The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-03-28

Mrs. Ellis looked up from her sewing
at the eight-day clock that was ticking
placidly away from its shady corner
Come, Nelly, it is nearly four o'clock,
and you remember Mr.. Redmond is to
call for you at half-past, for your drive.
Nelly lifted pretty, piquant face
from the paper she was reading.
How easily you always recall Mr..
Redmond's engagements, mamma.
do wish you knew how l Idespised him.
you speak very ignorantly and child
ishly, Nelly. If you think seriously.
you can give no reason for despising
Mr.. Redmond, whom both l and your
father respect and admire, and fee
greatly honored by his offer to marry
you
Nelly shrugged her shoulders disdain.
fully.
4 don't know what you may call ad.
miration or respect, mamma, if you can
see anything in Mr.. Redmond's fat, red
face and horrible big"
Mrs. Ellis bestowed severe, reprov.
ing glance at Nelly.
4 did not suppose you referred to
Mr.. Redmond's personal appearance,
Nelly; and if you had, I cannot see
what there is SO Objectionable to Mr..
Redmond.
Nelly laughed saucily.
ooh mamma, don't call him anything
but obese. AS if I'd ever marry a fat
man.
Her merry laugh tinkled like chime
of silver bells, and Mrs. Ellis forehead
gathered into larger frowns than ever.
you may consider yourself fortunate
in being asked to share the Redmond
estate, Nelly. When I was a girl
would have jumped at the chance
'Mr. Redmond must have been slen-
derer and better-looking when you were
girl, but that's no reason why l should
have him. Why, he's had two wive:
already
Just hint of indignation was creep.
ing into her voice, but Mrs. Ellis would
not hear it.
sAnd a good husband he made them
both-better than any young fellow evel
will make you.'
A flush of delicious happiness surged
over Nelly's cheeks as her mother:
words made her think Of Harry Newell
handsome Harry, to whom she hac
promised her hand, to whom she had
given her heart, whose ring she wore or
a blue ribbon around her neck, and
who was working away in his newly
opened office, busy, busy as bee, ir
happy anticipation of the time when he
would be ready to take his little sweet
heart to himself.
But Nelly wouldn't say much about
it, cunning, astute little rogue that she
was.
She was as decided as fate on the
subject, and nothing short of miracle
would have made her marry Phineas
Redmond, for all his house, his horses
and carriages.
She was obliged to accept some por.
tions of his prosecutions, however, and
she did it with quite good grace, SC
that neither mother nor father nor lover
knew just what deceitful little witch
she was; and to-day was almost the
first time she ever had said particularly
disparaging things of her suitor, al
though she had declared from the first
that she would not marry him.
Il think you had better dress, Nelly
l don't want you to keep Mr.. Redmond
waiting. He is going to take you ovel
to the farm, and show you the house.
Nelly closed her book lazily.
'As if l care to see his fusty, musty
old house where there's been so many
funerals, it's all nonsense, mamma, my
going
Nelly, aren't you ashamed of your
self2 Go and put on your grey silk
there's the carriage now
The girl arose with languid grace
of her own, her red lips curling hal
sneeringly.
'Of course I'll 60 if you wish it, nam
ma. My grey silk and blue ribbons 2
She went up to her room with an ex
preston odd to see on her fair, fresf
face, as she deliberately made her dain
ty toilet.
1T has come to the crisis at last, ant
I'll never have the old Blue Beard if