Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-03-30
Courier Journal.
BELLA,S LAST FILTRATION.
BY LITTLE GREENHoRN.


"'There is'no place like home, say
what you will; is there, auntie?"
Especially, the first day or two, af-
ter an absence of eight or ten weeks
and Bella, having made this observa-
ton, considered her duty to society
performed for the day, and turned her
attention to the Courier, to the utter
exclusion of all minor affairs, thus, I'M
tremendously, leaving me to my knit
ting and thoughts for company.
1t was drear, chill day, the rain
pouring down in an obstinate, uncom-
promising fashion that made one de-
spair of ever seeing the sunshine again
IA day that would have done full cred
it to November, and that was a shame
full imposition here, in what should
have been, urgolden September wealth
er.
But had no right to complain, for
it was bright and pleasant enough with
in our CHEEKY sitting-room, where Bella
had ordered fire, that sent its imper
tinent, ruddy glow frolicking over the
rich carpet; over the mauve-tinted cell
ing; over the trailing vines and gilded
cage that adorned the bay-window;
over the pretty pictures and brackets
that hung on the walls; and over Bella
herself, who lay comfortably ensconced
on my siesta, enjoying WattersOn's Ia
t"st, spiciest and most telling editorial.
Bella had pretty. babyish habit of at
fecting the invalid now and then, and
as it was rather becoming phase of
character, and she received about twice
the usual amount of petting, these
spells were not like angels visits, few
and far between.r
She was indisposed this morning, and
certainly made a graceful, debonnaire
picture, reclining among the sof: cush
ions, her bonnie brown hair arranged in
a most charming negligee her pretty
feet i'm their saucy little slippers, peep
ing from beneath the blue wrapper, that
accorded we'll with the blue eyes.
Bella WAS very beautiful, very be-
witching, very sweet-tempered, very
kind-hearted; but even I, with all my
admiration and Partially, was obliged
to admit that Bella had one fault.
She would flrt.
had, as beftted my position as Bel
as chaperone through life. tried every
way in human means To induce her 10
renOunce this abominable habit.
had reasoned, lectured, threatened,
demonstrated implortd, but all to no
purpose, at the end of one Of my har-
angues Bella would merely open her ST.
rene, blue eyes, with look of mingled
surprise, wonder and curiosity, as if
this were something all new and
strange to her. and say with the most
provoking assumption of innocence,
We'll, auntie, never / am sure it is
mot my fault if these odious men will
run after me so. What is one To do?
| am obliged to treat them politely,
even you admit that
Politely. Yes Bella, but there is a
medium, difference that
''Oh, auntie! if you only knew"
with an apparently uncomfortable burst
of mirth, chow supremacy ridiculous
you were, in that role, You would new
er attempt it, never. 1 hope you will
forgive my laughing, but, indeed, can
not help il.
And so the deceitful witch parted
and ridiculed all my best efforts at re-
form. Yes, there was no gainsaying it,
Bella was Il born flirt, and had begun
to regard her as a hopeless case, totally
beyond redemption, and tn believe that
she could no more resist the mischiev-
Gus impulse of trying her power of fas-
cination upon every eligible man that
came in her way than she could live
without breathing.
When looked upagain, thepaper had
slipped from her fingers, and she lay
gazing into the fire in dreamy, abb
stracted way; for the first time since
her return noticed that she had lost
flesh and color, and that there was a
tired droOp about the pretty mouth.
IL am afraid you have dissipated too
much. pet, you are lroking so pale
Bella woke from er reyerie with
start, and her color was bright enough
for the nonce.
'-Pshaw, auntie, If my cheeks are not
always like two full blown peonies, you
imagine that | am not well. For my
part, admire pallor. so distinqte, you
know" and she gave cOmplacent lit
tie glance into the mantle mirror.
"What IA vain little puss you are any
way, Bella, but do you know you have
not told me one word about your pleas
IRE trip. will begin to suspect it was
Il failure
Haven't I, how forgetful, to he
sure" she replied. with brief, embar
raised laugh. Nell and her guests
would not feel complmented, would
they, but it is never too ate to mend.
so here goes. First of all who was
there? No body you know, believe,
unless it was that tiresome Mr.. Wheel
or we met at Grayson last season. and
sister Dora. Then there were the two
Mowbry girls, Nell's cousins, handsome
and stylish, and "a charming young
widow, with luminous, tender eyes and
tantalizing, dimpled shoulders: then
Major Sheets who was ever soliercea and
military, forming striking contrast
to poor, conceited, little Willie Daley
ripple; and then there was most fas-
cinating young Virginian, a Mr.. Ran
dolph," here Bella stopped short.
why, dear" ventiIred, after wait
ing some moments for her to proceed.
"a majority of ladies, was not that rath-
er bad taste oil your friends part"
II do wish, auntie, you would not
jump at conclusions in that harum-
scarum, schoolgirl fashion. Did say
| had finished?"
Another pause, after this petulant
and unmerited outburst, that Bella en-
ployed III nervously lingering her wrap
per tassel and that | meekly devoted
/ to knitting. After the lapse of few
seconds she suddenly raised her eyes,
and, with one desperate plunge made
her confession.
Aunt Nell had a brother"
Indeed :" WAS my sole rejoinder,
with perhaps slight elevation Of the