The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-09-22
NINE STARS.
FANNIE ISABELLE sHERRIcK.
Continued.

(Continued.)
"Nonsense, 1t was the branches creakin
against the railing. But Nell, why have 20,
formed such m opinion Of Phil Lambert
He's one Of Nettie's best friends She woul,
be shocked, | know, to hear you talk thus.i
'Oh, he's SO conceited, - said Nell indif
ferently. Sid
The deuce he is,p calculated Phil.
And he's SO terribly high-toned,n con
tinued Nell, with the greatest a
though he were the most Indifferent subiec
in the world.
Another" sighed Phil, taking eoot
ARE this time, however, that the sigi
should be very faint
I'm not so sure now about the min.
stars and nine nights" he said with a lool
of CONSERVATION.
Yes, wouldn't I like to take some of the
conceit out of him." said Nell with a co
quettish toss of her head.
"Humph," said Phil, you would wei
that's cool, without asking a fellows consent
either but forewarned is forearmed."
Yes, l hate such men as he is always
thinking every girl that looks at him twice
Is dead in love with him. Pshaw ! I WOULDN'T
marry such n man as he is if he was made
of gold.n
Phil leaned back in his chair and laughed.
He was good-natured, even if he was con.
ceited. We'll, " he chuckled softly to him
sell, your plans and mine are quite differ
ent- III count the stars, too, and if you are
not glad to take Phil Lambert's hand ut the
emu OF nine nights, then lWnever smoke an
other cigar"
Nell, having dismissed the subject in this
emphatic manner. took the comb out of her
HAIR and began braiding it very leisurely,
suoiimciy unconscious that a pair of dark
eyes were regarding her with q cool air of
possession. Manlike, he thought he had
only to say like Cesar, "Veni, vidi, vici.p
Nell" said Stella, looking at her watch
in the bright moonlight, are you going to
sit there all night? Do you know what time
1t IS! It's a quarter to twelve"
Good gracious !" said Nell yawning !:
is that so ? I'm awful tired.n
Glad to hear il, " said Phil, irreverently /;
thought you had taken q lease on the
moon. or something Of that sort.n
One last look" said Nell ; "this night
is almost too lovely to waist in sleep. Why
could / not be Juliet? 'Oh Romeo, Romeo;
wherefore art thou Romeo '" she exclaim.
ed, tragically looking over the balcony to an
imaginary Romeo.
cali me q cabbage, or anything else,
then" said Phil, mockingly. "A rose BY
any other name would smell rs sweet"
Good night, fair moon,r said Nell.
Sweet dreams, love- answered her In
visible Romeo saucily, throwing her a kiss.
A lew moments afterwards the window
was closed, and Phil rose from his chair
with a sigh Of relief and sought his room.
where he could smoke n whole boxful of
cigars If he wished, and mediate on the
shortcomings of the other sex in pence and
solitude. But his dreams were not SO hap
Ply, for his slumbers were oft disturbed by
glimpses of q girlish face and a pair OF
saucy dark blue eyes.
The next morning the warm summer sun
rose clear and unclouded over the broad
ncres of Col. Wright's country home. The
river cleaned pure md fresh in the golden
rays, and the green fields stretching away
Tor miles and miles in sunlight, contrasted
clearly with the rosy sun-kissed clouds Of
morning.
o. The birds singing gail. awok. Pin ear,
from his slumber, and the fresh air sweep.
ing in through the open windows reminded
him that the morning is the l~oveliest portion
of the day. To be sure, Phil, being n late
riser, had never discovered this self-evident
fact; but the view from his window was so
enchanting that he overcame his sleepy in
clinntion for once, and yielded to its entic-
ing charm. Making a hasty toilet, he de-
scended the broad staircase, and was soon
.traversing the smooth, green avn that
sloped from the veranda down to the rivers
edge.
II wonder where the boat house is ?" he
thought !" wouldn't mind taking n row
down the river. Just to give me an appetite
for breakfast, it is so divinely cool and pleas
mt"
Suddenly a stifed exclamation burst from
hta ltDo anw love - - Nrr,lI o 70 Al---
isn't the fair charmer herself, looking as
cool md fresh as a morning-glory. Phil, my
boy, congratulate yourself; you're in luck. "
And sure enough there was Nell. rowing
up the river, managing her tiny boat with
all the dexterity of an old craftsman, and
Phil could not help admiring the dainty
hands as they made the oars fly over the
water with such long, even strokes.
She did not notice him, however, until
the boat was close to shore, and then look
ing up, she espied him standing on the
bank.
why, good morning, Monsieur Lam
bert" she said gaily. 'sIsi it possible that
you are such an early riser? l think
shall have to change my opinion of you
speedily"
pray, is it good, bad, or Indifferent ? '
he asked, with a suppressed smile, coming
to her assistance as the boat landed.
"That's for me to know, and you to find
out, was the saucy %rejoinder, as she re-
fused his proffered hand and sprang lightly
out of the boat, You know our sex is
privileged" isE
Certainly" answered Phil. gallantly,
wondering all the time if this self possessed
little damsel, clad in her armot Of serene
smiles and bewitching glanccs, could real
ly be the same girl who had said such
naughty things about him the night before.
Really" thought he, she is either a
born coquette, who cannot resist the temp
tation of flirting with every man she sees,
whether she likes him or not, or else she is
a little hypocrite-like all the rest Of her
sex / suppose, " he added with q sigh.
Phil stood with his hand on the prov of
the boat, looking her straight in the face
with u puzzled air. as these thoughts pass.
ed through his mind.
"a penny for your thoughts" said Nell
archly, flushing a little under his liked gaze.
" Rather impertinent, / should think, on
short acquaintance was her inward com.
ment, but not a trace of this thought mp.
peared upon her smiling face.
Excuse me, they are very valuable since
they concern you" laughed Phil. recovering
his self-possession. Thanks" said Mel
laconically, turning her head away with !,
gesture of annoyance.
She hated fiattery. and she detected Q
faint tinge Of irony in his ready answer.
Phil did not notice it, for at that moment
he was busily engaged in fastening the skif
more securely. When he turned around, he
face again wore its usual expression. She
had seated herself on the grass and wa,