Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-06-18
MISGELLkHE GUS.
THE BEST OF PROOF.

cHERE could be no doubt of Nellie Brai>
nard's good looks. The town poet, in
rural rhymes, had compared her complexion
to roses aud lilies, to the immense iisadvan-
tage of those flowers.
Her female acquaintances, in solemn
council assembled, had decided that, while
she was pretty, her beauty was of the doll
order.
If the poets rhymes were not, surely the
ladies decision was, convincive. "Doll ba.
byish" is tho term women always apply to
the beauty of which they are jealous.
To say Nellie was pretty, is to put it
mildly. She was beTitching. Everything
about her vas bewitohing, from her blue
eyes to her little fect-the latter encased in
slippers at sight of which Cinderella would
turn green with envy
Her ways were so distrnctingly bewitchiug
that you wouldn't have blamed any body for
being III love with her.
She was twenty-two-guite alittle woman
but you never would have thought her
more than eighteen.
1t is with regret we admit that she took 10
flirting as naturally duck takes to water.
She couldn't help it. There was not the
slightest intention to be heartess but
those blue eyes Of hers insisted en- looking
tenderly at every body and everything.
When she gszed st tho moon Cyou should
have seen her with the moonlight upon her y
it was with much tenderness as though
she believed there was really n man in it
1t was unfortunate tha. she was possesse of
such eyes, but she really was not TO blame.
1t is unnecessary to state that she was
sponsible for terrible lsceration of the hearts
of the village besu1.
There was none other among them who
had arrived at the desperate condition of Mr..
Frank Grey. The deepest depths of the
deep ocean were mere shoals compared to
the depth of his love.
His appetite had become such a shadow Of
its former self that his landlady contem-
plated his symptoms with mercenary joy
The dimensions of his wash bill were past all
belief. lie was utterly miserable
He saw the "loads,one of his existence"
smile impsrtiAlly on all men. He called
himself fool for being in love with such
firt, and no doubt good many people
agreed with HIN. The state of N6iIie's heart
in regard to him is none of our affair.
Upon brigh, spring day these two were
sitting on creeks bank. Brook or river
would have been more romantic but with
that strict regard for historical fact which
should be at once the ambition and pride Of
all chronicles, we repeat, it was creek.
Frank was fishing, while Nellie was watch>
ing with e1pcctant face the bobbiDg cork.
Our love of historical accuracy again COM
pells us to be unromsntic. Nellie did not
fall into the water. Frank did not jump in.
and seizing her hair, sfter prolonged struggle
bring her safe to shore, and, as a result they
did not get married and live happy ever at-
terward
;a ba L.
where this has not happened It is we'll
known that young ladies are 10 the constant
practice of tumbling in the water, and that
young gentlemen always save them. This
exception only proves the rule. There
would have been no earthly object in Nellie
doing such thing, cs the water was hardly
deep enough to drown kitten
Nellie watched the bobbing cork. eagerly
waiting for the expected bite-that is, Nellie
was eagerly waiting, not the cork.
When it went under, and Frank pulled
out struggling, gasPiDg li:tle fish, for all
her eagerness an expression of sympathy
came into her face.
ugh ~ she exclaimed. "You horrid fell
low What cruel sportI You men are
heartless monsters -
Frank replied, meaningly, looking very
hard at her:
"No more heartless than some women
know"
NelIie's eyebrows arched, and her lips
pointed, as she answered:
'.What horrid remark "
at is horribly true" rejOined he, still
looking very hard at her. They catch
meu's hearts aud throw them away again as
pitiiessly and csrelessly as l do this fish,"
Nellie replied, somewhat earnestly: