The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-11-20
NELLIE'S MATCH.


n cOquette-at least in the ordinary accept
ance OF The term. She has an exceeding
desire TO be liked to be pctted to be
something more than mere acQuaint-
ance of these whom she admires She is a
general fay orite among women, unless
they chance to be jealous OF her-though
how she manages that doubtless you will
soon be able to tell better than | but
with the men she has the an Of finding
out the thlag which you especially desire
TO shine. a.ld to appreciate yeu IN that
. thing For Instance, keen Nttle thing
she is, she discovered what my wife don't
know yet, that | am not very proud
OF my sCriB3linQ- think it, in fact, very
poor stun, fsdeed; but like te be CON
sidered Il azIan of fine taste and keen
perceptions and sympathies. Il didn't
take Nellie more than three times to ind
that, and slle y always appealing to those
supposed qualities ] know perfectly all
the time she ID playing with me; that is
only her way ~ making herself agreeable;
that she isn'i Overwhelmingly anxious
for my approx al that she isn't occupied
when away from me in picturin9 TO her
self all my good and winning qualities,
and yet Ike il. When she is looking
at me in her soft, appealing way she can
twist me around hcT finger"
Viva gave little sigh.
"And you say she Is coming this after.
noOnY
'Yes; she win be here to supper"
Nellie 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 a face IN general out
line of feature not altogether unlike that
Of Marie Stuart
She was quiet almost silent The girls
looked at one another as if they would say
''Is this the paragon whom we were TO
dreRdY' and arched brOws and pursed-up
months In pretty contempt at me, not
seeing. as did, that Nellie was simply
taking their gauge and survey OF her
position
She felt instinctively a certain stand-OfH-
ishness assumed toward her by the fem
mime element, and set herself to combat
II found in less than week a hundred
ways of being useful and entertaining
Size was skillful in iey ising ways in which
to afford the girls tete-a-ietes with their
respective particulars, behaved, in short,
more like a grandmother than Ii belle of
20; won them all over, even including
Bell, who seemed Il like her grudgingly
and under protest, and then was ready
for action.
During her week of quiescence there
had been. though she had appeared un-
conscious of the fact masculine ohserv-
ers. They had seen that she was not
only lovely, out aIleT lnlt plQuant IhSh-
ion which depends much on expression,
and keeps you busy studying it.
She sang sweetly, played well. con-
versed delightfully."-, I'd keen eye and
soft touch grew on you, in short,
streAslsSa-ed her hold upon you day by
day.
One thing. however. puzzled mean
unusual lan9uor. almost timidity, in Mel
lie, and Otto Winstdnley's almost incom-
preheusible conduct
He had joined in none of the converse
tion anticipatory of her arrival. and when
she was presented there was a start and
sudden paleness on NelHe's part and a
sudden dark upleaIing of color and feel
ing to his face as he muttered something
about previous acquaintance.
1 think no one else observed this, or the
fact that his indolent Irritation with Bell
glowed with sudden and unaccOuntable
aIGor since Nellie's arrival Perhaps, al
so, 10 one else remarked that he certainly
treated Miss Middleton with downright
rudeness and neglect, or thought to ask
themselves if maI was apt 10 be rude
and neglectful toward a sweet and win
ming girl TO whom he was perfectly indif-
feIent.
But, be that as it might, two slow
weeks went and saw no more clearly in
10 the mystery than / had done at first.
But one evening Nellie came and sat
down beside me in the twilight
She sat very still looked even paler
than usual and 1 caught myself plying
her, but at a loss how to manifest IL L re-
nlained silent.
otto stroIled in, and giving me a brief
nod. sat down and began playing with
jim. the terrier. Having a vague idea
that Nellie might be inclined to be more
specific with him than me, made Mrs.
Polly do some one a good turn, for one OF
the few times in her life, and getting up
a fiction about being wanted, left them
alone What sfterward occurred | have
from the best authority-Nellie herself.
They sat in the fast-growing twilight,
memories busy at the heart OF each
pride struggling with feeling that dur
ing those weeks. had fast been growing
tao strong for f. Nellie, with. bowed head
aud swimming eyes; Otto watching her,
with face softening in spite OF himself
Suddenly Nellie rose with an air OF des-
peration, and brushing past Otto, went
over to the piano
As She reached IL something rang out
sbarpIv-a click as Of something metal
lie that had struck on the marble hearth.
Otto stopped to pick up something that
shone in the red freight just at his foot
She moved forward as il to prevent him
stood then, as If paTalyzed, as ne held uT
a riug-a simple little thing-only plan
. 4gOld. clrClet, DtdTlIlS Hoiht NtAuS CuBAohSN
on il, hanging from chain attached TO .
hood like watch guard.
otto looked alternately at il and Nellie,
who stood by him crimson and speech
less
"You have kept this all this time,
NellieY'
Nellie was silent,
''Why did you keep iti'
81 wanted something TO wear oo the
I NV xgafch -