The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-28
NELLIE TIE DANGEROUS.

every well; wait till she comes, girl,
that is ALL" quoth I, amidst general
1utterings and feminine outcries of in
dignation.
1t was in the cosy old house at New
bury, cold enough too, we found it
there, but Mrs. Haydn only kept up
the better fires, and we had q better
excuse for gathering about them.
There was Lou and sivia-and l need
not say to any friend of theirs, after
that, that Doctor Guy, and Philip also,
were every evening in our horizon and
my respectful self. Belle Stanley, and
Otto Winstanley. 1t was just after
dinner, and we We're all in the library
Viva was sitting lear me, as l think
the little puss Was fond of doing, read
ing out to me, here and there,
a line from "G%eraldine's Court
ship" that happened to please her,
and occasionally casting a side glance
over at Philip, who looked half jealous
Lou was teaching Doctor Guy to crochet,
with the drollest little pursed up face
imaginable; Bell and Otto were playing
chess, and also, if I am not much mis-
taken, Irritation Mrs. Haydn and Polly
were doing over a couple of neighbors
characters; and I, having read Nellie
Mlddleton's letter, had brought down
on myself a general storm of indigna-
tion for warning them to look out-the
men for their hearts, the girls for their
lovers; in reply to which I made the
answer with which this story commences,
and was put down by Bella Stanton,
who, think, has small notion of having
Otto interferred with.
"Girls, Mr.. Martial is simply teasing
us. I have seen Nellie Middleton
Last winter, Victor Mellen showed her
to me at church, and asked me if !
didn't think she was a sumner ]
told him if sumner meant pretty, no
She has no particular complexion (Bell's
pink and white cheeks were her forte),
and / am SUI she is stiff as a ramrod."
So contented myself with quoting
to Viva, "Whom the gods wish to de.
stroy, they first make mad"
And Viva said, softly, "Dear Mr..
Martial, is she really so very pleasing?'
"She really is"
"Do YOU like herr"
eyes; 1 can't help it,"
"Why, is she SO very beautiful"
"Not so very beautiful; or, rather
that is not her chief attraction. She is
lively, but L think what makes her sc
irresistible is her appreciativeness.'
81 don't understand"
"My dear child, Nellie Middleton is
not o coquette-at least, in the ordinary
acceptation of the term. She has an
exceeding desire to be liked, to be pet
ted; to be something more than a mere
acquaintance of those whom she
admires. She is q general favorite
among women, unless they chance tc
be jealous of her-though she man
ages that, doubtless you will be
able to tell better than I; but with
men, she has the art of finding
out the thing in which you especially
desire to shine, and to appreciate
you in that thing. For instance,
keen little thing that she is, she
discovered what my wife don't know
yet, that l I'm not very proud Of my
scribbling-think it, in fact, very poor
stuff indeed; but like to be considered
as q man of fine taste, and keen percep.
tions and sympathies. 1t didn't take
Nellie more than three times to find
that, and she is always appealing tc
those supposed qualities. I knew per.
fectly all the time she wal playing with
me; that it is only her way of making
herself agreeable; that she isn't occupied
when away from me in picturing tc
herself oil my good and winning quail.
tiles; and yet / like it. When she
is looking at me in her soft appeal.
ing way, she n twist me around hel
finger"
Viva gave q little sigh.
"And you say she is coming this after.
noon?"
Eyes she will be here at supper"
Notwithstanding indignation, and
protestations of disbelief in Nellie's
power: J. tnilk tlie girls were u 1lbtle
uneasy. Bell truly looked superb; hel
bright golden hair and brilliant com
piexion contrasting with the deep blue
of her dress.
Viva nestled up to Philip closer thar
usual, and l am quite sure L heard hel
whispering as / passed through the
music room. "Do you think you viii
always love me, PHILIPPE"
Only Lou, saucy. insouciante child as
she is, disdained to be ~uneasy-stood
firm in her belief in her own attrac.
tions and bright faith. Nellie was in.
visible till the evening. Then she
came, dressed simply enough in black
"a very prettyfRr fair but not blonde
with brown hair, brushed away from
the wide, calm forehead; gray, cheer,
full eyes, and a face in general outline d
feature not altogether unlike that Of
Marie Stuart.
She was quiet, almost silent. The
girls looked at one another as who
should say, SIS this the paragon whom
we were to dread?" and arclied brows
and pursed-up mouths in pretty con.
tempt at me, not seeing rs I did, thai
Nellie was simply taking their guage
and a survey Of her position.
She felt instipctively a certain stand
ofishness assumed towards her by the