New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
I've been NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

4
her whip under her arm.
| We'll. If YOU are sure" returned Mrs. Darrah,
| but II occurred 20 me that cabbage was some
thing that they used to have at home when we
were - POORLY the way, why does that vegc-
table always accompany poverty? That's on
| Interesting question. Please hand me my note
book from that table. Sometime I will write
| an essay can see how it might be made very
telling. But you are sure that she won't bring
any odor?'
Positive"
And she isn't coarse little thngP You
| know | can't bear anything coarse near me.
| never should have invited you, Portia.'
Il SHAH leave you to judge whether she is
coarse not" interrupted Portia, in her usual
| ruthless manner, which was yet smooth and
which possessed the merit Of rarely irritating
| her aunt
1T curious fact that strangers nearly
always thought that Miss Nunally was the one
possessed of wealth. and that she was hospitablc
and kind to her aunt Florence, taking her round
with her and paying the bills
This fact greatly amused Mrs Darrah. She
confided to some of her friends that she never
| could have endured her niece if the girl had
acted in the least like poor relation. 1t
| tickled Mrs. Darrahs sense of humor greatly to
sec Porta domincerng in that insolent, polite
way, and she gave money quite freely that the
girl might know, as she said the feel of it in
her pocket" Not that it remained long in her
pocket. For Miss Nunally was generous with
that free-handedncss that sometimes belongs TO
some people who do not know how difficult it is
To the money they spend or give out
And this pauper, for Portia sometimes INDUCED
in the ridiculous luxury Of calling herself a
pauper, was when she chose, very fascinating
woman But she was not married. And sho
was nearer thirty than twenty
She would sometimes remark, in a confidential
manner, that she should say yes" to the first
respectable man with money who should ask her
to be his wife, and that not until she was
married should she dream of falling in love.
"Of course" a shocked hearer would respond
"you will love your husband
Whereupon Portia would look full in the
face of her companion and smile in an utterly
indcscribable manner.
Really superciliously, II didn't know women
were in the habit of loving their husbands
But l shall love mine quite distractcdly
shall make him run to heel like a spaniel, and
l adore spanies
Altogether Miss Nunally was considered by
mothers to be a dangerous kind of person TO
have wandering loose among their innocent
young daughters. Not that they could put their
finger on anything. And that, they said. in
conclove, was the very worst feature aSut
Mrs. Darrahs niece: you could not put your
finger on anything. So, and because she was
Mrs. Darrahs niece, she was admitted every
where
But she too daring: one never knew
when she might do something really TO injurc
her reputation. Men with wives found her too
charming. Men engaged TO the incest girls in
the world discovered that there was something
in Portia Nunally's smile, and something in her
voice--it was impossible to tell what it was:
but it was easy enough TO decide that it was
potent.
1t was, thus far in vain that Mrs. Darrah
warned the girl that il she went on at this
rate the men would find out that she was not
the kind of woman that would make good
wife.
AT this point Portia would laugh And Mrs
Darrah would sink hack in her chair and say she
was sorry she had asked the girl down 10 Florida
Then Portia would laugh again and remark
that she knew very well that she had come there
10 get husband and that her aunt would not DO
so cruel as TO send her home without one. For
then the whole thing would have to be done over
again. And women grew old so soon
Portia had light contrnlto voice. and on these
occasions she would sometimes stand with great
occurrences before her aunt and sing with ardor
inc following lines:
"A husband Saint Cathal ine
handsome one. Saint Catharine;
rich one. Saint Catharine;
nice one. Saint Catharine;
And soon, Saint Cataarine.a
Mrs. Darrah would smile and then croan,
But you don't give one the idea that YOU arc
well-domes'ic. You know that is what men like.
Porta.
IL certainly never will cook mans dinner and
never will mend his stoclungs-if that is what
you mean, Aunt Florence"
"Oh,' in despair from the elder woman, 81 don't
know what mean"
write book about it, was the nippant
counsel, when person doesn't know exactly
what he means then that person writes a book, and
then other persons don't know what he means.
either But you may label me rs warranted
domestic if you choose and | will not deny the
statement il you think the husband will come
any sooner
1t will be seen tnat there was a degree Of frank
ness between these two concerning tie subject of
marriage, and that they were not in the least
sentimental.
And it was this girl who now rode ont Of ST
Augustine alone on her horse, Or rather upon the
horse her aunt had provided for her
But first she cantered around the little Plaza
to make sure that Miss Gerry was not there
Then she struck out at a brisk gait down
Marne-st
were sauncring about by the band stand But
she them all, and more than that, she knew
that they all her, and that they would be
Obliged to say that she rode well.
They did say that And the oldest among them
explained to the others that that Girl belonged 10
the Darrah woman: that the Darrah woman-thc
one who wrote books, you l,nOw-had been trying
to marry her off for two three years now, but
somehow the men were shy when you came right
down to hardpan, you know. Awfully fetching
girl, though. Could look a mans heart right out
him