Morris tribune., 1882-08-31

"Why do give you the creeps, Nelly ~ said
he. ''Don't you like me!"
''oh, yes, like you we'll enough" said I ST
like Lord Nelson, for that matter; but
shouldn't like his monument to come and stare
at me by the hour. 1t makes me feel quite all
overish."
"What on earth put Lord Nelson into your
head?'' said my cousin.
| I'm sure don't know"
DO you like me the same way you like Lord
Nelson, NELLY"
''Yes, )" said, "only more" With which
small ray of encouragement poor Sol had to
be content, as Elsie aud Miss Maberley came
rustGng into the room and put an end to our
tete-a-tete.
certainly did like my cousin knew what
a simple. true nature lay beneath his quiet ex-
terror. The idea of having Sol Baker for
lover, however-Sol, whose very name was
IDLE. Why couldn't he fall III love with Grace
or with Elsie? They might have known what
to do with him; they were older than l, and
could encourage him, or snuo him, as they
| thought best Oracle, however, was carrying
on mild Irritation with my brother Bob, and
Elsie seemed utterly unconscious of the whole
| matter.
Jack is coming down by the 2 o'clock
train" said Bob one morning, coming In to
breakfast with a telegram IN his hand
| I had long cogitstion on the subject of
Jack in the garden that morning. After all, l
was becoming big girl. as Bob had forcibly
| reminded me. | must be circumspect in my
| conduct now. must learn to be formal and
| distant l pictured our meeting to myself,
and went through q rehearsal of it The holly
! bush represented Jack, and l approached 1t
! solemuly, made it a stately courtesy and held
ont my hand with $50 glad to see you, Lieut.
| Hawthornem Elsie came out while l was
dong It, but made no remark. heard her
! ask Sol at luncheon. however, whether idiocy
generally ran in families, or was simply COM
fined to individuals; at which poor Sol
| biushed furiousiy, aud became utterly in
| coherent in his attempts at an explanation.
Our farmyard opens upon the avenue about
| half way between Hatherly House and the
| lodge. Sol and and Mr.. Nicholas Cronin, the
son of n nelghboring squire, went down there
| after lunch. This imposing demonstration
! was for the purpose of quelhng mutiny which
| had broken out in the henhouse. The earliest
| tidings Of the rising had been conveyed to the
house by young BAyliss, son and heir Of the
| henkeeper, ami my presence had been urgent
! ly requested. LIST me remark III parenthesis
| tHat fowls were my special department in do
! mesuc economy, and that no step
/ ever taken i'll their management with
cut my advics and assistance. Old
B yliss hobhied out upon our arrival, and in
! formed Us Of the full extent of the disturbance
I II seems that the crested hen and the bantam
! cock had developed such length of wing that
! they We're enabled 10 hy over into the park;
! Inl That the example of these ringleaders
! had been so contagious that even such steady
| old matrous as the handy legged Cochin
, China had developed rowing propensites
! aad pushed their way into forbidden
! ground. \ council of war was held in
the yard, and if was unanimously decided
! that tl,e wings of the recalcitrauts must be
| ciipue,l.
What i scamper we had. BY ''we" mean
| M CONN aul myself; while cous II Sol how
| cred about in the background with the scis-
| sors, and cheered Us on. The two culprits
! clearly knew that they We're wanted; for they
rushed under the hayricks and over the coops,
| u:til there seemed to be at least half 4 dozen
| crested hens and Bantam cocks lodging about
III til" ward The other hens were mildly in
| teresteu in the proceedings, and coutented
| themselves with an occasional derisive cluck
With the exception OF the favorite wife Of the
! Bantam, who abused us roundly from the top
! OF the coop The ducks were the most aggra-
! waiting portion Of the community; for though
! thy had nothing to do with the original die
! iurbauce, they t0oh warm Interest in the
! fugitiveS, waddlins behind them fast as
! their little yellow legs would carry them, aud
! getting in the way OF the Dursuers
1--WE have it." | sasped, as the crested hen
! was driven into the corner. Catch it, Mr.
| Comm. Oh, you've MISSED it! you've missed
i. Get in the way, Sol. Oh, dear, it's coming
! - nv
! well done, Miss Montaguo." cried Mr.. Gro
! nln IL | seized the wretched fowl by the leg as
! Il huItereQ past ME, aud proceeded to tuck it
! IAler my arm to prevent any possibility of es-
cane. Let me carry it for you" ss-@
( No, no; 1 want You to catch the cock
: 7 lere it goes, There-hshiud the havrack
! Ilu 20 u side, ami Til go to the other"
! It's goiag through the gate!" shouted Sol.
! ''Shoo," cried l. ''Shoo' Oh its gone" and
! we both made dart into the park in pursuit
! tore round the corner into the avenue, and
+ here I found myself face to face with sun
+ Hlrned young man in a tweed suit, who was
J ..nugiug along in the direction of the house
! There was installing those laughing gray
( -. though think If had never looked at
+ u VI some instinct w0uid have told me that it
~ Jack. How could be dignifed with the
; II -Iei hes tucked under my arm? tried to
; anu myself up: but the miserable bird seemed
think that il had found il protector at last,
/ # it began to cluck with redoubled veham-
( 80. l had to give up in despair, and burst
IL, Il laugh, wilile;Jack did the same. --eg
How are you, Nell2 ~ lie said, holding GU,
#aId; and then in aston5hed vOlC1
%av;: rou re not d bit the same when 1
l4t.'
we'll, hadn't ben under my arm then,
Who would have thought that little NJ;
: NIL have developed into q woman" said
/ .,.i. still lost in amazement
''Ipu didn't expect me to develop into man,
t~..:,' y,u:" said in high indignation; and then
! I'd ieuly dropping all reserve, We're awfuily
! IA you've come, Jack. Never mind goin! up
| - the house Come aud help us to catch tina.
/ bantam cock. .
! r. ght You are" said Jack in his old CHEEKY
| way, sui Keeping MS eye ErmlS QXeQ upon M
! cOuntenance "Come on" and away the three
Of as scampered across the park, with Door
Sol aiding and abetting with the scissors and
the prisoner in the rear. Jack was very
crumpled looking visitor by the time he paid
| his respects to the mother that afternoon and
my dreams of dignity and reserve were scat
| tered to the winds.
/ We had quite party at Hatherley House
that May. There were Bob, and Sol, and Jack
Hawthorne. and Mr.. Nicholas Cronin; then
there were Miss Maberley, and Elsie, and
mother, and myself On an emergency we
90 uld always muster half a dozen visitors
rom the houses round, so as to have an
/ .uience when charades Or private theatricals
]! were attempted. Mr.. Cronin, anseasy- going,
! athletic young Oxford maj, proved to- be a
| great acquisition, having wonderful powers of
organization and execution Jack was not
nearly as lively as he used to be. ID fact We
unanimously accused him of beinsSin love; at
! which be looked as silly as young men usually
! 40 an such occasions, but did not attempt to
/ deny the soft impeachment.
| ''What shall we do to-day?" said Bob one
morning. Can anybody make SUGGESTION"
Drag the pond, said Mr. Cronin.
Haven't men enough, said Bob; anything
e,S@."sS 81 g.Eaz Iares-= se 80 r. q. -
''We must get MP sweepstakes for the
! Darby" remarked Jack.
! "Oh, there's plenty of time for that 1t isn't
run till the week after next Anything else?"
! Lawn tennis" said Bob obviously.
! Bother lawn tennis"
! ''lou might make picnic to Hatherley Alb
| bey, said l.
! '.Capitallv cried Mr. Cronin saThe very
! thing. What doyou think, Bob?"i
.'First-class," said my brother, grasping
eagerly at the idea. PIcnics are very dear to
those who are in the first stage of the tender
! passion.
sWelI. how'are we to 60 Nell9p asked Ell
| SIZE
Il won't go at ALL" said L s.rd like to aw-