The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-01

inquire II she IS IN need OF them. AS l
have an engagement, hope you will
excuse me now, Mrs. Sykes. Good
morning."
And Nell flew to her chamber to in
dulge in a good laugh. Happening to
glance at the bureau, upon which were
lying the autograph book and now with
cred boquet, she cried:
ga plague on being celebrity! Lou,
get good pen 10 write your name with,
and then take out a piece of your best
Paris note-paper, to write verses of
thanks for this miserabiy-arranged bO-
quet ~
"pve great mind not to p' said Lou,
fretfully.
"You see that even in thecountry you
can be bored ~ And Nell laughed ma
liciously.
George and Will did not leave farmer
Smollets that day; and more, commits
stoned the reluctant Jim to get them a
"change," as suggested by their aunt.
Don't you go, Jim! You're a goose
if you do Did they come, and do they
stay to see us Oh, no, country folks
aren't good enough for them u' sneered
Betsy Jane, with a green glitter in her
very black eye.
"Dang it l wish they hadn't come"
muttered Jim.
"Who, the ladies ?r
mo; t'Others, of course Pm glad
she came, 1 reckon ~ heartily replied
Jim.
"Its your fault that the boys came,
you know. But much gOod'll her COM
ing do you ~ retorted Betsy Jane, who
had long in Imagination appropriated
the merry Will to herself, and had Of
ten dressed her flaming locks with an
eye to his especial attraction.
Many callers filled the house that
day, each bent on picking little Nell to
pieces, while Lou sat swelling her man.
uscript in the delicious quiet of her
chamber.
"Why don't you stop below ?" asked
Mrs. SmOllet, as, after the evening
meal, Lou was preparing to go to her
apartments. "You look awful pale,
and need more exercise than you take,
guess"
Lou suddenly remembered it would
notdo for her always to keep up stairs, if
she desired to pass Nell for herself So
she unwillingly decided to remain be-
low. Later in the evening, Marin
Sykes and the squire and his lady called.
These were followed by the minister
Before she was aware of it, the latter
gentleman, pitying her for being passed
over, completely drew her out, making
her talk better than she had ever talked
before.
"Your friend is better conversation
alist than | had imagined, )" said George,
in an aside to Nell, who was dying to
have a good laugh ovor the affair.
''She's splendid ~ replied Nell, ad-
miringly.
"What makes her so shy ?" inquired
Betsy Jane.
al don't know, unless it's because she
was born so ~ fibbed Nell.
"Well, if talk is in a body, our min
ister'll be sure to draw it out, l tell We.
He's a master hand at talking" OBJ
served Jim, who was iealOusly Keeping
watch over Nell, who could not be easy
under it, as he had daubed his tow-cOl-
Ored hair with candle grease, and poured
upon his red cotton handkerchief a deal
of peppermint.
AS he listened to Lou, George began
to wonder how it happened that Nell
would never converse on literary mat
ters. This thought had visited him be-
fore, even when basking in the full
blaze of her charms. Ere he was aware,
| he had drawn near Lou, who seemed
! far from sensible of his presence.
Lawful sakes | ais knowed eff you
were a mind you could write better'n
Miss Leighton Though her varses
were bootiful, and suited me to r.
| Now, she can't talk like you, know
| | don't b'leeve she wants to, nuther |!
| 'SpOse you try to write a couple varses
! for me, too? / can hev 'em put right
on the back of the tombstone, YOU
| know" interposed Marin Sykes, who
had kept quiet as long as she could.
| Passing her snuff-boX round, she con-
! tinued, "Pears to me you and George
look alike, now. Yes, and talk alike,
too. Hev you got a beau? Cos, if you
| hewitt, as that little betterhy can't
marry but one man, she might let you
hev him ~
Poor Lou, suddenly aroused, scarcely
knew what to do. Perceiviug this, kind
Nell burst into a laugh, in which she
was Joined by all present.
"WhO is the one man for Miss Leigh
ton ?" asked Jim.
! mot you, by no means. But Will is.
You needn't feel bad about it, Betsy
Jane. You and Jim'll be better suited
some day." replied Marin Sykes.
"You're a meddlesome old thing ~
muttered Betsy Jane.
"Catch me a-gOing home with you ~
muttered Jim.
Somehow or other the pIeasantness of
the evening was visably broken up.
One after another the guests departed.
Intent on her "varses,n Marin Sykes
fingered, informing Lou how to write
them. After that matter was settled,
she inquired:
"Jim, amt you a-goin' home along OF
me ?"
'rNO, marin :" was the emphatic re-
ply:
81 willy cried Nell. "Come," to
Will, ait will be a fine walk for US.
You are to go, too" and Nell laughed
at LOUIS dismayed look.
So Marin Sykes was escorted by Will
and Nell; while behind them, lost in
pleasant conversation, loitered George
and Lou.
"a pretty mess you have brought
about" said Nell, when at length alone
with Lou that night.
81 wonder what made me forget my
SELF" sighed Lou.
ain what character am I to appear fol
the rest of our stay ?" inquired Nell.
GAS heretofore. You are still consid-
cred the authOress. I am thought q
good talker, that is all, )" replied Lou.
Betsy Jane, who was given to caves
dropping, heard enough of this conver-
sation to set her thinking.
The next day, when Nell was ramb-
ling with the brothers, Jim handed q
letter to Lou, saying, "You'll keep this