Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-05-21


the way to the diniDg-room.
Beth's face was flushed unbecom
ingly; for she had burned it fiery
crimson, toasting the bread to tho
/ degree of BROWNIES Rob liked, anC
broling the partriges to his taste
and her brown hair was tightly
/ twisted into a small knot and drawn
back plainly from her forehead She
was not looking her best, that even.
ing.
'How homely she looks, to-day"
said Rob to himself. IL declare.
she is growing to be a positive fright.
She might be less dodyish in her
dress, at least
He ate his supper hastily, as this
was the evening he was to escort
Miss Amy Canrobert to a concert.
After a careful toilet and a careless
good bye, he was gone.
Beth, girl-lilie, relieved her wound
ed feelings by a good cry. Then
she sat down to think it over.
Rob isn't the same-he never will
be again" she reflected. II am too
plain and ugly for hun. In the cir
cles that will welcome him hereafter,
| should be piticd; people would say
he had made a mistake. | can and
will crush this love for him from my
heart. "
She was still moodly thinking
over her lot, when a step was heard
and CHEEKY voice came into the lit
tie parlor where Beth sat alone.
"All by yourself:' it said
Dick IIildreth was everybody's
friend. He was not handsome like
Rob. Indeed, many called him
homely; but then he was so full of
kindly and genial humor, and had a
pleasant word and smile for all. He
long loved Beth, as he thought,
hopelessly, and his true heart swelled
with Indignation as he looked on at
the cool and indifferent manner with
which Rob received Beth's humble
and blind alteration, He noted now
the swelled eye-lids and the tear
stained face, and guessed the cause.
He had seen Rob and Miss Canro-
bert 90 by, and hence had determin-
ed to call on Beth, as he was sure to
find her alone.
Poor little Brownie! l wish
had the right to make her life cheer
full" he said.
Dick was so merry and jolly, all
the evening, that Beth forgot to be
miserable. She found herself sing
ing as gayly as if an hour before had
not witnessed her in tears.
"Please God, she will forget that
selfish Rob before long, if | know
myself" " was Dicks thought, as he
left her at the door.
At breakfast next day, Rob's head
was full of Miss Canrobert. Beth
heard, with less pain than she had
expected, his praises of her golden
hair, lovely voice, and distingue air.
Beth herself was an attractive
sight, that morning; her eyes shOne ;
her neat brown morning fitted
her graceful figure cXquisitely; her
shining hair was picture in itself.
But Rob was blinded to the fact-he
could only think of Miss Canrobert,
in her blue satin and point lace.
\ deep snow had fallen the night
before, and ten O'Clock found Dick
Hildreth, with his sleigh. at the door
of the Graem cottage.
"Yes-go, Beth. 1t will do you
good. You stay indoors too much, .
said Mrs. Graem.
"But | haven't arranged Rob's
flowers, or marked his handkerchicfs
or mcnded his velvet blouse"
"Never mind. Let them 90.
Aud she brought the brown hat and
sacque for Beth.
"Little Brownie" murmured Dick
as she came out of the house.
"What did You say, Dick:"
"Oh. was talking to the horse.
Two o'clock came, but no Beth
They sat down to dinner without her,
Rob missed her. Even the image
of the lovely Miss Canro
bert could not drive from his mind
the wish to have Beth sitting at Tho
dlnuer-table with them,
At sunset, the truants returned
Beth radiant and smiling,
"Oh, Mamma Graem we had sucl
a nice time - she cried. I'VE wen
/ to visit Dicks sister in the country
She is SO good something like Rot
and would make rs stay all day