The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-15
FOR NELLIE.

am a modest man. Modesty is in
many people q virtue; in me it is an alb
solute fault. l have spent all my life in
New York city. I have been in society
for year. have been dry goods clerk,
an advertising agent, and a custom
house broker, and yet am, under Ger.
tain circumstances, sufferer from mod
esty, or bashfulness, or whatever peo'
pie may please to call it.
Notwithstanding ordinary good looks,
respectable manners, good business
married and even unengaged, for years
after the day determined had been d
single man long enough.
| Not that L did not fall in love, for
loved often and ardently; but it always
happened that, before l could muster
courage sufficient for u declaration and
proposal, some other man would be
smitten by the charms of the lady was
adoring, ana l could do nothing but
hasten to relieve my heart Of affection
for another mans wife.
Time after time this same thing hap
pened. l could make myself agreeable
in company, and chat pleasantly with
all my lady acquaintances, but the mo-
ment found myself feeling an unusual
tenderness ,for any one of them l was
sure 10 feel SO terribly embarrassed in
her presence that l generally put an
end to my hopes by keeping out of the
lady's presence as much as possible.
l. finally began TO doubt whether 1
should get wife at all. l lacked but a
few years OF middle age, and what ten
der, susceptible girl, sucH AS l should
hope to win, would marry an old man
Frightened by the thought, solemnly
resolved that, should ever again fall in
love, would promptly declare my pas
sion, and earnestly press my suit.
My resolution had not time to cool be-
fore 1 succumbed to the resistless power
of Nellie Mayton's eyes. Nellie did not
purposely look. wltchingly at me with
her deep, brown eyes-girls never do
such things purposely-b by some un-
which Immediately made me her adoring
slave.
AS she was an old acquaintance, did
not think deliberate cOurtship was
necessary; on the contrary, l de.
termined to tell my story at once, come
of it what might.
The time consumed at my toilet on
that eventiul night was far more than I
had devoted to that duty even in my
toppiest days. But, in spite OF all / could
do, my nose would look little red, and
slight razor-cut on my cheek insisted
on looking angry; my cravat acted as II
possessed by human soul in the most
abjectly depraved condition, and my
shoes took mild polish only with re-
luc;ance.
l finally reached Mrs. Mayton's man-
sion, and rang the bell. Fortunately
for ME, Nellie had neither father, brother
or sister, and as her mother was the
busiest iii her set, l felt reasonably sure
oil finding Nellie alone.
was not disappointed. AS entered
the parl0r, Nellie was at the piano, put
ting into sweet sounds all exquisite
reyerie OF her own. She did not hear
the servant announce me, 40 her dainty
fingers continued to tenderly chase eacn
other over the ivory keys, while the
balmy air of the warm spring evening
and the soft shades on the gathering twi-
light seemed in full sympathy with the
beautiful girl and her feelings.
Never before had she seemed to me so
exquisitely beautiful as now; and as
the purpose of my visit suggested itself
to me, l felt more hope!essly basbful
:.hlali sver-it seemed that only the per.
lection of all manliness should dare to
ask for the heart of SO angelic being.
l struggled desperately against an incli-
nation to retire before she should know
of my presence, and to cut off amy possi-
bility of retreat, cleared my throat
violently.
Nellie turned quickly upon the piano.
stool, without recovering from The soul
full trance into which she had fallen, and,
with her glorious eyes, she looked into
my face as if she would read my soul.
''Nellie p / exclaimed. but could not
remember another word OF the tender
declaration had composed before leav-
ing home.
was conscious of flushing violently,
and of opening my mouth to speak words
| which would not come; but the search.
| ing eyes which were fixed on mine read
nv story there, and the ripe, tender lips
below them broke into pleased smile.
AS she rose from the piano, l, with an
imploring look, threw my arms about
her. and the dropping OF her beautiful
head upon my shoulder answered all my
unspOken questions.
| l led my beautiful darling to sofa
and there, with unlo0sed tongue, whis
dered in her not unwilling ear story
which seemed to interest her greatly. II
the enthusiasm which possessed me al
ter had regained my speech, went be
yond mere declaration Of lOve-l asked
Nellie to be my wife. She answered il
the sweetest whisper in the world, bu
In words the most terrible.
"Yes, il mamma il willing"
In an instant l was shivering vic
lentIy. Ask Mrs. Mayton's consentl
had rather have proposed to half thu
lmarriageable ladies in New York; No
that there was anything irightful abou
Mrs. Mayton; on the contrary, she wa
the impersonation OF politeness, good
ness,. tact, kindness ana all other vir
tues, as we'll as being brilliant, witty
and, despite her forty years, extrenel.
handsome. But when she listened u
any one,it was with look which plainl.
said, mo nonsense, now." When sh
Hound occasion to use sarcasm, she wa
numerically sharp and bitter, and he
power OF mimicry was such that sh
could initiate to perfection every tone
her miserable victim. TO think OF facin
her with any possible risk OF her disap
proving my suit was simply dreadful.
| Suddenly Nellie, asking me to excus
her for q moment, lett the parlor. Gu
OF the darkness l conjured up dreadiu
visions Of Mrs. Mayton in every pos
and feature of disdain, and, aside troI
any other cause, was thankful whe
the gentle step and rustling dress OF m
darling announced her return.
AS she sat down on the sofa ]. stole m
Il arm around her waist, and exclaimed;
J "Nellie, ! am nota coward, but ho'