The Hickman courier., 1877-11-23
MISS DABNEY.

spOn=iVe to the masculine tOuChstOne, an
innate detestation of filtration, OF making
an effort to please one sex more than an
other, who could say? Louise was her
/ self aware that she inspired the masculine
heart with no serious sentiments, and
I she NAV have wondered secretly by what
spells other girls who were not so well
bred nor 80 intelligent, and certainly no
fairer. gathered groups OF lovers about
them. while she stood by, alone and un-
cared for-not that she coveted q plural
itv-but what charm had they TO which
! She could not aspire Every woman
! loves admiration, and it is not TO be sup
posed that Louise Dabney was superior
! 10 this amiable weakness.
3" Louise has never had filtration, a
/ love affair or a proposal, her friends
would have told you; but they were not
quite correct in their verdict She had,
} had an interest" to put 1t mildly ever
since that dreadful night on the continent
when her uncle had been brought liteless
/ into the little out-of-the-way place
among the mountains, and had left her
alone among people speaking an untamil
lar iargon. with the sea rolling between
herself and home and LOring Northcote
had come to her aid, though total
! stranger, had taken her burdens upon
himself. and had been like a shadow IN a
weary land to the des0late girl, and had
/ finally escorted her home across the sea,
with his widowed sister as champeron.
/ Since that period there had been more or
I less intercourse between them, to be sure,
but the half-tender regard he had mani
/ tested toward her had seemed TO crystal
lie, without developing into anything
more personal and particular
l. 1r~ u-qy q
she said. and excused him in her heart.
And when she had thanked him for all
his kindness. and said How can ]
ever reward YOU - -' BY always coming
TO me when you need kindness, he had
answered, but he thought " She Is less
emotional than a sphinx" And though
/ LouiAhad more than half expected that
their relations would grow closer a. time
sped, had. perhaps, some right TO expect
/ il. vet Mr. Northcote had never advanced
I a step nearer; and if she had abandoned
/ hop. the flame still smouldered. ready to
/ be rekindled bv a word. touch and no.
/ bOdy the wiser, not even the interested
friends, who thought Louise neglected
her opportunities that any other girl
would have had an offer, at least, under
the circumstances.
1t was the following season, which she
spent at the fine old mansion of friend,
when, seeing the company dispensing day
after day by twOs, she resolved to amuse
herself like the reSt-tO DO a the no
mans. Every woman likes 10 believe
that she has her own little attractions,
and how was she to make sure OF II II
she attracted nobody? Besides there
was nothing else to do. To abstain from
the popular amusement seemed like re-
f Il, -E,y.. IN, II
LEROY appeared 10 adopt her views. If
she walked. he followed like her shadow
if the river allured, his boat was at hand
if driving were IN order, he handled the
reins like a Jehu. Their acquaintance
had begun, moreover, under the most
favorable auspices, to take a romantic
view nj it. She had discovered that her
rocket had been picked on the cars Of
both money and tickets. \ handsome
stranger steps forward 70 the relietOf the
distressed damsel gratitude on one
hand, gallantry on the other; he has es-
tablished a claim TO conversation, and
discovers that they are both bound for
the same hospitable roof at Valley farm.
Could a hirtation be ushered in more
propitiously?
Really" whispered Mrs. Furniss,
fortnight later, sitting on the veranda
and looking toward Louise, who sat in
the hammock which Leroy was lazily
swinging; believe Miss Dabney has
made an impression"
Who is Mr.. Leroy?" asked the gen
tleman to whom she spoke, and who had
Just arrived in the last train.
" A capital catch
Alliterative at least. And has Miss
Dabney landed him? ,"
She could if she would. 1t isn't his
fault if she hasn' t.
shouldn't say that Miss Dabney was
susce Dtible.
Chow did You find that out, Mr..
/ NorthcOte| ~ laughed the hostess.
/ " By natural processes, believe"
! I'm told she isn't a favorite with
/ your sex; but exceptions prove the rule.
| | never knew her TO have a Irritation
/ before, | confess
Is this hirtation?'
{" On her side, yes. It's her very in
| difference that attracts Leroy He's
used to being made much of, and to have
the girls thrown at his head, 20 to speak.
As she doesn't want to marry him, she
can afford TO be audaciOus."
81 didn't think she would cOndescend
to firt"
You seem to have made a study of
Miss Dabney. I think she didn't wish
to be left out In the cold. All my guests
seem TO be paired off this season. You
will have to devote yourself to me, Mr..
Northcote, unless | import another
blessed damsel.
Don't, I beg; | am content with the
blessings the gods have provided"
You might dispute Louise with Mr..
Leroy, to be sure"
True. Let Us begin by lnterrupting
the teue-a-tete."
Mr.. Northcote." said Louise, 90 this
is a pleasure for which Mrs. Furniss had
not prepared us.
Excuse me, but your friend doesn't
look as if he regarded it in that light"
said Northcote, aside. 81 hope l am
not dc trop."
'I didn't know that such humility as
that hope suggests was trait of your
sex"
Shall go away again p
Why, certainly not, Immediately; it
would look as if had snubbed you"
And I'm not sure but you have"
1t was doubtless pleasant to have a
spectator witness her Tefutation of the
popular prejudices respecting her want
Of attraction, and that the spectator
should be Mr.. Northcote added piquancy
co the affair At least he will see that
somebody finds me worth cultivating,"
she reflected But in spite of this she
found herself incapable of entering into
the spirit of Irritation with the same un-
concern after Nortbcote's arrival. She
felt perpetual insane desire to shorten
the walks and drives, that she might
hasten back to his neighborhood, and
know just how he was passing the time,
that she might see his face aud hear his
voitN But the further she withdrew,
the closer Leroy pursued, the old adage
that a bird in hand is worth two in the
bush not holding good in love affairs.
The family had been picnicking IN the
woods the afternoon, where the pine
needles made d caroet, aud the trolicsonae
brook capered and bubbled down from
ia nountain source. Leroy and Louise
had wandered away to collect brush
wood to boil the tea-kettle, but had