The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-09-24
NINE STARS.
FANNIE IsABELLE sHERRIcK.

NA~Ab nAoA bAA Will utE COQuELli9Q airs anu
piquant face was acquiring such a power
over him in such a short space Of time-this
saucy damsel who hated him and thought he
was conceited ? 1t must have been from
the very oddness OF the thing, for Phil had
hitherto considered himself irresistible, and
perhaps this was the reason, too, why he
could not keep his eyes away from her. as
she knelt there under the trees apparently
unconscious of his very existence. For the
first time in his life Phil encountered some
one who ignored his attractions and con-
sidered him " simply horrid, " and the SEN
saron was SO novel that he really enjoyed
it. e9ff
Dear me thought Nell, I wonder if he is
going to stand there all day leaning against
that tree staring at me and twirling that
petted mustache. / wish Stella could see
him now. Shed think he was decidedly
entertaining, l am sure. Well, il he can
stand it 1 think / can, and Nell pursed up
her rosy mouth and threw her hat upon the
grass with q defiant toss Of her maynard
head.
But still he continued standing there with
a cool nonchalance that was perfectly ems
perating.
Really l cannot endure it a moment
longer" Thought Nell, a few minutes after.
= lpresume he thinks he is perfectly cap
tivating, standing there a Ia Booth. with
his arms folded and his dark eyes rolling
h-eavenward. But I don't&" :.
With q sudden bound she rose to her feet
and picking up the wide brimmed hat she
placed it on her head. Turning round she
looked ut Phil with an air of the most dis
tant politeness, almost haughtiness, and said
shortly, " Mr.. Lambert, excuse me-"
With a cool nod she gathered up her skirts
and swept past him. M
"Whew I" Phil gave a prolonged whistle
us ne glanced after her retreating form,
with q puzzled air. Phil, my dear boy,
what have you been doing to incur her
malesty's displeasure, that you are dismissed
IN this summary manner +? But Just wait, my
spoiled darling, revenge is sweet and Phil
INDUCED in a triumphant laugh that would
have tempted Nell to have boxed his ears
soundly could she have heard it. lIeafa
shortly afterwards they met in the break
fast room. and as fate would have it, the
fair hostess placed them side by side.
=! know you will be congenial," whis-
pered Nettie in Nell's ears.
" very!" thought Nell, as she looked
defantly Mt her handsome neighbor.
But there was no help for it, and there
lore when Phil addressed her in his politest
and most engaging manner, she was forced
to respond at least politely, and they were
soon engaged in a bantering conversation.
Nell, said Stella, shortly after break
last, it seems to me that you have over
come your aversion to Phil Lambert yerv
readily. Is it possible that you, too, will
succumb to his destinations ?"
The question nettled Nell. With a shrup
OF her shoulders she answered. coolly,.I
tolerate him for Nettie's sake" But her
face told a different tale, for in spite of her
self she was beginning to like him Just n
little. -
Almost irresistibly she found herself
irawn into his society. As he was always
II the party, she could not ignore him COM
iletely without exciting comment, and
she was forced to accept in q
measure the attentions he was kind enough
to offer. Phil exerted his powers of pleas
ing, and though he had many faults he was
not without virtues too, and quick-eyed Nell
was not slow to perceive them. Never
theless she treated him sometimes with q
GOODNESS that was perfectly exasperating.
"The harder to win, the dearer the prize"
said Phil philosophically to himself n day
or two afterwards, as Nell coolly declined
his attentions and bestowed her smiles upon
Ned Smith, who was Phils- particular
abomination.
A few evenings later, after Nell and Stella
had retired to their room, Nell again threw
open tho window that opened upon the bal
cony and leaned out, saying with q laugh,
" must not forget to count my stars, and
I do hope, y she added solemnly,' q that Phil
Lambert won't be -"
"Nell, Nell, hush," cried Stella in a sup
pressed voice.
"Good gracious, Stell | how you fright
ened me. What is the matter ?" said Nell,
turning around quickly, just as Stella's fair
hand was laid over her mouth.
"Only this" whispered Stella 81 have
made a discovery"
"A iscovery-what? Is the room haunt
ed " asked Nell, breathlessly Harmed at
her friends solemn tones.
Nonsense. nc" answered Stella, smiling
at Nel's wide-opened eyes. Only this,
Phil Lambertis room adjoins ours, and opens
out upon this balcony"
Nell jumped from her seat with n horri-
fed expression that almost threw Stella into
commissions of laughter.
"Stella, you mean thing, stop laughing.
Oh, dear what shall I do. OF course he
heard every word I said the other night
and oh my what will he think of me u
Even in the moonlight Stella could detect
the deep crimson that dyed Nell's cheeks,
and the tears of pain and modification that
stood in her eyes. tt
"What do you care" said Stella mock
iugly,'' what he thinks, when you hate him,
and think he is so very disagreeable ?"
Nell tossed back her head, and sat dow
again. "Yes, it was true Of course she
hated him when he was SO conceited and over
bearing-and-and-" kind and generous
her rebellious heart would insist on adding.
OF course she despised him when she was in
debted to him for 80 much of the pleasure
she had enjoyed in the past few days.
With a sigh she thought of the good care he
had taken of her in the storm the day before,
when they had been caught in the woods,
and Ned Smith had coolly taken to his heels,
leaving her to get to shelter as best she
might. She remembered how carefully he
had wrapped her in shawlst the night before
when they had taken n sail down the river,
and the air had turned so chilly. How
kindly he had taken her occasional ~coolnes,
and how g~ood-naturedly he had humored
her Maynard caprices and childish whims
Only this very morning he had rode all thu
way to town in the hot sun merely to ge
her a skein of silk with which to finish he
embroidery.
All these things rushed across her mini
and overwhelmed her with humiliation an,
dismny, for in what manner had she repai,
his kindness?
She could not endure the thought, bu
rising hastily she lit the lamp, unheedinl
Stella's mocking, inquiring eyes, hoping Il
Danish these disagreeable thoughts from he
mind. but almost in vain
Ito be C~0n'inued.)
CHAs. EMERSON. GEO. II. WEST