Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-08-16
FEARLESSNESS.
BY ROSE H. LATHROP.

"Genevieve Chamberlain is too silent"
remarked Hall Balkan. ''When she
comes into the room feel as if l wanted
to shake secret out of her perfect
mouth; but, as she is very dainty and
very beautiful, 1 don't really do it,"
The young woman who sat near him
as he spoke, painting fancy work, and
who could not quite compete with great
beauty, thought that Balkan was show
ing off, being irritated by Genevieve's
apparent Indifference and was trying to
console himself by grumbling at her, al
though he would have been very critical
of any one else who dared to do so. This
young woman, who could reflect intelli-
gently, was, nevertheless, perfect child
in guilelessness. She could stand in
judgment over people, as child does,
and cause no antagonism at any rate, in
nature as generous as her own. She
was the sort of girl who would remain
sweet and naive as an old woman.
Nellie Featherly looked round at Bal
kan, in moment, and responded:
"Now, there is nothing mysterious
about me. !"
"You? | should think not You are
SO fearless, straightforward and anus
ing."
''You have not quite illusion enough
about me, think" Nellie pouted over
her satin scarf, which was bursting into
flower and leaf. ''You have made me
out just one of the ordinary, useful toss
me-aside kind of women, and, although
you are right, do hate to hear the fact
repeated"
81 don't care what you think of your
self or how you construe my appreciation
OF you, answered Balkan, saucily. "I
am perfectly content with enjoying your
traits and sitting where you paint"
Nellie went on busily, with a dozen
pretty attitudes and motions and rather
dissatisfied expression of countenance.
Whether it was her work or her words
which annoyed her, Balkan was not sure.
''That's exquisite, and no mistake, -
he went on, peering over at the drawing
board on her knees, upon which the satin
was stretched.
"Oh, please don't say pretty things
Nellie cried, Somehow, you seem in
sincere to-day"
'1! My dear Miss Featherly, l should
not hesitate to tell the truth, rather than
prevaticate. To be quite honest, would
tell you the truth about anything in the
world you could ask me; though with
others l might be as silent as Genevieve.
instead of confessing to actualities.
eff ever want to ask you anything ]
will remember this" the young amateur
rejoined, with the incest smiles into Bal,
kan's earnest face.
Cecil Morton sauntered across the room.
during the little pause ensuing and said
that the day was too good for staying in
the house. Why not go to walk before
dinners The young people, eight when
all told, were visiting some dear ole
country gentlefolks to whom Nellie was
nearly related, and who had asked then
out of town for week of sleighing, anC
other winter fun, the snow being in bet
ter condition than for years past. Tha
evening they were to go sleighing b,
moonlight and it was super-energetic fo
Morton to talk of walking. But we al
know how these restless people of energ.
or muscle rout us out of little lazy tetc- a
tetes and freside luxury. Neither Nelli
nor Balkan wished to be stigmatized a
10th to exercise and SO they rushed out o
the parlor to find the others and get wei
wrapped up against coolish ramble
while Cecil Morton smiled to himself in
mirror to think of the commotion he coul
effect at will.
Nellie and Genevieve paired off, in
tentionally, as the group left the hall