Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-08-08
NELLIE'S HERO.

In your cradles, Qear, anu even GneL
there was jesting agreement, thai
when you grow up, you should be mar
ried. And surely you might do worse
than to marry Mr.. Allan Trevor"
Nurse Gleason, who was just like 8
mother to motherless Nellie Huntley
finished pouring the jelly she was max
ing into gorgeous mould, united hel
white cap strings, and taking off her
spectacles, rubbed them energetically.
"And now, Miss Nellie, do get down
from that table-there's q dear child
and go dress for the company. Your
father will be waiting, and right angry
he'll be, too. Come, dearie."
"No,r won't"
The diminutive figure perched on the
kitchen table, swung it's little slipper
ed feet back and forth; and pushing a
cloud of yellow hair from 8 rosy face,
looked up into the honest countenance
of the oldwoman with a pair of mis-
chievous eyes.
'No, Nursie that's darling-don't
make me go. I've been shut up in that
horrid boarding school for two years
now that I'm home for good, don't make
martyr of me. I can't bear tin
deed / can't. And ,cOa'tr" she added,
soto vOce.
"But Miss Nellie" continued the
good woman, a smile beginning to creep
around the corners of her mouth, in
spite of her efforts to look grave, ''you
forget that you're young lady now
seventeen, remember-and since your
poor, dear mother died, you, as the only
child, are expected to fill her place, and
assist your papa in his hospitality. So
many nice gentlemen, too, dearie, and
Mr.. Allan Trevor among the rest"
Il hate .him-bah! Let old Miss
Renshaw take my place. She's my
chdparoae, and it's her duty. Besides,
I'm sick and don't feel like going near
the drawing room to day. It's heap
nicer down here with you, Nursie, than
to be acting prim and stiff up stairs /;
not allowed for moment to forget po-
sition, family, and all that sort of stuff.
See herew 80 = ~.
She sprang lightly from her high and
undignified seat, and began pacing up
and down the wide old kitchen-so cool
and beautifully clean--her lovely head
he'd aloft, with mock dignity, a simper
ing smile on her face, and a mincing
gait-yery ridiculous. $50 3
She paused in front of a mould OF
jelly-clear and transparent-and arm
ing herself with spoon, confscated q
generous portion. .-a- 800 ~.
"Queen in the kitchen, eating bread
and honey" she sang, gaily.
81 thought you were SICK" dryly re-
marked Nurse Gleason, her eyes bent
lovingly, all the time, upon the fail face
Of her darling. "a. "a
sOh, so was until found that you
were not going to drive me away! 1t
was positive cure, nurse"
She turned suddenly as she spoke,
and with dextrous movement, flirted
the white cap from the decorous old
woman's head, and perched ut Lightly
on her oHH. Z Hhen, Selling the specta-
cles, She placed them upon her own
straight and rather. diminutive nose
and then, deaf to Nurse Gleason ,re5
monstrancesashe, folded her arms Sc
dately upon her bosom, and walked to-
wards the door, just as it opened from
withoetanda tall form stood upon the
thresholdAMr.zAl Allan Treyer!
81 beg your pardon" he began, has
tily. 81 mistook the way. Like Paul
Pry, 1hopeI / don't intrudes Z -
mo" responded Nellie, saucily, and
trife coolly--not any more than be
did, ol A3al'ss1 q
A flush shot acress the clear, dark
cheeks Of the Intruder hrD ss..p s'l 81
Hereplaced the, hat which be -dofed,
and with low bow disappeared. ,i9do-
'AEissoKellie Huntly, Eve mind to
be downright angry with you 4ex-
claimed Nurse Gleason, as the door
closed. l"The very incest young man.
in the country, and the one your papa
wishes youo to be especially gracious
to-" I9miE9s vs9elf q div riff es-i J
That's just it, , Nurse; 1 don't like
nice young men. They are so piim,l
and stiff, and goody. AsmaR must be
gay and dashing, brave and chiyalrous
to win my esteem. I'm in earnest, j
assure you; and i never shall marry a
man. who has not proved his worthiness
by some deed of daring--something to-
establish his claim to the title of MAN
hood. In short, he must be hero, and
accomplish something noble before ]
care a apicayune for him. Did Allan
Trevor ever do a brave deed? If so,
the world has kept very silent concern
ing it, or his noble actions must have
been performed in the darkness, and
have never yet been illuminated or elm
mated, either" f
She paused. to draw long breath,
and restore the cd woman s cap to its
legitimate resting-place. Had she not
been thus preoccupied, her quick eyes
might have caught glimpse, through
the wide-open window, of tall form
and dark, handsome face, whose own
er had paused to light cigar, and had
overheard every word the little witch
had uttered.
Allan Trevor smiled to himself-al
queer little smile it was too, and meant
yolumes-and putting leisurely at his
cigar, strolled away.
A few days afterwards, party set
of from Huntley Place, for the purpose
of passing the day among some old
ruins, which were considered pictur
esque, and qnite the thing for excur-
sionists to do They were going On
horseback, and a merry time was an
ticipated. :. s. lie -"
They reached the ancient ruins, found
them. "all that fancy painted them"
strolIed around the garden connected
with the old buildings, played croquet
and Hirted, and finally sat down to din