The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-13
JUST FOR AMUSEMENT.

"Out again this evening, Nettie?"
Aunt Mary looked up from her sewing at
the bright little brunette, who was unusual
| y brilliant in an evening dress of scarlet
tissue, with white feather, flowers looping
in the over-skirt, and clusters of the same
in the heavy jetty braids of her lustrous
| hair.
81 might as well have good time while
[ can, Aunt Mary" Nette said, twirling
herself round before the long mirror, to ad-
nire her bright skirts, and her tiny, slip
pered feet. "Only two more weeks here,
md must go back to Wheaton, and bury
| myself"
"Nettie"
"There, auntie, don't look so shocked! I
know you think my future husband is per-
lection, and, between ourselves, 50 do I.
But, after all, a. country parsons wife can
not expect much gayety, and | mean to
crowd all can into these two weeks of lib
erty."
w hSiS olS Jou SoiiiS to-HiSIlI!
''ro Mrs. Hunts. Mr.. and Mrs. Rey-
nolds will call for me and Count Lodoski."
"Again' Aunt Mary's voice was stern,
and there was an unusual severity in her
blue eyes. "fou know how strongly
disapprove of your accepting the escort of
Count Lodoski."
"But he is not my escort" said perverse
Nettie. ''Nlr. and Mrs. Reynolds will call
in their carriage. | don't believe in the
count any more than you do, auntie; and
all his pathetic walls over his dear Poland
fall upon most unbelieving ears when con-
fded to me. Notwithstanding, he is most
entertaining company, dresses perfectly, is
handsome as an Adonis, and waltzes like a
dancing-mast.r. So, because he amuses me,
allow him to be my escort during the alb
sence of the Rev. Alfred Martin, who will
hold me soon, fast and firm, in the chains
of matrimony. Hark the carriage is here.
Goodnight don't sit up for me! !"
And wrapping herself in large cloak
ofsoftest white cashmere, Nettie kissed her
aunt, and sped with dancing feet from the
room.
In the carriage she found the young
couple who had offered her the spare seat
there, and she found, also, the Polish count,
who was the last society lion in the city Of
B, and who was decidedly attracted by
the witching beauty of the gay brunette.
Whether it had been whispered in his ear
that she was heiress to Wheaton and five
thousand year, can only be conjectured E;
but he was most devoted adorer, and Net
tie carelessly encouraged his attentions.
She had inherited Wheaton from her
grandfather when she was little child, and
her father being dead, her mother had
shared the guardianship Of the little heiress
with her Uncle Joshua, so that summer g.
Wheaton was followed each year by winter
in rhe city, where school-days were succeed
ed by all the pleasures Of society after Nettie
u passed her eighteenth year. 1t must be
confessed that the bright little beauty was a
oetted, spoiled child-a willful girl, whose
ife had been one long sunshine, with every
whim indulged, every caprice gratfed
Serious thoughts had found little place in
Ter giddy head and pleasure-loving heart
, ill the Rev. Alfred Martin accepted cal
% the village of Morton, near which Whea
on was situated. He was not handsome
nan, not fascinating man in any senst
hat Nettie had ever thought of the word
but he had one gift that embraces many
,thers in truly Christian minister-he wa!
,arnest. To him, the vocation of his lifi
vas one that absorbed heart and brain tt
The exclusion of all effort to be attractive il
! ,ociety, or win worldly praise. Yet thu
+ cry sincerity of this man, fully ten year
er senior, proved a charm Nettie could no
,sist.
From the careless ease of her petted life
, is sermons, like trumpet-calls, reused her t
n , sense of the responsibility resting upon he
vs. woman holding in her hand the gifts o
" erfect health, energy and wealth. Like
utterly she had tasted sweets here an
a a here, thinking but little of the bitter cur
,iyen to the less fortunate, till the earne'