Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-14

stlll ihuBhlHB' 1t III only tne lhsI OF
the womankind,' whom you accident
ally made prisoner, and who promised
not TO betray all tho treason you have
uttered against her sex, il You will per
NIT her to retire"
Not till have convinced you that
in no way could my remarks apply to
you," answered Gerard, "since l was
not talking OF the angels"
"Spare your compliments, returned
Nelly, with curling lip, cor reserve
them for Miss Irwin or the Misses Pop.
lin. / am simple country girl, incap-
able of appreciating them"
"Ah see you are revengeful."
"On the contrary, forgive you"
Proof is"
How"
"By permitting me to act rs your cs-
cort to dinner"
Nelly seemed in danger of another fit
OF laughter. She, who could have set
the table, cooked the dinner and eaten
a good share OF it afterward, escorted
to the table like enc Of those languish-
ing city ladies, who screamed at the
sight Of COW, and didn't know corn
from asparagus, except when it was
cooked What would father, and
mother, and Bob say to that? Con-
trolling her mirth as we'll as she was
able, she signifed her assent; and
when Miss Irwin sailed into the dining.
room it was to find the elegant, fas-
tidious Gerard playing nssiduous court
to the little country girl, who received
it as n matter of course. Still, that WAS
not the least provoking part of the
affair.
y Poor Gotham, whose evil genius had
decreed that on that day he should act
as cavalier servante to tho angry belle,
Kate's angry glAnces chilled his very
marrow, and scared all the small talk
out Of him.
Mrs. L'Aymar looked on in silent con-
sternation.
Miss Irwin was not only belle, but
eligible 60 the extent OF 500, 900; and
who knows what schemes had been run
ming in the little lady's polite head
when she invited Kate to spend the
summer with her.
cat any rate" as she observed to her
husband afterward, al couldn't sit
there, You know, and see Gerard max
ing himself ridiculous, and the Poplins
and Mrs. Temple Stowe looking on
who, of course, would tell OF it all over
town"
SO, after side glance at the bronze
timepiece, Mrs. L'Aymar said, in her
softest tones:
"My dear little Nelly, / am sorry to
lose you, but 1 promised your father
that you should return tho moment the
clock struck three, and you know how
exact he is!'
Nellie flushed to her very temples,
for she had been invited TO spend the
day, and we'll understood the r, ason
of the sudden changes in Mrs. LAY
mar.
John shall drive you home" said
the lady, fearing, perhaps, she had gone
too far, land l shall try to persuade
your father"
"To be little less exact" broke
in Gerard, with scornful emphasis;
"but John need not take the trouble
to harness his horses, for mine, IL my
orders have been obeyed, are already at
the door, and / shall be only too happy
to drive Miss Parker home"
And he did take her home, spite of
the ill.concealed wrath of Mrs. LAymar
and the fascinating Miss Irwin; and
when he reached the old farmhouse,
invited himself to go in Nellie would
never have had the couragel, and
claimed acquaintance with her father
on the strength Of q boxed ear once re-
ceived from the dominic when boy
ana at home during the vacation, and
complimented brother Bob on his farm
ing and Mrs. Parker on her house
wifery, and stayed to tea, and talked
politics and theology, and everything
but love, for which he contented him.
self with looking at Miss Nellie.
Day after day saw his stylish turn
ont dashing down the green, shady lane
that led to the dominie's; and II was
standing joke Of his groom that 3" Mas'r
vas going for the consultations OF re-
Iigion." The very dogs round the
place came to know him, while no
damask rose ever glowed as did Nellie's