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

nppeals OF the new preacher stirred her to
considering the stewardship entrusted to her
are.
She had no thought of pleasing the min
ster when she took up share Of parish
duty, swed for the Dorcas ani visited the
sick and poor. Admiration and attention
had been offered her too freely for her to
dream of courting them, but, impulsive in
everything, she threw the whole force of
her ardent, generous nature into the new
path of duty Mr.. Martins eloquence had
pointed out to her.
A large proportion of her income was
drawn from large cotton factory in Nor
ton, and among the operatives there Nettie
soon found employment for leisure hours,
and avenues for all spare dollars. 1t was in
the spring that Mr.. Martin came to Morton,
and in the summer contagious fever broke
out in the settlement where the mill opera
tiyes dwelt in small cottages and large,
crowded tenement-houses. 1t was impossi-
Bile for Nettie to enter into any undertaking
with lukewarm interest, and once engaged
in trying to aid the sufferers, she devoted
time and money with an unsparins hand.
Her own glorious health bore her through
the dangers of contagion nnharmed, and her
cheerful, bnoyant disposition was like sun
light among the sick children, who were her
especial care. Yet when the death-flm
gathered over childish eyes, no voice could
soften the dark passage to the grave with
sweeter, more earnest words of comfort and
promise than Nettie's.
Seeing her thus, through the long weeks
of toll and danger, asking her aid where
money was urgently needed, finding her at
her post where the air was thick with fever
and the danger frightfully near, Alfred
Martin grew to consider the beautiful dark
face as fairer than his ideal of angels. and
to think there was no music like Netties
clear, melodious voice. By the magnetism
OF his own true, earnest words, he had led
her from frivolity to the seeking of higher
aims and duties, and by the power of the
strong love wakened in his own heart he
drew hers into his keeping. She loved, as
she followed all other impulses, with fer
vent and deep affection, while she was daily
nobler pursuits of her life.
Mrs. Wheaton, meek little widow, was
only too glad to think of her child's future
lntrusted to the care of truly good man,
as she believed the Rev. Alfred Martin to be.
and gave glad consent to an engagement
And while autumn winds were sweeping the
fever from Morton, Nettie was learning the
sweet lesson of loving submission to
stronger will, was conquering many life,
long setishness and folly to please her be-
trothed, and believing that she had lost all
relish for the frivolities of the past.
Had the marriage followed at once upon
the wooing, think there would have beeu
happiness at the parsonage, where the infu-
ence OF the earnest minister would have
deepened till Nettie no longer needed any
earthly guide or support But Mrs. Whca-
ton decided that the BRIDES housSeau must
come from B, and when the new year
opened Nettie went to her Aunt Marys tu
remain till milliners and dressmakers com
pleted her outfit. The wedding-day was to
be in March, and Willie Aunt Mary shopped
and stitched Nettie took farewell of the gay
eties of her city home. She did not mean
to be inconsistent, or to break any of the
good resolutions of the past few months,
but old friends welcomed her with festive
gatherings, and before she realized it she
was dancing, flirting and fitting from party
to party with all her old zest and enjoy
ment.
Then, just for amusement, she allowed
the new lion, Count Lodoski, to pay her
marked attention; She told herself she was
'afe in her happy engagement, and that he
was too much a man of society to have any
serious intentions. 1t was mere Irritation
for both of fthem, and it served to pass away
time to listen to the stories Of the Polish
exile, to waltz with him, drive, walk, ride
with him, and yet, with a woman's skill
and a coquette's ingenuity, keep him from
any compromising offer that would end the
amusement.
The term of Nettie's visit was nearly over,
when the entertainment at Mrs. Hunt's +
called together large number of her old
friends and new admirers Count Lodoski
was more ardent than usual in his express
sions of admiration, and Nettie was uncom.
fortaby conscious that he was presumins
upon the encouragement he had received
The evening passed quickly, and it was neal
supper-time when the count, with a court.
eous bow, offered his arm to Nettie for a
rtron thrnn oh +ho onnrnr,n tor,r s,,hnno !,