 70 this pass. BUT Mrs. GRAY hal
been filed all her life with dread OF BE-
ing the conventional step-mOther. and had
Andulged Nelly from a baby. lest people
should say she was unkind To her. She
vas good woman. fond OF children. and
KIND al heart, but an AFFECT coward a. 10
the opinions and judgments Of her small
world; 30 Nelly had grown mp well spoiled.
but in every other way thoroughly taken
care 0f. Her health hal been scrupulously
considered n far a. every thing bat iOod
went. but Mrs. Gray could not let people
say she starved the child. and 20 il grew
up with that delicate palior 80 interesting
IN novels. 80 unpleasant TO oommol-sense.
Buf in .pire Of the lily-like skin and frail.
slender figure, Nelly was an exquisitely
pretty creature. Her low forehead. from
which the soft dark-brown hair was folded
away in shining masses TO be coiled and
pulled and oonyOlufed on top Of her small
head; her great, lnstrous brown eyes, shy
and sweet and saucy and sal all in a min
ute, her delicate arched lips: her slight
round throat her little hands and fces, all
made Nelly Gray a perfect specimen Of
real fragile American beauty a. one could
well See. Then she knew instincrively
how 10 dress-a gift accorded TO few wo-
men among Us; and even In cheap print.
with tiny linen finishings. she looked
dainty a princess and fair a. a flower.
Offen did Mrs. Gray wish her father could
have lived 10 see her. But Nelly did not
even remember how he idolizef his two
year-oid baby. or how he died. with eager.
fading eyes fixed on her rosy face. uncon-
scions OF any thing further than the doll
with which they bribed her to sit quietly
by his bed. That he was dead afforded
Mrs. Cray more reason 10 herself for in
dulging Nelly. and made her more grieyed
now TO think that after all her care. and
all her love and patience. Nelly, the very
Prettiest girl In Woodyille. who could sing
like an angel and play the piano like 81.
seen piano., who chartered French with
the greatest audacity. and hal the fastidi-
Gus manners and customs Of a born lady.
should want 10 marry a country doctor.
IL was too much, What would every
body sayt Nelly Gray was fit 10 marry
the President himself. If good little Mrs.
President had not been beforehand with
her some thirty years ago.
Nothing short of popular statesman. a
poet, an eloquent clergyman, or a million
aire would 10 for Nelly. in Mrs. Gry's
esteem. and here she had fallen in love
with DR.. Joe Byles, And this was the
theme 81 the morning lecture.
don't know what fault you can find
with Joe. mother pouted Nelly.
Mrs. Gray was too wise TO inveigf
against man whom Nelly already called
Joe that would add fuel to the fire.
have nothing to say against DIR.
Byies's moral character. Nelly she an
'swered. with great dignity.
Il should think notl- Indignantly NUT