Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-11-10
Hiding a Lover.

81 am really quite shocked at your
conduct, Nettie; it is most indecorus, -
and the speaker, Nettie Danforth's mai
den aunt, prim, well-deserved lady of
about forty, put on severe look.
"Why, auntie, what have | done
now ?" querried Nettie, raising her eyes
in welLsimulated surprise.
"You know too we'll, 1 fear, child.
You will persist in trying every means
in your power to attract the attention of
Ned Bartram, and really your firtations
with him are too much for me to endure
calmly. l feel that must demonstrate,
and try to awaken within you a sense of
modesty, which now seems deadened, or
at least sleeping. Now, when 7 was
"When you were young! Why aunt,
| hope you don't consider yourself old
| don't" cried Nettie, with animation
hoping to detract her aunt's attention
from herself by little delicate fattery.
"Why-ahem-no, child, not old, of
course, but have passed the age of gush-
ing schoolgirlhood, and can now, from
my twenty-eight years of experience,
judge more clearly of what is proper for
young girl like you
"To be sure, aunt, acknowledge that
you know what is best; but you speak
of your experience do tell me about
your old beaux," urged Nettie mlschiev-
ously.
"Beaux," cried Miss Elmer, and her
face expressed all the horror she felt.
"WhY, my dear, never thought of such
a thing AS told you before. the ideas
of the young girls of twen-ahem of
a few years ago were not all bent on
such things. Yet there are you who,
with the examples that have been set
you, should be a modest, retiring girl,
using your greatest endeavors to capti-
vate this young man. It's shameful,
positive shameful. l blush for you"
"No, don't; I'll do it for myself"
Nettie covered her face with her hands,
and Miss Elmer observed, with great
satisfaction, that her niece's face was
quite crimson; but alas ! we are sorry to
say 1t was not, as the good lady imag-
ined, with modification, but-suppress-
ed laughter.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, aunt, con-
tinued Nettie, after pause of apparent
confusion. I'll promise to follow your
example There, will that satisfy you 9''
Perfectly. And though | say it
who shouldn't, must say that l think
you will find little to blush for if you
follow in my footsteps"
And the lady lifted her head rather
proudly while Nettie. having given and
received the kiss of reconciliation, man
aged to stife her mirth until she reach
ed her own room, where it found vent in
clear, melodious thrill of laughter, as
she said:
"Ah. aunt, you think l don't know
about your demure Irritation with old
Doctor Allen; of your occasional neces-
sary visits to his office for medical aid,
and your unexpected encounters in the
street-ha, ,ha but | do. And it will
be my own fault if [ don't marry Ned
Bartram, in spite of your shocked sense
of propriety."
- -
"It's all nonsense. my dear boy, sheer
nonsense, the idea of you, who are hard,
ly of age, talking of marriage
And Ned Bartram's maternal uncle
grew quite red in the face in his indig.
nation.
"Why, uncle, I'm twenty-five.
should think | am almost old enough tt
be looking out for wife, that is, if
ever intend to have one, which | mos
certainly do"
"Pshaw ten years hence will be tim,
enough. No man ought to marry before
he is thirty-f five; he don't know his owl
mind"
, "But, uncle" expostulated Ned, "wht
is going to wait all those years for (;
fellow? Certainly not pretty Netti'
Danforth. Why she has dozen lover
already, and although l am happy to sa,
that she has discarded them all in m,
favor, | could not think of presuming t
S ask her to wait dozen years for me.
e "Wby, there are other young ladie
in the world besides Nettie Dantorth
T my boy. To be sure, she is pretty, and
e l presume, is as sensible as most youn
girls; but she is altogether too young
q Now, if we're to select, should choos
some sensible woman of mature age
e say about such person as Miss Nettie'
5 aunt, Miss Araminta Elmer. All, m
= boy, there's sensible girl for 20,
o. She'd make first rate wife,
"Ugh she's forty if she's day,
$ muttered Ned to himself'in disgust.
It Then turning to his uncle, he sal
o smilingly:
e "If you have such fine opinion
: the lady why don't you marry her you
" self, Uncle Allen ?"
is "I-I marry !" and the old gentl
mans face became purple as he hustle