Little Falls transcript., 1880-07-02


Aush crimsoned his handsome face and
Ihis. dark eyes flashed with an. indiRnan,
Flight. zzs-...I + - -.
81 beg your pardonl'' he said, with
tceremonious politeness s.Of course it i,
mistake on my part. sss Fssss <s.s 4 e-sz.
II suppose it was" said Nellie, de
murely. : ..,7' = =
ssI-I mistook. you for another nudthElt, y h,
say, both embarrassed and, anPrg.
MWas that my faulta,' she returned. !
"But you-you certainly allowed m,
To- rest under the delusion. = y
That was for fun"
>"Funa" s:-*s.5. - j.. = Il ,--.. ....
Perhaps I asiwrong.s s IndeedtI nov
rather think was," said Nellie, color.
Ing beneath his gave. '.But as ineithe,
Of Us shall ever mention this adventure
lsuppose no harm is done,'' she added
coolly. r. ssssg9i ss3ss .sss . @sl
he regarded her an instant with {
strange, undecided oxpresaion. \
81 beg your pardon Lam keeping -yor
In the rain, he said. "Good evening p
And lifting his hat with icy politeness
he walked away ~st
Nellie, as she entered the house, wa:
met BY her Oldest sisters with shove,
Of questions a. to who was that elegant
looking man, howshe had met him, what
he had said. ,',' *s1'a'-S''
Unlike herself in general, she returned
brief replies, and escaping to her OWL
room threw aside herwaterproof, changed
her dress, and seating herself before the
ttre, gazed absently into the glowing en-.
bers. Presently she laughed, then bit
her lips with vexed expression, and
finally began to ery..~s~ = ~zser
II wonder what makes mo do such sill
~, unlady-like things2., she thought. II
am always getting into some ridiculous
scrape or other: What an, opinion he
must have Of met, I shall be really
ashamed to meet hun again, as suppose
l must, If he is Mr.. Gray" "'
Then her mood changed. ~ -
II don't care. He may be as dignified
as he pleases, but he shall never see that
l trouble myself even to remember this
ridiculous whlk, and the horrid umbrella p
Presently another change came over
her. e,.. ,...
"Poor tellowl L can't help plying
him, for fear this has been merely re-
hearsal Of the real act. Why, Nellie Arch
er was in the parlor with Captain Lloyd
nearly two hours this afternoon, when she
must have known from that letter of
Charles coming. wonder if she ever
said to the captain-or to young DR..
Bliss-what she said to her cousin3 Poor
fellow And Nellie has been showing
his letters to all the girlsl She could
not have done SO had she loved him.,
Nellie Caldwell was correct in her an
ticipation of again meeting with Mr..
Charles Gray. The society of the little
town was very gay; and what with church
fairs and parties, and other social amuse-
ments, it WAS impossible that these two
should not be thrown together. '~t''~>
Nellie bsushed, despite her utmost en-
deavors tD look UNCONSCIOUS, when Mr..
Gray WAS presented o1her; but the gen
tleman was so cool and composed that
she actually doubted whether he had
recognized her.
He conversed with her a little, danced
with her once, and, as she observed, was
chiefly interested in watching Nellie
Archer and Captain Lloyd. And Miss
Archer, proud to show off her handsome
cousin, and her own influence over MIN,
treated him very sweetly in the intervals
of her flirting with other admirers.
Some: weeks glided by, in which the
acquaintance between Miss Nellie Cald-
we'll and Mr.. Gray preceptibly assumed
a more agreeable character.
His cool poiteness and her equally
cool indifference, gradually thawed, and
each vaguely felt that, despite their mu-
tual efforts to keep apart, there was
something which mysteriouslv drew
them together.
Nellie attributed this to her sympathy
with his disappointment in regard to his
cousin, and often expressed the wish that
the latter would love him, as she was
sure he deserved, and make him happy
by marrying him. 1t was inexplicable
to her that any girl could prefer, Captain
Lloyd to Mr.. Charlie Gray.
Neither had ever but once alluded to
their first meeting. ~.- ......
Coming cut of church one evening,
Miss Archer said:
"Nellie, what have you been doing
with yourself all this terribly rainy week7
Isn't such weather enough to give any
one the bluess''
sob, no." she answered cheertuily. II
like rainy days at home, and can always
find something to amuse me-
"Even in the rain ltself,'' said Mr..
Gray, on her other side. "What an en-
vlable disposition is yours, Miss Cald-
well, to be able to find fun in such a
|situation.,' 49,. ,,
Nellie looked up quickly, and met the
half-laughing glance bent upon her. In
stead Ut answering gayly back, as was
her wont, she colored and her eyes filled
with tears
"Mr. Gray" she said, as Miss Archie,
fell behind with Captain Lloyd. II want
you to promise to forget that hateful
walk IN the rain, and never again allude
to IT." :
II am not sure that could keep such
4 promise-at least the first part"
''That means that you haven't forgiven
me-"
81 really do not feel as though l had
anything to forgive or you to ask pardon
for" he said pleasantly.
I was very silly and wrong, but you
see | lave grown older and wiser slnce,''
said Nellie, demurely.
"If the increase Of wisdom is in pro-
portion to that of age he commenced,
but was interrupted by Miss Archer.
"Nellie, are you and Charlie firting2
or what is that mysterious whispering
about?"
I'VE are not Airting," returned Mr..
Gray, cooliy. "Miss Caldwell does not
f1irt, i have observed; and for myself you
know / detest IT, ,.-.
II know you have some old-fashioned
and absurd notions" retorted his cousin,
laughing. "One must be very prudish and
old-maidish to meet your ideal of perfect
womanklnd, Charlie
And again Nellie Caldwell felt con-
sclence.stricken. remembering that un-
fortunate walk, and the impression
which her conduct must have produced