Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-01-05
CaRELEOH.

a IDOHtIM ONGL -
said Felina Drake. "You are too
young for that; but something COM
pensates evidently
Nelly, whom some OF her friends
called Cameleon, was sitting over her
fire in the private parlor discussing
her various lovers with Feliha, says
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, in the
Epoch. Fortunately Felina was en-
oaoed to be married, and vas not in q
position to feel envy or to watch I'M
sympatheticaIly the preliminary steps
toward an engagement on the part Of
her friend. 1t was an event which she
eagerly desired, that they might be
entirely mutual in their experiences.
Felina might have been jealous OF the
Cameleon's beauty; but the young
pirl was OF that charming class oil
lovely women whose members appeal
to their own sex by their perfect good
nature and child.like innocence.
30, / can tell you how that hap
pens" the Cameleon responded, in her
cheerful voice. Clever Mr.. Courtney
told me that my face would last well
and that he had seen hundreds OF
bellies fade in q few seasons, which had
almost made a misanthrope OF him.
"Well, l think it q fine distinction"
Felina acquiesced. younger men
don't think OF that, and fancy that
what is chiefly youth is downright
beauty. But your precious counte-
nance will certainly mature to its
credit, and ! can't imagine you any
thing but excellent, whether time pulls
your face perpendicularly or horizon
tallyl Plump or thin, pale or rosy,
Cameleon, it will be sure to remain a
face to conquer everybody"
Nelly sighed.
"Are you sorry for anything" ask
ei Felina.
"Why, it seems rather l%aborious,"
the young belle answered. "You see,
Ihave got to accept one ofthem-these
inevitable men-and it IS so hard to
choose. There are so many professions
represented, for one thing. The hand
soonest and most fascinating OF all my
admirers, in a way, is Mr.. Bruce-Ly-
man; and you will admit that his be-
ing in preparation for a fashionable
doctor of med Ieine is fatal. / had not
been engaged to him for two days,
Felina Il never told you that ] did
accept him at first). when he prescrib.
ed for a little cough which ! quite en-
loved and would not have had cured
Tor the world. But it was so lucky!
| might have actually married him
and heard all my life about drugs"
Nelly discussed her friends hand-em-
broidery for a moment and then
continued: 81 suppose | rushed
to the other extreme after breaking
With the doctor, for / allowed Mr.
William Fenimore to give me al *.
haustive catalogue OF his qualifica
tions for making me a good husband.
He has all his time to himself until he
I nleTllS lTOsH HIS 1dNllGtt lUb tlC iiIASC
devote some attention to the estate;
and that he did not need any society
but mine, and should be happy in
China if J were his wife. 1t looked to
me like too much leisure, you know,
and | was afraid that he had a pas
sion for travelling and that l should
become q thorough Arab if | married
him. How could / employ Redfern in
Asia2 | decided positively against
Mr.. Fenimore. When Mr.. Dalgian
offered himself i was very much
puzzled. Here was a fine So
cial position, in which / should
probably have been a leader from be.
ginning to end and gone down in civic
history as the beautiful Mrs. Dalgian,
who entertained the elite OF both hem
ispheres with such copsummase grace.
Mr.. Daleian is not byfany means I'M
interesting. ! often think of him, and
the flowers he sent me were something
astonishing. Felina; they showed such
imaginative taste; and he insisted on
my keeping this ring as al act OF
charity. Isn't it beautiful? He made
his family call upon me, and seemed
to think he had accomplished a great
work for his century when they had
paid me their respects. But oh, Fe.
lima, / could not endure those Miss
Dalgisns. l was afraid / should grow
to be like them. They seemed to be
Inconvenience by their ancestors,
as if they had them still with
them, and in a particularly
paralyzing condition. either as
ghosts or mummies; and they neither
looked to the right nor to the left for
fear of catching sight OF one OF the old
curmudgeons. 1t was such a pity, but
/ had to tell Mr.. Dalgian that i could
not think OF it-that / was too fond
OF the present."
~ must say, Cameleon, that it is
one OF your little naughtinesses to keer
the poor youths gift on your finger.
Just as long as you keep it he will
think that you may relent, and / hope
you will send it back tomorrow, dear.
Meanwhile give it to me-" Felina felt
bound to say.
The girl complied, pouting and hand
ing her the ring.
"Then there was Dick. Dear Dick
He had no money in particular, and
his family were u~p-country people.
But how equal to anything ne was,
Felinal How We talked of anything,
from apple cider to the queer old col.
lege professors when they were qdizz.
ed. l wanted dreadfully to accent
Dick. But he would not give me a
single definite idea OF what he could
offer me in the way of an establish.
ment. He said. to be sure, that we
1 Ghnnld live in fnnran4so,,k 1-..-lz--
at the old homestead-where | sup,
pose b ceilings were rickety, you
know-until he had made a reputa-
ton as an architect. 1t was very
vague. 1t would be so nice if one
were allowed to take q fine young
man like Dick and give him Mr.. Dial.
gian's position and Mr.. Bruce.Ly-
mans reputation, with Mr.. Feni.
more's money"
at is to be hoped, Cameleon, that
you will find someone who combines
almost everything. i wish he would
hasten to the front, or the chance OF
our getting married on the same day
will be very slim indeed. / almost feel
inclined to will you to Fall in love,
in spite OF yourself"
why, ! dofall in love, dear" plead.
ed Nelly, "but something ALWAYS
changes my mind. AS l say, it is be,
coming a positive labor to consider
the matter closely, day after day. 1t
Is like skating-love is charming, but
requires constant attention, or one
ends a complete wreck somewhere un.
der the ice. There's the hall bell now,
wonder if it is any ons for me-"
III 1T 49," replied Felina, 'let me
wait here for you, Nelly. ] would
rather go on with my embroidery