Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-11-24
APOLLO In BRONZE.

ACNAACNly lOlldutlC ltDuCtNltS.
She had been named Nancy, but az
she entered upon her sweet sixteenth
year she decided to call herself Nan
nette, and finally abbreviated it to III
nette.
Her mother called her Ninette when
she could remember to do so, but her
father insisted upon plain Nancy.
Her father also favored George Smith,
young farmer. as one of Ninette's
suitors. George was a tall, strong.
industrious fellow, szith plenty OF corr
mon sense and not a particle Of romance
about him. Because Of hiz lack Of the
latter Ninette treated him iii way
which sometimes made his heartache.
II shall never marry George Smith. J.
look higher than a farmer" she said to
her father one evening when he was ex-
tolling Georges good qualities.
"Then | guess you will look higher
than you will ever be able to tilt your
little nose." replied her father angrily.
II see what you are after. You have
read SO many o. them trashy novels
s'pose you expect to get one q them ere
city chaps all shirt buzzofn an perfum-
cry! But warn We now, Nancy, I'm
agin it from the fust. You'd better take
George, with his decent ways and good
farm"
Ninette did not think SO. She began
to get discontented and to wish she
could get away from home. She want
ed to so to the city.
She contided this desire by letter to
Mrs. Elkins, who had once boarded for
the summer near them. Mrs. Elkins in
reply wrote: '.We are going to u sea
shore resort very soon. If yon will 60
with rs and take charge Of little Sadie
we may be able to find situation for
you after the summer season if You still
desire it.
Ninette at last gained her fathers
consent to go. He said he chad been
pestered long enough"
The journey was made The Elkins
family were established in a suite at
'The Golden" situated Oh way down
coast of Maine.
Ninette would have been quite lonely
but for the company Of Mary Duncan,
the young woman who was Mrs. Elkins'
maid.
Mary was romantic also, with dash
of something worse about her, and
quite Mortified Ninette by relating some
of her escapades. Ninette was thor
oughly good, but silly.
"Mary," said Ninette one morning
when they were alone, Il have not yet
seen my hero, but l think have heard
himr'
''Why, how is thatst'
"Well, last night / was sitting by
Miss Sadie while Mrs. Elkins was enjoy
ing herself at the dance, and | heard
piano i'll the next room, and oh, such
glorious singing! don't know what it
was, but it was grand, | have heard
him once before. and am sure he must
be splendid to sing like thatr
How do you know but he is already
married." asked Mary, who was seldom
practical.
"I don't believe he is. | watched to
try and see who came from the room.
But yon know Mrs. Elkins does not al
low us to keep our doors open. so don't
have very good chance"
'.If you hear him again just let me
know. will you. / will come to listen if
have time"
That night no melodious sounds issued
from the room, but on the following
evening the grand voice broke forth and
Ninette and Mary listened with breath
less attention
II just wish | knew who has that
ROOM" exclaimed Mary, s.but | don't
dare ask anybody. 1t would cost he
my place if Mrs. Elkins knew that was
prying around anything or anybody
1--WE must watch all the time | feel
sure he is my hero.p and foolish Ninette
thought of the unknown singer while
she basted Miss Sadies rufiies. Day
after day passed, and Ninette fed her ro-
nance upon the snatches of song which
came from the room Of her hero.
One morning Ninette was passing
through the corridor. The door Of her
hero's room opened and she saw form
pass out. She could not see his face,
but he was tall, admirably proportioned
and carried himself gracefully. Ninette
caught her breath in suppressed adlnira-
ton.
"Oh, I've seen him. I've seen him.'
she whispered excitedly to Mary.
"What does he look like?r asked Mary
curiously.
"Oh, | didn't see his face, but he is
very tall and dark. He is splendid! A
perfect Apollo.' and Ninette ran back
to her duties and to think about her
"Apollo," as she continued to call him.
Meanwhile George Smith was grow
ing heart hungry. He wanted to see
Ninette. He suddenly decided tto go
down the coast spell
His old mother looked astonished. She
knew George did not need sea breezes.
1t was that Nancy Brown he was after"
George arrayed himself in his best and
went to the hotel where the Elkinses
were staying. There was more Of affec-
tionate demonstration III his greeting
than Ninette cared to see. She responded
very coolly, How are you, George.D
and tilted her nose little higher.
George followed Ninette down on the
beach, where she had gone with Miss
Sadie.
''Ninette," he said, and his face was
very white, "giye me my answer to-day.
You have always put me off on one pre-
text or another, but I can't be put off
any longer. You know you are the only
grill ever cared for / viii do my best
to make You happy if you win marry
me-
'.Then my answer is no, if you must
have it, George
VERY well; no it is then. Will you
answer me one question, Ninette:"
"What is itf7 she asked irnpaticntly,
turning toward him.
''Is there any one else for whom You
carer
Would you hurt him if you knew
she asked fearfully.
'.No-neveri Not if you love him.
love you too well to hurt anything You
have an interest in. =
"Then / viii tell you. Mam in lore
with a great singeri'
"A great singer. repeated George
with white lips. Who is l,e."
II don't know his Eaine, she stam-
mered. Somehow it seemed harder to
talk TO George about him than to Mary
Don't know his namei Where did
- 1. rrr