Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-11-16
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT, NOV. l6, 1881.

pect me till Tomorrow morning, SO,
hearing that he was here, ] yentured
> to follow him, hoping that, for his sake
at any rate, ! should not be considered
an intruder,
Mrs. Manners hastened to assure
her visitor that she was always pleased
to see any Of Jacks friends, and that
his cousin must be sure Of welcome
from her,
so this Is Nclly-little Nally no
longer, perceive, he remarked, with
q glance of decided approved at the
fairiace, when ! saw her last she
was little creature of eight, in pima.
fores and curls, and her sister shy
schoolgirl whom am afraid Jack and
| delighted to tease
Nelly laughed heartily at this de-
scription Of calm, self-possesscd Mari
an. Very soon she and Edward Arch
er were chatting away gaily, and by
the time Jack aud Marian returned,
Nelly had quite forgotten her vexation
in the plcasurcablc novelty of having
this handsome, sprightly stranger to
entertain.
The brunt Of the millinery fell on
Marian's willing shoulders, and never
had Nelly looked iaircr than on that
morning of the picnic, when her airy
summer gown of some washing matcri-
al was dtly completed and enhanced by
her sisters dcft handiwork.
So thought Sack; so thought Ed
ward. Nelly was in whirl ofplcasur.
able excitement the livelong day, for
her eyes were opened to the fact that
she was centre of attraction, in way
they had never been until now'
A dangerous knowledge, cspec tally
to bright, thoughtlcss girl of Nelly's
tender years. Marian was conscious
of "a strange, undefnable feeling OF
distress as she noticed with what evil
dent pleasure Nelly received the open
admiration accorded her, and how de-
lighted she was to display the homage
of the handsome stranger, Jacks
cousin. And Marian's quiet, obscrv-
ant eyes noted something else. She
saw Jacks troubled gaze following
Nelly's every movement, watching her
eager, flushed face with an expression
she had never seen there before and
her quick womanly instinct told her
that to-day had revealed to Jack that
for the future he would never be con-
tent with a sisterly regard from his
favorite playmate and companion.
Nelly was indulging herself in a
host of immensely pleasing reflections
the next morning, when she received a
brief note from Jack which did not at
all chime in with them.
Look here, Minnie, she cried, with
u scared expression, running into the
kitchen, where her sister, in large
apron, was concocting tempting SAL
ad. 'What can the foolish fellow
mean? Whatever shall l do? How
can he be so stupid?
Are you sure you would like me to
read it, dear?' Marian asked.
'Read it, Minnie, pray, and tell me
what I can do. o, how foolish OF
him l never should have thought it of
Jack!
why, Nelly?' Marian asked, quiet
ly glancing down the letter.
'Why, he's nobody at all--at least
like that. It's too absurd. Papa
might as we'll ask me to-to marry
him! It's utterly ridiculous.
Marian sighed for Jacks sake. She
saw it was a helpless case.
'Write kindly, Nelly dear, she said,
gently. Il am afraid it will be great
disappointment to him. He seems so
sure ofyour affection
Stupid fellov!' Nelly cried angrily.
Il was fond of him-just as fond as a
girl could be of a brother; and now
it's all spoilt. 1 declare it's quite ex.
asperating!'
Think of him. Marian suggested,
quietly,
Nelly ran away to write her reply.
Marian suggested several additions and
excisions when she saw it, and succeed
ed in achieving a tolerable gentle ex-
preston of Nelly's decided refusal.
The young lady, however, was of the
opinion that the letter was by no means
crushing enough, so before she enclosed
it in its cover she added postscript:
This is my unalterable decision. l
shall never change my mind. What
ever could have put such an idea into
your head?
Poor Jack came no more to the Man.
l.