The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-26
NELLIE THE DANGEROUS.

July, cold enough, too, We louiiu IL tHcic,
but Mrs. Haydn only kept up the better
fires and we had better excuse for gath
ering about them.
There was Lou and Vivia-and I need
not say to any friend of theirs, after that
that Doctor Guy, and Philip also, were
every evening in our horizon-my respect
able self, Belle Stanton, and Otto Win
stanley. 1t was just after dinner and we
were all in the library; Viva was sitting
near me, as l think the little puss was
fond of doing, reading out to me, here
and there, line from ''Geraldine'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 erotchet, with the
drollest little pursed-up face imaginable;
Belle and Otto were playing chess, and
also, if am not mistaken, Irritation; Mrs.
Haydn aud Polly were doing over couple
of neighbors' characters; and |, having
read Nellie Middeton's letter, had brought
down on myself general storm of indigna-
ton for warning them to look out-the
men for their hearts, the girls for their
lovers; in reply to which l made the an
swer with which this story commences, and
was put down by Belle Stanton, who,
think, has small notion of having Otto in
terfered with.
''Girls, Mr.. Martial is simply teasing us.
T have COON NaIIia M;6IIaton Lost w;ntar
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 complex
ion (Belle's pink and white cheeks were her
forte), and I am sure she is stiff. She
looked as stiff as a ram-rod."
So | contented myself with quoting to vi
via, ''Whom the gods wish to destroy they
first make mad"
And Viva said softly, ''Dear Mr. Mar
tial, is she really SO very pleasing?"
''She really is
''Do you like her?''
eyes; l 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 think what makes her so irresistible
is her apprecativeness.
II don't understand"
'My dear child, Nellie Middleton is not
a coquette-at least in the ordinary accepta-
ton of the term. She has an exceeding de-
sire to be liked, to be petted; to be some
thing more than mere acquaintance of
those whom she admires. She is general
favorite among women, unless they chance
to be jealous of her-though how she man
ages that, doubtless you will be better able
to tell than |; but with men, she has the
art of finding out the thing in which you
you in that thing. For instance, keen lit
tie thing that she is, she discovered what
my wife don't know yet, that | am not
very proud of my scribbling-think it, in
fact, very poor stuff indeed; but like to be
considered as man of fine TASTE and keen
perceptions and sympathies. 1t didn't take
Nellie more than three times to find thai,
and she is always appealing to those sup
posed qualities. l knew perfectly all the
time that she was playing with me; that it
is only her way of making herself agreeable;
that she isn't overwhelmingly anxious for
my approval; that she isn't occupied when
away from me i'll picturing to herself all
my good and winning qualities; and yet |
like it. When she is looking at me in her
soft, appealing way, she can twist me round
her finger"
Viva gave little sigh.
''And you say she is coming this after
noon ?''
Eyes; she will be here at supper"
Notwithstanding indignation, and pro-
testations of disbelief in Nelle's power, |
think the girls were little uneasy. Belle
truly looked superb; her bright golden
hair and brilliant complexion contrasting
with the deep blue of her dress
Viva nestled up to Philip closer than
usual, and l am quite sure l heard her
whispering as passed through the music
room, "Do you think you will always love
me, PHILIPPE
Only Lou, saucy insoueiante child as she is
disdained to be uneasy-stood firm in her be-
lief in her own attractions and bright faith.
Nellie was invisible till the evening. Then
she came, dressed simply enough in black
"a very pretty girl, fair, but not blonde,
with brown hair, brushed away from the
wide, calm forehead; gray, cheerful eyes,
and face in general outline of feature not
altogether unlike that of Marie Stuart.
She was quiet, almost silent. The girls
looked at one another as who should say,
is this the paragon whom we We're to
dread ?' and arched brows and pursed-up
mouths in pretty contempt at me, not see
ing, as did, that Nellie was simply taking
their gauge and survey of her position.
She felt instnctively certain stand
ofiishness assumed towards her by the
feminine element, and set herself to com
bat it: found in less than week hun
bred ways of being useful and entertaining.
She was skillful in devising ways in which
to afford the girls tete-a-tetes with their re-
spective particulars behaved, in short,
more like a grandmother than a belle of