South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-05-07
HIDING A LOVER.

|
and the speaker, Nettie Danforth's mai.
den aunt prin, well-preserved lady of
about forty, put on . severe look.
why. auutie, what have I done nowp'
queried Nettie. raising her eyes in WELL
simulated surprise.
You know too we'll, fear, child
You will pefsist In trying every means
10 your power to attract the attention of
Ned Hartman. and really your fiirtations
with him are too much for me to endure
calmly. feel that must demonstrate,
and try 70 awaken within you q sense
Of modesty, which now seems deade ed,
or at least slesping. Now, when was
young
'When you we're youngl Why aunt.
! hope you don't consider yourself old
~ doa't DRIED Nettie, with animation,
hopinS 20 detrsct her aunt's attention
from herself by little delicate fat
tory.
'why-aheu-no, child, not old, OF
course, but I have passed the age Of
gushing sshoolgirlhood. and can now.
from my twenty-eight years Of expert
ence. judge moro clearly OF what is pro.
per for young girl like you
| TO be sure, aunt, acknowledge that
you know what is best but you speak
OF your experience; do tell me about
your old beaux, urged Nettie mischiev-
ously.
'Bsaux.' cried Miss Elmer, and her
face expressed all the horror she felt.
why, my dear, never thought OF such
thing As told you before. the ideas
OF the young girls OF TWEEN ahem l-of
few years ago were not all bent on
| such things. Yet here arc you, who,
with the examples that have been set
you, should be most modest. retiring
girl, using your greatest endeavors to
| captivate this young man. It's shame.
full. positively shameful. blush for
you
No, don't, I'll do it for myself
Neitie covered her face with her
hands, and Miss Elmer obscrve,l, with
great satifaction, that her niece's face
VAS quite crimson but alas we are
sorry TO say it was not, rs the good lady
imagined. with modification, but-sup-
pressed laughter.
PlI tell you what I'll do, aunt, con-
tinued NeLtie, after pause OF appa-
rent confusion. I'll promise to follow
your example. There, will that satisfy
youi'
Perfectly. And though say it who
shouldn't, l must say that think you
will find little TO blush for il you follow
in my footsteps
And the lady lifted her hand rather
proudly; while Net;ie, having given
and received the kiss Of reconciliation,
managed to stihc her mirth until she
reached her own room, where IL found
vent in clear, melodious thrill Of laugh.
ter, as she said:
'Ah, aunt. you think I don't know a
bout your demure Irritation with old
Doctor Allen; OF your occasional me-
cessary visits to his office for medical
aid. and your unexpected encounters in
the street-ha, In but do. And it
will be my own fault il 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 hard
~ OF age, talking Of marriage
And Ned Bar,ram's maternal uncle
grew quite red in the face in his indig,
nation.
why. uncle, I'm twenty five.
should think am almost old enough to
be looking out for wife, that is, If
ever intend TO have one, which I most
certainly do
'Pshaw ten years hence will he time
enough. No man ought 10 marry before
he is thirty-fvej he don't know his
own mind
But, uncle espostulated Ned, who
Is going TO wait all those years for
fellow1 Certainly not pretty Nettie
Danforth. Why she has q dozen lovers
already, and although I am happy
10 say that she has discard ed them all
in my favor, could not think Of pre-
Stunning TO ask her 20 wait q dozen years
for me-
why. there are other young ladies' In
the world besides Nettie Danforth, my
boy. To be sure she is pretty, and, !
presume, Is as sensible as most young
girls; but she is altogether too young.
Now, IL we're to select should choose
some sensible woman of mature age
say about such person as Miss Net
ties aunt, Miss Araminta Elmer. All,
my boy, there is a sensible girl for you.
She'd make q first rate wife
TIghl she's forty II she's day. NUT.
tered Ned TO himself in disgust,
Then turning TO bis uncle, he said
smillngly:
III you have such a fine opinion OF
the lady why don't you marry her your
self, Uncle Allen2'
IL marry + and the old gentlemans
face became purple as he hustled excit.
edly about the room, with hands clasp-
ed under his coat tails.
How absurd Ned, you know don't
believe in such nonsense. I've lived
City -fiye-ahem forty years without
thinking OF IL. and it's not likely am
going to make n fool OF myself now, is
itI Is II, say, sirH' demanded he, in
dignantly. halting bis chubby little per-
son before bis amused nephew.
We'll, my dear uncle, you see We dis.