The daily gazette., 1879-05-05
FIRST EDITION.
NELL's RUsE.
: By ROSE MAYHEM.

that nave broken the Ice, you VIII please
excuse me for few minutes, as l see /
am wanted" a
And the speaker, Harry johnson, who
was q general fayorite, turned smilingly
away, and crossed the ballroom to where
group Of ladies stood gayly beckoning
him with their fans. '.'. y
"Happy to make your acquaintance,
Mr.. Cole, mlumured Mr.. Asher, In q low,
musical voice, ..,
"The pleasure is mutual, assure you,'
politely replied the gentleman addressed;
'besides, it is an odd conceit of mine, but
you seem to me like. an old friend. Your
have face Is strangely familiar" 81
'Indeed, no; think we have never
me before. am a strange in this part of
the country. But come, ifyou do not in
tend to join the dancers, let us go to the
piazza where we can watch them, and
. quiet chat?" u {,ysf..i.~f..''4
"Agreed. Dancing is bore, and ci-
gar is better companion than lady.
Do you smoker" I. r xxx
And as they seated themselves, Cole
produced cigars, and offered one to his
companion.
The latter hesitated moment, as If un-
certain whether to accept or decline the
the invitation, then replied:
"Thank you, do not smoke at pres
ent. My physician forbids 1t. am in
rather delicate health"
$50 should judge; you look anything
but strong, and your complexion is as pale
as a girls" +lH ash
''Indeed!' and the speakers voice soun-
ded rather cOntemptuous. sDo you know
that consider that rather compliment?'
''Umph! Our opinions differ somewhat
on that subject, my friend. Now don't
believe that women are SO much like an
gels as some people would make them
out to be-" replied Cole. aa
tener flushed, and exclaimed in astonish-
| ment: ..
"Uou cannot have mother and sis
tiers, Mr.. Cole, or you would not possess
such an opinion"
"Sisters no--a mother, yes-in Heaven.
| She was an angel on earth, Mr.. Asher, If
ever there was one, but the girls of to-day
are not like her. They are but butterflies
and care for nothing but flirtations and
| fashions" sl.
81 hope and believe that YOU are mis-
taken sir. Perhaps you have not sought
for anything deeper than what firta-
ton will reveal; and if so, how can you
blame the ladies for playing the Roland
to your Oliver?'
| "Well, every one to his liking, of course;
the world is made up of opposites. But
i freely confess that look upon the
ladies as merely pleasant amusement for
| an idle hour-nothing more. Why, man,
all they want is fiattery. But at present
/ have no time to waste on them, for !
have got my hands full in subjugating
the proudest beauty of them all-haughty,
lovely Nell Atherton. wish you could
see her, really"
His listener smiled oddly, but replied
with eagerness.
81 wish l could. Can you not point
her out to me?"
"Oh, she's not here to night; she is of
on weeks visit to some relatives. II
she were present, l should not be here,
you may be sure. No, indeedl Pretty
Nell accepts no lukewarm attentions,
can tell you; she would chain me to her
side the whole evening. But then she's
fond of me, there's no mistake about
that" us
"You think SOP" and Ted Asher's lip
curled.
| "Think! Why, my dear boy, I'm sure
of it. I'd like to see the girl who could
withstand me-ha, ha! Why, she cannoi
bear to have me out of her sight, tel
you, Asher"
"Well, and that surely must be pleas
ant. l cannot imagine anything more
agreeable than to be with those We
love-"
''Ha, ha, hap laughed Cole, in great
amusement; "but l don't love her, you
see. l have made wager that l car
bring her to my arms, and l will do II
too. I'm sure Of my game but as fol
love, pshaw IL don't believe in it."
"But perhaps she does" replied Asher
meaningly.
"Well, what of thatP Girls have nj
hearts to break, or If they have, a new
silk dress will speedily cure the worst
case of heart-ache ever known.
"But in my case, don't but know
what shall marry Nell. 4
"She loves me, and should be rather
proud of such handsome wife; besides
suppose ! should be bitterly envied by
the village gallants for carrying off the
prize" Gill
''But l should not marry her for love,
mind you, but out Of consideration fol
her fathers money bags-ha, hap
"Really, your ideas are peculiar, Mr.
Cole, and should like to converse fur
ther with you upon the subject, but just
at present that is impossible, as Harry
and l have an engagement which he
seems to have forgotten; so l must re.
mind him, and therefore bid you good
night"
And, bowing, he entered the parlor
and shortly after his late companion saw
him issue therefrom arm in arm will
Harry johnson, and together they walk
ed quickly out of sight.
"Oh, Harry, cousin Harry. shall GER
J tainly die, l know l shall. 1t was too
ridiculous !" cried an Enthusiastically girl
ish voice.
And again clear ripping laugh burs
from the lips of the one who was SO late
ly introduced as Ted Asher.
: "Dont Nell, for goodness sake ! /
YOU predict such dreadful things, III
never again consent to aid you in an,
more of your harum-scarum freaks. Blu
by all that is laughable, how Cole viii
be cut up when he discovers the identit,
of nv old friend Asher!''
And the young man Joined in the girl
infectious mirth.
oAnd to think" cried Nell, still laugh
ing, "of the miserable creatures boast