The Washington critic., 1886-04-06
ART AND NATURE.

Perry.
They were both right. Alfred Perry
had changed marvelously in the brief
two years that he had been q New York
lawyer. The rustic sunburn had faded
away from his cheek, long silky
moustache graced his upper lip, and
his hair, curled and scented, was
brushed away from his well-develoned
forehead.
What will Annette say? % eiacu-
lated Aunt Melissa. "I've a great
mind to send right up to Squire Daw-
sons and let her know you've got
home p
But any such proceeding was rem
dored unnecessary by the opening of
the door and the unexpected apparition
Of Miss Annette Dawson's blooming
self.
"Why, here she is now" said Mrs.
Perry.
Eyes, here she is," sparkled An
nette, and dropping from her apron
tangle of wild flowers, fern plumes,
and feathery grasses, she ran up to tho
new arrival and stood on tip-toe to kiss
him.
"Oh, Fred, how glad I am to sec you
and how funny your new moustache
does feell'
She was radiantly pretty, with dowy-
hazel eyes, curling silky hair blown
over her temples, and tiny rosebud
mouth
Mr.. Perry WINGED a little.
"You are so abrupt, Annette, and"
"Not Annette, Fred. Have you for.
gotten the dear old name 'NannyY"
Apparently he paid no heed to what
she said; he was earnestly scrutinizing
the dimpled, rose.fushed face.
"Child, how frightfully sunburned
you are--and what an unbecoming
color that lilac is--just exactly the
sort of calico dress that every chamber
maid wears p
Don't you like it?" said Nanny,
little discomftted "But, Fred"
"Not quite so loud, it really startles
one. Sit down, Annette not on the
edge of she table, child-how very
different your manners are from what
l have been accustomed to. Here is u
chair"
Nancy Dawson subsidized into the cush-
ioned seat, pouting. Evidently her
| fiancee had come back marvelously
| changed, and Nancy wasn't altogether
certain that she liked the transforma-
| tion.
She listened to his smooth talk-it
was very attractive, yet 1t was not the
| old Fred. He spoke of operas, soirees,
evening gatherings, and to Nanny it
seemed as If he had passed into another
world since the day on which, standing
beneath the holly tree in the woods, he
| plighted his troth to her.
II wish you could have the advantage
of a season in New York, Annette" he
said, "You have no idea how very
much 1t would improve you."
Nanny looked suddenly up, with q
red stain ON her cheek.
Don't you like me as / am, AL
fred p
"Thcre what n quick, tempered lit
tie puss it isr' he said. pulling the silky
head. "Of course, / like you, Nan;
but you see you're diamond in the
rough-you need polishing"
Alfred"
Because, my dear. my standard has
been raised since those same old
times.
Erred, / wish you had never gone
away from Stansdale."
He laughed in the superior, patron
iZing way that she so much disliked.
But Nanny Dawson went home and
cried herself to sleep that night.
The two weeks of her lover sojourn
among his native hills and dales were
anything but pleasant to the little vii
lage beauty. Everything she did or
said or wore seemed to provoke criti-
cism from Albert Perry; and one day,
in burst Of passionate tears, she cried
out:
What would you have me do,
Fred?"
Exactly" said Mr.. Perry, daintily
whisking off the head of tall butter
cup with his ivory headed cane. "Now
you ask me the question, l think few
months with Mrs. Gordon Trevallian
in Philadelphia would give your man
ners the finishing touch which they
certainly lack now"
"Well, Fred, l will go to this Mrs.
Gordon Trevallian and try to be-
come"
"a little more like other people, 4"
laughingly interrupted Mr.. Perry.
| And Nanny bit her lip and mutely
accepted the amendment.
| And when he had taken his de.
parture to New York Annette Dawson
packed the trunk, kissed her father and
mother good.by, and started for Phila.
delphia to be civilized according to the
rule and plummet of the far famed
Mrs Gordon Trevallian.
| Almost before they began to note the
progress of time the year rolled round
again to the June roses and the sunny
meadow slopes were all crimsoned with
the fragrant flush of the wild straw.
berries.
"Nanny's letters grow rather stiff of
late, it seems TO me" pondered Mr..
Perry, the evening before he started
for home on his annual vacation, land
! don't know that | like so many
French phrases and hackneycd quota.
tions sprinkled through them. Heighol
One gets very tired of the monotony
and formality of city society I'm not
sorry, on the whole, that am going
back to Stansdale and little, unsophis.
ticated Nanny Dawson"
Stansdale was as sweet and ms sylvan
rs ever--the honeysuckles as sweet as
of old, and Alfred Perry drew a long
breath of relief as he sat on the old.
fashioned porch.
"How pleasant this isl" he ex-
claimed aloud. "But ! should think
Nanny would have been down to sec
me before this.
1--WE don't call her Nanny now, ~
said Aunt Melissa, with little contrac
tion of the brows. "Shc d rather bC
called Miss Minette. 'Taint noways
likely she'll come down, neither
she's a dreadful hand for what the
| hna folks nolls 'etiuupttp' nowndnvS .