Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-04-27
Hiding a Lover.

y
conduct, Nettie; it is most indecorous,'
and the speaker, Nettie Danforth's
maiden aunt, prim, well deserved lady
of about forty, put on a severe look.
why, auntie, what have done now?'
queried Nettie, raising her eyes in we'll
simulated surprise.
You know too we'll, 1 fear, child
You will persist in trying every means
in your power to attract the attention of
Ned Bartram, and really your flirtations
with him are too much for me to endure
calmly. feel that must demonstrate,
and try to awaken within you sense of
modesty, which now seems deadened,
or at least sleeping. Now. when was
When you were young! Why aunt,
I hope you don't consider yourself old
l DON'T cried Nettie, with animation,
hoping to detract her aunt's attention
from herself by little delicate dattery.
'Why-ahem-no, child, not old, of
course, but 1 have passed the age of
gushing schoolgirlhood, and can now,
from my twenty-eight years of expert
ence, Judge more clearly of what is pro-
per for young girl like you
TO be sure, aunt, I acknowledge that
you know what is best; but you speak
of your experience; do tell me about
your old beaux,' urged Nettie mischiev'
ously.
'Beapx,' cried Miss Elmer, and her
face expressed ali the harror she felt
why, my dear, never thought of such
thingi As told you before, the ideas
of the young girls oftwen-ahem !-of a
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 capti-
vste this young man. Its shameful:
positively shameful. blush for you" !"
NO. don't; I'll do it for myself
Nettie covered Der face with her hands,
and Miss Elmer obsefvad, Yith great
satisfaction, that her nlece'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 I say it who
will find little to blush for if you follow
in my footsteps
And the lady lifted her hand rather
proudly while Nettie, having given and
received the kiss of reconciliation, man
aged to stifle her mirth until she reach-
ed her own room, where it found vent
in clear, melodious thrill of laughter,
as she said:
'Ah, aunt, you think don't know a
bout your demure filtration with old
Doctor Allen of your occasional neces-
sary visits to his office for medical aid,
and your unexpected encounters in the
street-ha, ha !-but do. And it will
be my own fault if don't marry Ned
Bartram, in spite of your shocked sense
of propriety."
It's all nonsense, my dear boy, sheer
nonsense, 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-
ration.
"Why, uncle, I'm twenty-five. l
should think I am almost old enough
to be looking out for wife, that Is, II
I ever intend to have one, which l most
certainly do"
. "Pshaw! ten years hence will bs time
enough. No man ought to marry be-
fore be is thirty-five; he don't know
his own mind"
"But, UNCLE" espostulated Ned, "who
is going to wait all thoss years for fel
low? Certainly not pretty Nettie Han-
forth. Why she has q dozen lovers all
ready. and all though / am happy to
saw that she has discarded them all in
nv favor, could not think of presum-
ing to ask her to wait dozen years
for me-"
s'Why, there are other young ladies
in the world besides Nett1e DanfOrth,
nv boy. To be sure she is pretty, and,
I presume, is as sensible as most young
girls: but she is altogether too young
Now, if I were to select, l should
choose some sensible woman of mature
age-say about such a person q, Miss
Nettie's aunt, Miss Araminta Elmer
All, nv boy, there's sensible girl for
you. She'd make first rate wife
ugh! she's forty if she's q day. NUT
tered Ned to himself in disgust. =,
Then turning to his uncle, he SAID
smilingly:
IF you have such fine opinion OF the
lady why don't you marry her J ourself'
Uncle Allen ;.
IL marry!' and the old gentleman's
face became purple as he hustled excit-
edly about the room, with hands clasp
ed under his coat tails. :.
Chow absurd! Ned, you know don't
believe in such nonsense. I've iived
fifty forty years without
thinking of it, and it's not likely L am
going to make fool of myself now. Is
it? Is it, say, sir?' demanded he, IN
dignantly, halting his chubby little per-
son before his amused nephew.
We'll, my dear uncle, you see we dls,
agree SO upon that subject. Now shoula
call it anything but making a fool OF
yourself if you were to marry and real
ly, sir, agree with yog that Miss FL
mer is fine old GIRL said Ned MIS-
chievously.
'Old, sir, old? Why. Ned, my boy,
what are you talking about? she tells
IL mean I have been told, that MISS
Elmer is % or so; just the proper age 1or
matrimony.'
We'll, if yop say SO, why, OF course 1 l
am bound to believe ypu but really, y
any one had asked my opinion. snoHlo
have added ten or twelve years more
but aDV how. uncle. take my ADVICE ana