The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-14
THAT FLlRTIo NELLIE.
BY FLORA TOWNSEND.

So you have invited that odious little
Nellie Jarvis TO spend the rest Of the
summer with you !" exclaimed Priscilla
Relton, as she was saying her goodbye
after a long morning call. 81 was so sur
priSed when ] heard il ~
Why?' queried Alice Edney, trying
to speak coolly, though she was hot with
indignation. Have you heard any
thing TO the discredit of our cid school
sellow?7
Oh, my dear Alice Why pretend ig
norance? Don't every one know that she
fliris airociously with every member Of
the male sex who happens to come her
way p
Very impartial Of her, l am sure, to
distribute her pleasant looks and smiles
to all alike" smiled Alice, "If you had
accused her of angling for two or three
lovers and favoring each in his turn, l
might agree with you, and call Nellie a
eoquette as it is, believe that she likes
to be liked, and so do l."
"Ah, but YOU are quite a different
character You have ;been, as mamma
olten says, so carefully brc ught up
while we alt know that the Jarva. es
arc
The sentence was finished with shrug
and a sneer but Alice Elney refused to
see either.
have never heard any harm of Nell
lies relations except that they have been
unfortunate, and neither yougnor can
ever forget that, when we were i'll with
low fever at school, il was Nellie's moth
er who used TO come and sec us daily,
bringing .us fruit and flowers, and the
most delicious kinds of jellies and Gus
tards"
Well" said Miss Relton, preparing to
depart, all ! have TO say is, that if
were engaged, as you are, 10 a light
hearted, handsome young fellow, who is
not insensible to admiration, | should
think twice before exposed him 10 the
wiles Of an accomplished hirt like Nellie
Jaryas"
Alice bit her lip to keep back an angry
reply. 1t was no use entering on the de-
fsnse Of her friend, or declaring that
nothing should induce her to doubt the
constancy of her lover, so she wisely kept
silence.
Priscilla Relton was one Of those per-
sons who always conirive to say some
thing that wounds the suseep,ibilties of
hose they pretend to esteem; and Mrs.
Edney, Justling into the room 10 bring
her keys, was not very much surprised TO
End her daughter in tears.
"What a goose you are" she cried,
kissing her and giving her little shake.
What a goose TO make yourself unhap-
py over that girls silly speeches What
has she been saying? You know she
only talks for the.sake Of hearing herself
talk"
Il am not unhappy" responded Alice,
"but angry with myself Tor having al
lowed Priscilla to see that ! was vexed
She viii 90 away, telling the next person
she visits that have admitted that am
doing a foolish thing in having Nellie
here, and that / am awfully jealous al
ready"
POOH What signifies? Come and
help me tie down my preserves and don't
trouble your head about what the Cos
sips chatter Or, you really do doubt
the prudence of having Miss Nellie Jar
vas here, forbid Merric Granarl to come
to the house until she has gone away
again"
Seeing that her mother was laughing
at her, Alice laughed too, and would not
confess even to herself that for brief
period dread mad really seized upon
her that Priscilla Relton's predictions
might be verified. If Merric, dear Mer-
ric Garnard, whose wife she was to be as
soon as her parents could be induced to
think her old enough, should be lured |
from his allegiance by the wiles of pret-
ty, attractive Nellie Jervas-how would
she bear the utter misery of losing
him2
But for that hateful Priscilla, no such
thoughts would have troubled her peace,
and they vanished altogether when. Nellie |
jumped out of the railway carriage into |
her arms.
She was such bright little creature.
Not all her home iroublos-and they
were many-could ever cast more than
the briefsst shadow on her pretty face
II was some ones duty, she would aver,
to look at The sunny side Of the sky, and
it was pleasant duty, she would make
it hers. So Nellies silvery laughter
rang out at every opportunity, and she |
carried them with her wherever she |
went
Don't make too much of me-" she |
cried, struggling from Aliee's embrace
4" Ny visit is not to you, bnt to your
mother. shall never be in her way, l |
krow, while you-oh, yon recreant! you
false to friendship individual, to give |
yourself away to he-male l-you would
find me in the way whenever he drew
near. What is be like, Alice?"
"who, Merric? You shall see for
yourself presently" replied the blushing |
bride-elect
Much obliged-at least ought to be;
one must make some sacrifices to crafty |
ones friends, but do not ask me TO ad- !
mire the young man. OF all the indi-
viduals detest, first on the list stands
other girls lovers"
And 50 Nellie ratified on or talked gay
" to the two little lads, who had escorted |
their sister to the station, extor'ing |
bursts of laughter from them till they |
reached Mr.. Edney's house; and Mrs. |
Edney came into the hall to give the
guest a motherly welcome, and warn
Alice that the meat tea would he on the
table in twenty minutes.
Soon after.the meal had been dispatched |
Merric Granard arrived, little curious
to see the school friend Of whom his
betrothed talked 80 enthusiastically.
Il was with touch Of latent uneasi-
ness that Alice seized the first opportu-
nifty Of whispering to him
Well, did | exsggerate when | said