The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-14
HIDING A LOVER.

ihnlueu huuV, ~ pilui WellsucSefftu ihuy
of about forty, put on severe look.
"Why, auntie, what have / done
nowY' querried Nettie, raising her eyes
In well-simulated surprise.
" You know too well, fear, child.
You will persist In trying every means
In your power to attract the attention of
Ned Bartram, and really your fiirtations
with him are too much for me to endure
calmly. feel that must demonstrate,
and try to awaken within you a sense
of modesty, which now seems deadened,
or at least sleeping. Now, when ] was
young"
"When you were young Why aunt,
1 hope you don It consider yourself old
| DON'T" cried Nettie, with animation,
hoping to detract her aunt's attention
from herself by little delicate flattery.
Why-ahem-no, child, not old, of
course, but l have passed the age of
gushing schoolgirlhood, and can now,
from my twenty-eight years of expert
ence, judge more clearly of what is
proper for young girl like you"
g 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 mischiev-
ously.
"Beaux,' cried Miss Elmer, and her
face expressed all the horror she felt.
"Why, my dear, never thought of
such thing AS told you before, the
ideas of the young girls of twen-ahem!
of 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 most modest, retiring
girl, using your greatest endeavors to
captivate this young man. It's shame
full, positive shameful. blush for
you"
"No, don't; Ill 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 it was not, as the good lady imagin-
ed, with modification, but-suppressed
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 ?''
Perfectly. And though say it who
shouldn't, must say that 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,
managed to stifle her mirth until she
reached her own room, where it found
vent in clear, melodious thrill of
laughter, as she said:
All, aunt, you think l don't know
about your demure Irritation with old
Doctor Allen of your occasional necces-
sary visits to his Office for medical aid,
and your unexpected encounters in the
street-ha, ha but L do. And it will
be my own fault if don't marry Ned
Bartram, in spite of your shocked sense
of propriety."
Its all nonsence, my dear boy, sheer
nonsence, the idea of you, who are
hardly 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. 1
should think am almost old enough to
be looking out for wife, that is, if 1
ever intend to have one, which L most
certainly do"
Pshaw J ten years hence will be time
enough. No man ought to marry be-
fore he is thirty-five; he don't know his
own mind"
But, uncle" expostulated Ned, "who
is going to wait all those years for a
fellowY Certainly not pretty Nettie
Danforth Why she has dozen lovers
already, and although L am happy to
say that she has discarded them all in
my favor, l could not think of presum-
ing to ask her to wait dozen years for
me.n
why, there are other young ladies
in the world besides Nettie Danforth,
my boy. To be sure, she is pretty, and,
presume, is as sensible as most young
girls; but she is altogether too young.
Now, if 1 were to select, should choose
some sensible woman of mature age-say
ahout auch a reraon aa Miss Nattia,a
aunt, Miss Araminta Elmer. All, my
boy, theresa sensible girl for you. She'd
make first rate wife,