Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-12

when everyone knew that face was dis
figured by a whistling mouth.
Miss Smith, whose age was an un.
known quantity between 20 and 40. and
who had set her cap so often that that
article was badly frayed around its fig.
urative edges, said, mo, he shan't be
bamboozled. not if have to warn him
myself Y
And it is on record that she cid warn
the daring man.
In spite of all this opposing element in
his flock, Mr. Haviland could not help
thinking how dull life would be withurt
y certain flower whose perfume he alone
seemed to have discovered
One bright September day he walked
over to Aunt Dorothy's little cottage
intending to invite Nellie to accompany
him upon an errand of mercy As he
reached the gate he stopped moment
The front door was wide open. Nellie
dressed in pink calico, with a cap of the
same material only partly concealing
her fluffy brown hair, was busily EN-
gagged with broom and duster in the
hall There was happy look upon her
innocent face When, as if birdlike
she could not restrain her joy, the ruby
lips puckered bewitchingly and the
notes of hymn trilled forth with star
| tling clearness and truth
Suddenly the unconscious warbler was
electrified into silence by the sharp
words. Perfectly shocking, isn't it?
Glancing up. she saw Aunt Dorothy
standing with watering can in hand as
if preparing to water her own feet, which
seemed rooted to the ground.
She was staring at Mr.. Haviland, who
leaned upon the gate with puzzled ex.
preston upon his face.
not waiting to hear his answer Nellie
fed to her own room. where she indulged
in that which seldom spoiled her happy
| face-a good cry" For she doubted
not that she had forfeited her place in
| the minister's esteem.
She was not surprised, then. when
Aunt Dorothy met her with: Now you
have done it'll My goodness | don't
know what to do with youl You're
enough to try saints patienceT
But Nellie was surprised when heI
aunt handed her note from Mr.. Havi
land containing his request to accom-
pany him to the house of some poor peo
pie who lived several miles away
"Shall go?" she asked her aunt.
"Of course? No use making matters
worse by refusing"
So Nellie said she would accompany
| a. hos af,rrs
rebelled against the trial.
After packing basket of food for thu
poor people, Nellie waited in nervous
anxiety for her escort. When he ar
rived, she quietly allowed him to assis
her into the trap, where she sat almos
dumb, q panied expression upon hel
face.
"What is the matter with you today?'
asked the minister as they trundleC
through the green fields
Nellie trembled at his kindly tones
but she would not be drawn into con
versation until
But there, no matteri What righ
have we to intrude? Suffice it to sa.
that the next day Mr.. Haviland asket
Aunt Dorothy for Mellie'shand.
That worthy dame could not help say
ing, But, Mr.. Haviland, she is whis
Ting girl, and yon know
There, there. don't say word agains
the future mistress of the parsonagel
he interrupted.
And so, amid shocked Gimptown's g SUI
prised talk. the doomed old maid Of 2
winters was converted into happy brid
Of 20 summers.
Rumor has it that Miss Smith is praS
ticing the much abused art of whistling
But heartless rumor also says that sh
whistles in vain. n.-Exchange.