Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-05
Hiding a Lover.

and the speaker, Nettie Daniortn's
maiden aunt, q prlm, well deserved lady
of about forty, put on a severe look.
why, auntiO, what have L done
now y queried Neitie, raising her eyes
in well~simulated surprise.
You know too we'll, l 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. l feel that 1 must demonstrate
and try to awaken within you sense
Of modesty, which now seems deadened
or at least sleeping. Now, when l was
young
when you were young! Why aunt,
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 fattery.
'Why-ahem-no, child, not old OF
course, but 1 have passed the age OF
gushing schoo!girlhoood, 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 besux,' urged Nettie
mlscLievously.
'Beaux,' cried Miss Elmer, and her
face expressed all the horror she felt.-
'Why, my dear, 1 never thought OF such
a thing! As 1 told you before, the
ideas of the young girls Of twen-ahem!
of 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, re-
tirng girl, using your greatest endeavors
to capuvate this young man. It's
shameful, positively shameful. 1 blush
for you.'
No, don't I'll do it for myself
Nettie covered her face with her
hands, and Miss Elmer observed, with
great satisfaction, that her niece's face
was quite crimson ; but alas! we are
sorry to say it was not, as the good
lady imagined, with modification, but
suppressed laughter.
'I'll tell you what I'll do, aunt, con-
tinued Nette, after pause OF apparent
confusion. I'll promise to follow your
example. There, will that satisfy your
Perfectly. And though 1 say it who
should; while Nettie, having given and
received the kiss Of reconciliation, man.
AGED to sti1e her mirth until she reach
ed her own room, where 1t found vent
in clear, melodious thrill OF laughter,
| as she said;
'Ah, aunt, you think don't know a.
bout your demure Irritation with old
Doctor Allen Of your occasional neces'
sary visits 10 his Office for medical aid,
and your unexpected encounters in the
street-ha, ha bat 1 DO. And it will
be my own fault il l don't marry Ned
Barram, in spite of your shocked sense
Of proprlety.'
IFS 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 10 the face in his indlg'
nation.
Why, uncle, I'm twenty-five. |
| should think am almost old enough to
be looking out for a wife, that is; if l
ever intend TO have one, which most
certainly do.'
'Pshaw ten years hence will be time
enough. No man ought to marry be-
fore he is thirty-fve he don't know his
own mind
But, uncle expostulated Ned, who
| is going 10 wait all those years for fel-
low ? Certainly not pretty Nettic Dan.
forth. Why she has dozen lovers all
ready, and all though 1 am happy to
say that she has discarded them all in
| my favor, could not think of presum'
ing to ask her to wait dozen years fol
me-
why, there are other young ladies
| in tie world besides Nettie Danforth,
my boy. To be sure she is pretty, and,
l presume, ls as sensible as most young
girls but she is altogether too young
Now, if l were 10 select, 1 should
choose some sensible woman Of mature
age-say about such person as Mis-;
Netue's aunt, Miss Aramlnta Elmer
All, my boy, there's sensible girl tcr
you. She'd make FIRST rate wife,
Ugh! she's forty if she's a day,
muttered Ned to himself in disgust.
Then turning 10 his uncle, be sait
smilingly:
IF you have such fine opinion o
the lady why don't you marry bel
yourself. Uncle Allens'
II marry = and the old gentleman''
face became purple as be bustled excit'
edly about the room, with hands clasp
ed under his coat tails.
| How labsurd! Ned, you know
ldon't believe in such nonsense. Pv'
lived ffty-6ve-ahsm forty years with
out thinking of it, and IT'S not likely
am going to make fool of myself now
is 1t? Is it, 1 say, sir?' demanded he
Indignantly, halting his ch ubby llttl'
person before his amused nephew.
well, my dear uncle, you see w
disagree so upon that subject. Now
should call it anything but making
fool of yourself il you we're to marry
and really. sir. | agree with you tina