Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-07-16

1 mo, IeIuEueu tue Obucii Al buo
same smothered voice, moving uneas-
lily, and not looking at Nettie,
who, not having the least idea what
she ought to do under such circum-
stances, began to cry.
You understand that | love Miss
Fay, the same as you do, l suppose,
and she must choose between US now,
went on Arthur.
'I--oh, IL cannot nowp sobbed
Nettie, confesslng more than it was
pleasant for one Of her hearers to hear,
since her words implied that a choice
was not only possible, but imminent.
The storm is over now, and must 90
home.
And gathering her skirts from her
little feet, she literally ran away.
The only thing they could learn of
Nettie for the next few days was that
she had caught cold from her drench'
ing in the storm, and could not leave
the house.
The next was that Nettle whIsked
herself out of sight of her two admir-
ers to spend fortnight with her aunt
Barbara, IN the next town.
Arthur did not know what interview
she might have had with Warren Dor
mer, but he was really not much afraid
of "that other fellow'-not so much as
he would have been had he known
| Warren Dormer.
Another week passed. At the end
of that time, Nettie Fay was in receipt
of two letters one from Arthur, one
from Warren Dormer. With sorrow
and misgiving she pondered over
these letters; but Net.ie was sincerity
itself, and at length wrote to both,
explaining exactly the state OF her feel
ings. The task was hard one, and
her hand shook so as she folded the
sheets, that she let the portfolio upon
which they lay fall to the floor. She
picked them up hurriedly, paced them
as quickly as possible in envelopes, SUI
prescribed, and sent them to the post
When she reached home fort
night later there was lawn party,
and her mother hurried her to her
room; and Nettie came down from her
chamber, at last, in a. lovely silk
costume. The girl had lost flesh and
color, but had never looked sweeter.
And there was Arthur Stevenlng.
He was going to and fro with camp
chairs and cups of tea for the ladies.
He would come to her side soon,
but he passed, at last, with only
pale, constrained look, and barely
civil word. The next moment, War
rem Dormer took the chair at her side.
Il thought you would come home
to-day, Nettie.'
One glance at his cheerful face be-
wildered her. Warren bent towards
her, and affecting to look at her brace
let, whispered:
Il received your letter
Nellie bent her head silently in re-
sponse.
The silvery chat and the music
around her seemed to make her head
reel.
How strange she felt! The glance
from Arthur chilled her heart.
Her eyes dwell in bewilderment on
Warren's flushed face. He looked
actually happy.
Warren, called Mrs. Fay. will
you 90 to thehouse and ask Lilly for
my shawl?
When Warren Dormer had gone
away, Nettie rose and, walking down
the lawn, stood looking in rather
forlorn way at the tennis-players-
really not seeing them at all Sud-
denly there was voice at her side.
Il think, Nettie, you might have
spared me the pain of knowing that I
was an object of pain and dread to
you, Or very much the same thing"
AS Nettie lifted her blue eyes in
panied surprise, Arthur Stevening was
gazing very gravely down upon her.
She could no. imagine he could look
so stern. The color quite died out of
her cheek.
She gave broken murmur-what
she said she did not know.
forgotten what you said!' he ex-
claimed, as if repeating her words. Il
cannot forget so easily. And, then, l
have them in black and white, you
know with a painful smile, as he
passed on in response to merry call
for Arthur was a favorite with the
ladies.
Nettie could have thrown herself
down on the grass, like child; and
cried in sorrow and despair.
Was this captious treatment all the
reward she was to get for confessing
the truth so bravely?
Her fathers displeasure, her moth
er's disappointment, Aunt Barbara
scolding, she had prepared herself to
receive; but this was too much; the hot
tears welled to her eyes.
There were other gentlemen in the
party, who thought Nettle pretty and
attractive; but she listened to every
body in an nt-minded way, and at
last the festive afternoon was over.
MAY come up at eight this even
ino Nattie2' asked Warren Dormar