The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-25
A WRESTLING GIRL.

n w LIN l. hlANN NAAeAs
Gimptown was an old fashioned burg
full of old fashioned people, not one of
whom pretended to deny that Nellie
Rose was the prettiest, iveliest girl in
the place. .."
Now, although Gimptown folk had re-
luctantly succumbed to the inroads of
progress insomuch that they admitted
there were no witches they still chung
persistently to wise old saws. Why not
call them the wornout old saws and rele-
gate them to the rubbish heap of other
bygone misconceptions
Thus it happened that while other
girls were spoke for" as soon as they
came Of age sweet Nellie Rose wasted
her sweetness upon transient lovers.
Joshua Jones, the most appreciative
of these, had remarked to his mother:
Now, nanny, don't believe there's
thing wrong with Nellie. like her
mighty we'll"
"Gracious, JOSH" said she, holding up
her hands in horror. "If you're a-gettin
stuck on that gal, you had just better
get over it as quick as possible. My
grief A whistling gal in the Jones fam
Iilyl UghW
So honest Josh put aside his sentiment
by muttering, Eyes, l suppose 'whistling
gals and growing hens is as true today
as it ever was
Josh was right. This old saw is just
as true today as it was when the lunatic
Iof long ago manufactured it. Accord
ingly he married good housekeeper"
who never whistled, and Nellie seemed
destined to be an old maid.
In Gimptown u girl became an old
maid if she was not Excepting regular
company" by the time she was 81.
II can't see why Nell can't be like
other girls" said her Aunt Dorothy, who
didn't believe in old maids. Cant you
stop this whistling, Mellier" she asked
her one day.
"Tll try, auntie," replied the innocent
girl.
So for week or SO she went about
looking as demure as possible, but it was
uphill work.
"Got new minister. They say he's a
young man. I'll invite him in. No tell
in he might-but no, Of course notl
Well, I'll invite him anyhow" said Aunt
Dorothy.
A week or two after this she was busy
ing herself making the little parlor look
tidy, when knock sounded on the door.
She ushered in a fine looking young man,
! with decided clerical air, but pleasant
and kindly withal.
The pastor and his hostess were soon
| talking quietly on parish matters. In
the next room there was O rattle as of
! some one washing dishes.
an call Nellie as soon as she finishes
her work." Aunt Dorothy was saying,
when, horrors! there arose in that young
lady's clear, piccololike whistle the ia
miliar notes of "Old Hundred" Poor
Nellie had kept her mouth in its normal
position for two whole weeks, but now,
to the time Of rafting crockery, the
notes rose and fell with startling dis.
tinctness.
Aunt Dorothy turned red and then
white, fidgeted about and finally, when
the assortment of noises stopped, went
!. into the kitchen saying as she went
Excuse me, Mr.. Hayiland, and I'll tel
Nellie to come in"
With blood curdling GOODNESS she said
to her niece: 1.-THE new minister is here
Come in and be introduced" That was
I what her mouth uttered, but her eyes
said: Now you've done it with thai
i whistle of yoursl Let's see how you'll
7 get out of it."
Nellie followed the irate lady.
} .'Mr. Hayiland, my niece, Miss Rose.
One would have supposed that rea
I rose could not be much redder, bu
when Mr.. Haviland said in an amused
tone, Your brother is fine whistler,
: then one knew that Mellie's first blusl
was a mere tinge of color.
IL have no brother" she replied
honestly, SO the evidently painful sub
ject was dropped.
"a remarkably fine young lady,
thought the young minister as he wa
returning to his boarding place, cant
evidently as innocent as her name. It
80 dull here. ! really must cultivate
her acquaintance"
So the feeting summer days found tn
Rev. Mr.. Haviland often at Aunt Dor
othy's house or in Mellies compan,
wandering upon the rocky banks Of th'
3 river.
To the young lady these bits of sun
shine in her life were snatches from
+ dreamland. To hear the educated young
man discourse upon the people ant
things of the big. big world was SO diff
: ferent from the humdrum talk and gos
sip OF Gimptown.
!. Her aunt thought: FANCY l do be
, hevo the parsons a-getting interested il
u Nell. Now, If she'll only keep tina
e whistle o hers quiet who knowsP-some
thing may come of itr'
Gimptown in general said it was al
} most scandalous that SO fine young maj
t should be took In by pretty facs
!. when everyone knew that face was dis
figured by whistling mouth.
Miss Smith, whose age was an I'm
known quantity betwssn 20 and 40, AMI
who had set her cap 30 often that tia
article was badly fraysd around its fig
curative edges, said, mo, he shan't b.
Ibamboozled, not if have to warn hin
myself |"
4 And it is on record that she did war
the daring man.
In spite of all this opposing element IL
his flock, Mr.. Haviland could not hell
thinking how dull life would be withou
: certain flower whose perfume he alon
: seemed to have discovered.
One bright September day he walket
over to Aunt Dorothy's little cottage
Z intending to invite Nellie to accompan,
aim upon an errand of mercy. AS h
reached the gate he stopped moment
} The front door was wide open. Nellie